I tuck Mary and splained it all to her and tried to quiet the poor gall, and the galls got at the old woman; but it tuck all sorts of rubbin’, and ever so much assafedity, and campfire and hartshorn, and burnt hen’s feathers to bring her too; and then she wouldn’t stay brung too more’n a minit ’fore she’d keel over agin, and I do b’lieve if they hadn’t brung little Henry Clay to her, so she could see him and feel him, and hear him squall, she never would got her senses agin. She aint more’n half at herself yit. All the gals kin do they can’t make her understand the April Fool bisiness, and she won’t let nobody else but herself nuss the baby ever sense. As soon as I had time to think a little, I was so monstrous glad it wasn’t no worse, that I couldn’t stay mad with the galls. But I tell you what, I was terrible rathy for a few minits. I don’t b’lieve in this April foolin’. Last year the galls deviled me almost to deth with ther bominable nonsense, sowin’ up the legs of my trowsers, punchin’ holes in the water gourd, so I wet my shirt busom all over when I went to drink, and heatin’ the handle of the tongs, and cuttin’ the cowhide bottoms of the cheers loose, so I’d fall through ’em when I went to set down, and all sich devilment. I know the Bible ses there’s a time for all things; but I think the least a body has to do with fool bisiness at any time the better for ’em. I’m monstrous tired of sich doin’s myself, and if I didn’t think the galls had got ther fill of April foolin’ this time, I’d try to git a almynack next year what didn’t have no fust day of April in it. No more from your frend ’til deth, Jos. Jones. XXVI. DOWN-EAST CURIOSITY.[16] On my voyage up the North River, I was seated in the cabin reading a newspaper, when I observed an odd-looking individual reading over my shoulder. I looked up in his face, when the fellow, with his hands in his pocket, and not in the least disconcerted at being caught in so impertinent and unmannerly an act, exclaimed: “Any news in particular?” “No, Sir; will you accept the paper?” “Oh no! can’t; ain’t got time. It’s the first time I’ve been up this river, and I want to be looking reound. How can they take a fellow up this river for a dollar and found. They can’t dew it. It’s a take-in.” “How is that?”