Year: 1874

Too IgN>r m HiLr.-On Howard street
resides young lady who Possesses the high
est appreciation of practical Joke and ex-
ercises her procliyity at every opportunity.
She has brother who is salesman in 4
dry goods store, and him she particularly
likes to tease and finds plenty of opportuni-
ties. In fact this propensity Of their child
rem (tor the son retaliateS) was Tonga source
Of deep anxiety to the parents, for fear it
would lead II a partial e>tangement, but
the contrary proved the case, and of late the
old folks have enioved the Jokes Of the Young
folks heartily. All this, however. Is now a
thing of the past, the reformation being
brought about in manner that will amuse
the father and mother Ia the end OF their
days. Now be it known that the Young
lady is extremely prepoSsessing in appear
ance. and has a most eorrect-minded bean
To him the lady's gayety, amounting at
times almost TO thoughtlessness. has been
subject of deep meditation. and has doubt
less long delayed the purchase Of 4 ring. The
sequel will show that the course of true love
at last runs smoothly and in pleasant places
One day the brother presented his torment
ing sister with most intelligent and anus
ing member of the parrot family face
tious bird that would remind one of the fact
that "Pollv wants cracker every ten
minutes in the dav, and would conclude the
remark with 4 squal that would make
nervous man dream of Indians for week
thereafter. To educate this bird in a superior
manner now became the chief aim of theladv,
and removing him to her chamber. she set
about the task with 50 much earneStnesS
that Polly soon learned to utter many words
with wonderful distnctneSS. What il was
that suggested to the educator that the bird
might be made useful in annoying her broth
er is not known, but such thought occur
red to her one day, and she set about the
plot with great ayidity. Donning her broth
er's silk hat, she kept repeating the words,
''0h. what swell ~ until plug hat was
sure to call forth that remark from Polly.
This accomplished the cage containing the
bird was carried down to the parlor one eve
ming while the brother was preparing to 90
out, and hung in front window. Soon the
well-dressed youth emerged from the front
door, arrayed in his other suit Of clothes,
and no sooner had he reached the sidewalk
when the parrots too distinct voice shouted
ont "0h, what 4 swell" and as he turned
and beckoned with his cane for the bird TO
come out and fight, peal of laughter from



the mischiey9us sister fairly drowned the
words of the bird The brother passed
around the corner ought OF sight, and the
sister ran into the back parlor to tell her par
ents what capital joke she had played on
Will. While she was laughing at the re-
membranes of his flushed face as the obnox-
ious words first fell upon his ear, she heard
familiar footstep on the walk outside, at
which She blushed and started to run 70 the
door to admit the new conner. At that in
slant Polly shouted ''Oh, what swell '"
and followed up the remark with diaboli-
cal peal of laughter. For a moment the
practical joker was paralyzed. Then, rush
ing to throw open the door to explain mat
tiers, she saw familiar fern walking hasti-
", determinedly away. nor did he stop at
her little supplicating call. 1t took a week
to set things right again. but new diamond
ring now encircles one of the lady's dainty
fingers. and she has foresworn practical
jokes. Polly, however, is kept in the fam-
ly, but her mission is to serve as reminder
to her mistress by occasionally remarking to
plug hat, "0h, what swell i"-Defroa
Press.