The Forrest City times., 1904-04-15

| mates and have kept up our friendship.
We used to call him Truthful George
because he was always so afraid of ex-
aggerating. He seems TO have kent
| track of you while you worked In Brown
& Bogg's. Too bad they failed. You're
not the only one that was thrown out by
their going to the wall. We don't ex-
pect any crash here" Mr.. Sanborn
smiled. so, Mr.. Burns, it won't be our
lauIt III you don't stay with our firm till
your head is whittier than mine. All YOU
have to do IS to live up to what DR.
Levering says here Of you"
AS Franks position thus obtained was
higher one than Jeffrey's, his chagrin
over the successful failure of his ApriI
Fool Joke soon became envy and dislike
OF FRANKS boundless gratitude to him.
90 Jeifey was very glad to go when his
| uncle IN the west sent him an offer of a
! place with him.
Fifteen years passed by. bringing nros-
perity to both Jeffrey and Franl, and
very rapid advancement to the latter
But IN the financial crisis of certain
year IN the west, Jeffreys uncle failed
/ ana involved him so heavily that the loss
OF everything stared him in the face
II could only raise a few hundred
dollars | might still save the business "
| he groaned.
But drought and cornering in cattle
and banks closing had made il imnoesi-
Die TO borrow ready cash except AT enor-
nous interest which he could not nav
'ehfey looked around his coy lit,Ia
s'oDS ana thought Of losing the pretty
nome that his wife and children IoyeI
50 well. His little daughter opened The
door softly saying:
Papa. here's letter the postman
left" 'i'9 pos'iilah
His face lighted lp so as he road 3,
that she clspped her hands eycIain1
ing III
oh. It's some good news,o But sud
oehiy he smiled bitterly. threw the let
Ter In the CRATE, and said: No it's
Ho'hlhs, Jeanne run out. So" he CON
uhued to himself he has waited all
inns time TO pay me back for that
Joke. didn't suppose he would ever
ma 1t out; he thinks I've forgotten
but I'm too sharp for him. never
was caught yet on first of April trick
ahd N TOO old bird to be taken in
now" -
me letter was from Frank Burns
stating that he had just learned of Jeff
ireys financial difficulty through a
stray item in a western paper. which
dld not give his address. After much
inquiry he sent this letter to the ad
dress named by former friend of JEFF
freys but of which he was not sure
Il have placed a check of s.. 600 to
your order in Blank & Co s bank. in
I Il city. | do hope it will help
1t only partly expresses my gratitude
+ to you for your favor TO me years ago
which gave me my start in life" so
ran Franks letter: that it should reach
Jeffrey on April 1st was entirely I'M
thought Of by Frank After few DAYS
he wrote one to the pastor Of Jeffrev's
+ town inquiriag If lie lived there still.
and if not where he was When JEFF
frey learned Of this he wrote a postal
card TO Frank as follows: Your favor
Of April lst came duly to hand Hav-
ing good memory, l am able to de-
+ el!ae ye"r offer.
Frank was puzzled about the odd ex-
preston about memory. and was so
hurt by the diseourteous refusal of his
profsered aid. that he called in his
check and did not reply 70 jeffrey.
Jeffrey lost everything and was
obliged to start life over again. lie
became a travelling salesman and was
often IN b City. One day when he
was in Blank G. Co.'S bank the cash
Ter sad:
Did YOU notice the death OF Francis
NJ Burns in the morning paper? His
viii leaves very large sums to charity.
Do you know. always wondered why
you didn't take that check for $4,000
that he deposited here for you two
years ago? He wrote us confidently
that you would call or send soon
So Jeffrey could not ask Franks for
giveness for his selfish suspicion, as he
sincerely wished he could do. for his
better nature asserted itself. But ne
went 10 the kind old minister 70 whom
Franks letter of inquiry had been sent.
and told him the whole story, not
sparing himself in the least
Jefroy's sons and daughters have
been brought up to think the thought
less folly of practical joking not only
hurts the victim, but hardens and
narrows the heart Of the perpetrator
Christian Work.