Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1902-02-28
The JOKE OF ROBERT WILKINS.
BY ID. II. TaImadge.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

DOBERT WILKINS was born with
IL penchant, if you know what that
is, for practical jokes. His career
from the moment when his delighted
parents had learned of his sex (they
had expected girl). was series of
jokes. He is not, therefore. to be judged
harshly. He is not 10 blame. Some re-
mote and accursed ancestor, who. per-
haps pursued practical jokery as "a
fad. must be accountable.
Let il he distinctly understood that
pen these words in "a charitable spir-
il. No one, unless il be his mother,
can love Robert Wilkins more fervent-
" that | love him. From the sandy
curls which crown his round little
head 10 the callouses upon his feet
he inspires the best affection of my
nature. | admit that ! am sorry for
him. / trcmble for him. At intervals
/ pray for him. forgive him every
thing But cannot forget
have been looking over "a journal
upon which ! tested my strength of
character during the greater portion
of the u months which closed the
nineteenth century, and am much inn
pressed by the frequency with which
references occur therein 10 Robert
wilkins. 1t appears that Robert VIII
kins was very active during that pc
riod, more SO. in truth. than he is al
present He is older now. and he is
slowly learning certain things that
are good for him 20 know
\ peculiar feature of these refer
ences 10 Robert wilkins in my journal
is their apparent foreipness-if | may
be permitted 10 use the word-to Rob
ert wilkins. They would not suggest
Robert wilkins 10 "A stranger. For
instance. in September | found this
somewhat important record:
Took four bellfiower apples 10 the
county fair. They were the entire
yield of the tree which obtained
from the travelling agent of the snaky
eyes | had not much confidence in
him. but bought one tree. He swore
upon his honor that il would bear APP
pies as big as Hubbard squashes
small Hubbard squashes, Of course
two years. He was guilty of false
hood The tree bore nothing but
leaves the second year and the third.
was absent from home this spring
while the buds were blowing. When
/ returned ! merely gave the tree a
cursory glance. and muttered sen
timent appropriate 10 the memory OF
an absent liar. thought no more of
il. ! went not near it. ! do not per
nit wrongs 10 tanklc in my breast
But on the day when we had been
getting together our exhibits for the
fair. my wife addressed me ON the
subject Of apples. She stated, with a
fine semblance of concern for my wei
fare. that neighbour johnson had been
boasting Of his ability TO surpass any
other raiser Of apples in the county,
the fruit 10 be the proof; that not
only had he taken first premium on
btllflowers last year and the year be-
fore, but he was going To take it
again this year. And concluded she,
looking quite fierce. he said that folks
who had the same kind of ground he
had and the same conditions (Iohn-
sons orchard and mine IRE separated
by only thin board fence), and
couldn't raise as good apples as he
raises. we're pretty poor sticks Of
fruit-growers will not deny that
was vexed. II is not in human ma
ture 10 enjoy that sort of thing. And
agreed readily when the dear wo-
man suggested that we go down 10
the orchard and see what We could
find. We returned i'm the cleaning an
hour later. filled with citation. In the
long grass beneath the maligned bell
flower tree we found four of the most
beautiful apples il had ever been our
pleasure To look upon. They were
magnificent. We proudly took them
To- the fair. The Judges awarded them
the first premium. Our sleep will he
very sweet tonight.
The events of the two DAYS succeed
ing this pleasing record do not APP
pear in the journal. As ! remember
| il. my mind during those two days
was taken up completely bv thoughts
% other things. The prophecy with
which the record closes was not full
filed | am not a good prophet. |
never was. | cannot even forecast
with any degree of accuracy the sort
Of weather betokened by red sun
set streaked with green.
Our sleep was not YER. sweet that
night My wife had been over 10
JohDson's for chat while I had been
writing my journal. and when she re-
turned the whitewinged dove ~ ne -