The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-04-01


and funny has happened at our house
We've got a nice new doa<ey. Il cam
right into oJr stable. and row it's eaun
fathers old straw nat. like IL was furz
out or the common"
Where did you get it?" asked the lit
tie Crerdails in a br, ath.
We don't know: IL came itself ISM
IL a nice April Fool"
YES. better than ours. We were I,
h5ve enc; then when we went to see i
it wasn't there, but only the harness an,
jingie,"
BLESS you. little stup'ds,' laughed Tn
Gle Harry, coming up to the children /,
time to catch their last two remarks
ITS the same donkey all the way round
Here. James. come With US to the Silly
mans The donkey is found"
IL was ncw the little Crandars Whose
faces had frightened. ard the small Sill
lymans who looked detected
IF Il is yours. you'll sometimes give
us ride. won't ycu?" they said dole.
fully 10 the little Crandalls
of course you shall rave ride. and
more than one" answered Uncle Harr,
briskiy. How would you all like TO rid,
10 Beede to-day and spend the day9'
w nm ths donkeSs2 the children ask.
ed in lively chorus. ooh, Won are c.
good That would be lovely,'' and the,
gathered about the protector of this
splendid plan. like wasps about a jan-pot
Aias' They had now come to tho Sill
iyman-stable to find onkey-Charlev. ly
ing upon the floor apparently stick
stock, stone. dead"
on. look the dear. lovely donkey Il
ucad' Oh. why Is he deadt" And in ,
BODY the children turned to Uncle Har
~ 10 explain this shocking phenomenon.
My dear children" exclaimed the III,
Gle don't ask me to explain ANYTIME
about this donkey. lie Is quite beyond
nle' ana leaning over the long-eared lit
,,e nrute ne tried TO discover whether
me heart had quite ceased beating
You see, sir. c - quite stifY-,ixa -.
said James, gently shaking the small ani-
mai by one OF its tiny feet and then
another.
Yes. | See" responded Uncle r1arr,
,fnpauentiy. What n Swindle IL Is &c
DE sure Have it out for burial RICH
away"
James very gingerly took hold of its
hind legs. as if in death they might stfr
De serous. and draSced il ont of the
Stable into bread daylight. the children
e' ..,'s eoout IKE eerie little watchers
Mebbe hits the beans. sir. | didn',
mean to give she too many" observed
James, mt's not frequent they .so of
so quick" 0'
In the depths OF his half-closed eyes
the donkey was smiling
Could we have a funeral. r>,c,o t1o,
ryg' asked Muriel Ia.
don't know. I'm sure Do donkevs
have funerals?''
"tdder Fairbanks buried shes with q
stone TO IT'S cad sir" suggested lanes
- a. W iet us have a stone TO il.
rem. ~ '''1
Have whatever YOU like 70 Ire had
walking or an'
On. how Jolly,' cried Percy. ..pr
~ a., nave stone 10 his head unles
.,,, III a grave; he can't be in a gray,
unless he's buried SO We viii ha,-a
funeral won't we. James,
James rubbed his head .r,. ,-.,.
VIII the grave be digged. Master perr,, p
II Sous as a funeral yous must ave
grave along with it"
The children looked at eacb OH. 49,, ,
was certainly a practical sn.,-os,;,,,' al
Soine on, James. we'au GO TO choos
the 81 Of and followed Nv bir, -
seampered toward The CrardalI s.ro,,,',,.
20 himself the donkey-C.harla
quickly los; the overv,hal,,i,s 10. - ie
IN his legs. Nimhly sprincino - 81 Ss'''1 re
ne TOOK one wide survey OF the londs.-.e.
,nen bounded OF toward Farm ~,
ers tcr'dp fell. The tur,,sns - 60, -
Nacoy up, but several rows Of nh.
. - ''.,r way tow ard carly rnar,se
content. ~ '''S heArt
> The children came back frcr, r.
I s.SNe errand. They had even hoen
, e"S mouse and demanded a rasher ~ o.,
r .nleCe 10 be hasted on their arm VII
,he nurse did and they LEFT James 80, ~,
: ing most indnstriously the chosen our,
\ 49, 49, , ,\ow they rubbed their eyes al
J, So" pi-nNiy at one another tn
I, poor dead donkey was zone "e
na' ever can have become AZ him
.. questioned Violet. looking tnaaS'sr I'm
toward the sky cent
y Fancy exclaimed Aiurjel ..hs 49,,
- nave gone and buried hinseif,.
how could he2' Queried Percy
II was almost high noon. and the -,
"a dren ~til impressed with the ao,lse,
(. disappearance, turned toward homo !,