The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1901-04-18
Written for The Prison Mirror.
A Practical Joke.

/ HAVE just finished reading in one
of Harper's old magazines the
/ best planned and one of the fun
niest practical jokes that ever
came to my notice in life or story. In
a somewhat condensed manner in detail
[ will try and give the readers of The
MIRROR the benefit of my find as a
prelude to joke practiced upon the
writer, somewhat costly one. 1 of
course laughed, IA kind of sickly laugh)
but all that will come in due time.
The characters in this story are a
major in the United States army,
stationed at the time, 1899, in Santiago)
his wife and niece, who were left at
home in an almost deserted post town,
and lastly, young captain at Santiago,
who is madly in love with the majors
niece.
The aforesaid major knew no sense
of reverence, no duty to humanity
when the possibility of a jest blew his
way.
Our bold young captain had just
been favored with months leave, and
hunting up the major to. inform him
how happy he would be to take any
word home ETC., found the major lean
ing against a pillar, gazing steadfastly
at dead rat with an unusually long,
thin and hairy tail. The major leaned
forward and scooped in the dead rat by
the tail. He vouchsafed no reply atall
to the captains, swhat are you going
to do with that?" but commenced
brisk conversation with the captain
about his leave and telling him he
could carry for him if he would, to his
wife, a Cuban cactus. His own words
were-"next to being crazy about me,
she's crazy about flowers, particularly
cacti." I've got one, would the captain
take it? "Surep
When the captain was ready to start
home on the transport the major ap-
peared with a box about the size of
common soap box with couple of
| holes bored in the side-as he explained
| with somewhat sad face to our un-
suspecting captain, "were to make it
easier to water it on the way"
The majors wife was so pleased with
her present that she at once retired to
her room, cactus and all, leaving our
friend to enjoy the company of his
future wife-the engagement being
announced at a little reception given
as much in honor of the cactus as to
her niece.
At the reception the plant was set
high on a golden altar, with its out
landish name printed on neat card
and thrust into the side of the pot
"Mamillaria Rodentaria Antillium
Margarita." The cactus stuck straight
up from the middle of the earth in the
middle of the pot, supported by soft
worsted threads that bound its length
to slender stick. 1t was a thin,
tapering, weak and limp personality
and had been guarded and watered
faithfully day and night in her own
bedroom, out OF sight of curious eyes.
At this reception the captain got his
first actual view of the historic cactus
and to his eyes the treasure resembled
nothing so much al =. But no! it
could not be! with a owing doubt in
his mind he forced hin. self to stand be-
hind his fiancee and smile and smile
while the majors wife went on some
thing like this: "Yes, Mamillaria Ro-
dentaria ETC., the captain brought it all
the way with his own hands. So kind
of him Yes. Exceedingly rare and
valuable. Yes. 1 needn't tell you our
little bit of family news 1 suppose.
Louisa-fair exchange no robbery. Hal
ha! You can imagine how value it
yes. Eli? What? Droopy? No, no it's
very healthy and strong. Well, yes;
perhaps it has wilted little. What
could you expect after such journey
so young and tender! Odor Yes, L think
If hoe or will havo ond Won kOow fho