Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1918-03-06
but Connie shuddered. She remem.

but Connie shuddered. She remem-
bered so many April FOOLS days. - ~ =.
The family usually chung together
on occasions of this kind, feeling
there was safety and sympathy in
numbers-aS so many towards have
felt for 10 these many years. And thus
1T happened that they were all in the
dining room when their father an
peared at the door, He had his hands
behind him suggestively.
"Twins," he said, without preamble,
"what do you want more than any
thing else?'
"Silk stockings" was the prompt
and unanimous answer.
He laughed. "Good guess, wasn't
t?" And tossed into their eager hands
two slender boxes nicely wrapped.
The others gathered about them With
smiling eyes as the twins TREMENDOUSLY
tore off the wrappings.
"A. Phoole's Pure Silk Thread
Hose-Guaranteed!" This they read
from the box-neat golden lettering.
"
cries Of perfect bliss they flung them
selves upon their father, kissing him
rapturously wherever their lips might
touch.
"Oh, papa!" "Oh, you darling!"
And then, when they had some sort of
control of their. Joy, Lark said SOL
EMMY, Papa, it is a gift from heav:
en!"
"Of course we give you the credit,
papa" Carol amended quickly, "but
the thought was heaven-prompted."
Fairy choked suddenly, and her fit
of coughing interfered with the twins
gratitude to an all-suggesting Provi-
dence!
Carol twisted her box nervously.
"You know, papa, it may seem very
childish, and-silly to you, but-actu-
silly-we have-well, prayed for silk
stockings. We didn't honestly expect
to get them, though-not until we
saved up enough money enough to get
them ourselves. Heaven is kinder to
as than We"
you can't understand such things,
papa" said Lark. maybe you don't
know exactly how-how they feel
When we 60 to Betty Hills we wear
her silk stockings and lie on the bed
-and-she won't let us walk in them
:or fear we may wear holes. Every
girl in our class has at least one pair
Betty has three, but one pairs holey,
and-we felt so awfully poor!"
The smiles on the family faces were
:ather stereotyped by this time, but
he exulting twins did rot notice. Lark
:ooked at Carol fondly. Carol sighed
1t Lark blissfully. Then, with one ac-
cord, they lifted the covers from the
boxes and drew out the shinInering
hose. Yes-shimmering-
shook them out for inspection Their
aces paled a little.
"They-they are very" began
Carol courageously. Then she stopped.
The hose were a fine tissue-paper
imitation of silk stockings! The
April Fool, little twins" on the toes
vas not necessary for their enlighten-
nent. They looked at their father
With sad but unresentful reproach in
heir swiftly Swallowed eyes.
"It-it's a good JOKE" stammered
Carol, moistening her dry lips with
Ter tongue.
'It's-one on u.s." blurted Lark
promptly.
"Ha, ha, ha," laughed Carol, slowly,
lryly, very DULY.
"Yes-ha, ha, ha," echoed Lark, plac-
ng the bitter fruit carefully back in
is box. Her fingers actually trembled:
"It's a-swell joke, all right" Carol
aid; 1--WE see that well enough-we're
lot stupid, you know. But we did
want silk stockings so-awfully bad.
But it's funny, ha, ha, ha !"
"a gift from heaven!" muttered
lark, with clenched teeth. "Well, you
;ot us that time"
"Come on, Lark, we must put them
iacredly away-silk stockings, you
Know, are mighty scarce in parson-
lge-'
Eyes, ha, ha, ha," and the crushed
ind broken twins left the room, with
lightly in spite of the blow.
The family did not enjoy the joke on
he twins.
Mr.. Starr looked at the others with
I'll a mans confused incomprehension
If woman's notions! He spread out
lis hands-an orthodox, ministerial
GESTURE!
"Now, will someone kindly tell me
What there is in silk stockings to"
lie shook his head helplessly. "Silk
stockings! A gift from heaven" He
smiled, unmerrily. ''The poor little
zids!' Then he left the room.
Aunt Grace openly wiped her eyes,
o4 han oh 4 Il