The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-04-12


then, after each had taken look at the
little room. the door was closed and thcis
attention was directed TO The larger one.
This room looks much better than II
did when we came" said Ida Brown.
thoughtfully: lit is clean and wholesome
now. but we can't make n look as wen d5
the other, especially with such LOOKING
stove In il. What a rusty old thing II Is.
1T ought to be BACKED. that's fact.
said Sadie, "but 1t would be terrible
job"
I'm good for IT," cried Fired. Green.
81 always black mothers stoves for her
And can help" cried Ben and Archio
in one breath.
but where will you get your black
ingf" asked Jenny.
AT home" replied Fred. Il won't be
gone more than five minutes; YOU g''
everything else ready"
That stove proved 70 be the hardest JOB
Of the day; but the boys persevered I'll
Fred, greatly out OF breath, declared
that II it doesn't shine, it is black IN
stead OF red"
By four o'clock everything was done \
fire was built I'm the ncwiy-blackenod
stove; the tca-kottle. which. like every
thing else, had been washed and secured,
was filled and put on 10 boil. and a pot OF
coffee. left from their dinner. stood on the
back OF the stove 10 keep warm. The
table was covered with a coarse, but
clean. table-cloth, and the dishes were
daintily arranged on IL, together with
plates OF sandwiches, cakes, and dough-
nuts. remnants also of their dinner, all in
readiness for the old hernil's supper.
while On the closet shelves We're pie,
two loayes of bread and some cold meat.
sent by Mrs Benson as her share OF the
feast.
Taken all together. these young people
had every reason for being satisfied with
their days work The little house. which
bad seemed SO cherries and desolato
when they entered it had been transform-
ed into neat, hOmelike place.
Little Bessy Merle, who had been con
sidered too small 10 take any part IN this
April Fool frolic, but who had persisted
in coming with the rest, had brought, IS
her Offering. a thrifty young gersnium I'm
a tin fruit-can. Some had laughed az her
for bringing II, but now as its scarlet
blossoms smiled at them from the win
dow. they all agreed It was just what was
needed 10 complete the brightness of the
room
'TIow ] would Ike TO be a mouse I'm ths
corner when old Nate opens his door.
said Jenny, gleefully, as they stood about
watching Robert screw the iron hasp
back into place once more. II imagine
his face will be a sight worth seeing. oh,
do you suppose he viii be mad about itr'
NO don't" said sadie. frankly. "bur
] don't care much II he IS. lie can't
help himself now. and his house is clean
for once. II he doesn't like IT, he will
have to take it as an April Fool joke,
that's all"
And the best April Fool joke we ever
played" added Robert
II never had so much Pun on April Fool
day before, in all my NE chimed IN
Jimmy. suddenly throwing his heels I'm
the air AM attempting 10 walk OF on his
hands.
Hear, hear"' cried Charley from his
elevated position in the wagon as several
Of the smaller boys essayed to follow Jim
my's example
a speech a speech" cried Robert;
Charley Barnard has the hoor."
Charley took off his hat and made
ceremonious bow. Ladies and gentle
men," he said before We leave the scene
OF our days labors, allow me to say that
l agree fully with what has been already
said. that this has been the jollest April
Fool day We ever spent and / propose
now three cheers for the one who oriei-
mated this brilliant pian;' and he looked
meaningly across at Sadie
'Oh. il wasn't l." said Sadie in a mat
ter-of-fact tone. II never should have
thought Of such a thing II Ben and Jim
my hadn't proposed it,"
1T was Jimmy" cried Ben, With
very red face
mo, it wasn't; It was Benz" put IN
Jimmy 'He was I'm here one day last
week and saw how dirty it was and pro-
posed it,"
I'm propose. then, three cheers for the
old man himself" said Charley. "and.
may the influence Of his changed sur
roundings lead him 10 a more useful. re-
spectacle life I'm the future. Nor for il
one, two. three. hurrahw and such a
shout arose from the little company that
Judge Benson, driving leisurely home
ward, checked his horse TO a walk. lest
they should not have left the scene Of
action before their victim should make
his appearance
No one ever knew what Nathan Hnt
ley's thoughts We're when he entered hts
transformed dwelling. rae kept himself
hidden for a number Of days. but az tlms
went On. it seemed as though Charloy's
wish was TO be realized; FOR when Do next
made his appearance, his hair a. beard
were neatly trimmed. and Doe had ON ra-
apectable suit Of clJtEes and when spring
work came on, he went over and asked
Farmer Andrews if there was not some
thing he could DO about the farm
Il am not a young man. I know" be
said, but / can do good days work
Yet and ia be much obliged Or y0i'd give
me somethin' 10 do"
Farmer Andrews gladly supplied him
with work. and he worked faithfully the
whole summer long. His face. too. soon
lost its hard LOOK. and the boys mover
found themselves locked out OF his house
again He never referred TO what had
happened but once. and That was when
the little geranium had grown 10 Doc a
large plant and had been transplanted to
a tub, whore IL grew and ll0ssomed as
though fully conscious of the mission il
had 20 perform.
Il don't know who gave me tins
pretty plant" he said. fonIling lbs leaves
caresslngly; but whoever brought 30
here brought a blessing into my life. Ny
wife was fond of flowers. and 70 doesn't
seem half as dreary here since 1 have
this for company / wish every lonely old
man could have such a blessed April Fool
as mine was