s it was dated on the first of April, I
took it for the jest of some merry friend."

"Very far from it, I can assure you," answered the man. "An old
gentleman arrived here from England about that time, who said that a
brother and sister had come to this country many years ago, and that he
was in search of them or their children. His name was Bunting. At his
request, we made several advertisements for his relatives. Some one
mentioned that a gentleman named Thomas Bunting resided in the town
where you live; and we immediately dropped him a note. But, as no
answer came, it was presumed the information was incorrect."

"Where is he now?" asked Bunting.

"He is dead."

"What! Dead?"

"Yes. A letter came, some weeks after we wrote to you, from St. Louis,
which proved to be from his sister, and to that place he immediately
proceeded. Soon after arriving there, he died. He left, in money, about
ten thousand dollars, all of which passed, by a will executed before he
left this city--for in his mind there was a presentiment of death--to
his new-found relative."

"He was my uncle!" said Bunting.

"Then, by not attending to our letter, you are the loser of at least
one-half of the property he left."

Bunting went home in a very sober mood of mind. His aunt and himself
were not on good terms. In fact, she was a widow and poor, and he had
not treated her with the kindness she had a right to expect. There was
no likelihood, therefore, of her making him a partner in her good
fortune.

Bunting was the real April Fool, after all, sharp-witted and wide awake
as he had thought himself. His chagrin and disappointment were great;
so great, that it took all the spirit out of him for a long time; and
it is not presumed that he will attempt an "April Fool" trick in the
present year, of even the smallest pretensions.

A WAY TO BE HAPPY.

I have fire-proof perennial enjoyments, called employments.

RICHTER.

"Always busy and always singing at your work; you are the happiest man
I know." This was said by the customer of an industrious hatter named
Parker, as he entered his shop.

[Illustration: MR. PARKER AND HIS RICH CUSTOMER. Page 126.]

"I should not call the world a _very_ happy one, were I the happiest
man it contains," replied the hatter, pausing in his work and turning
his contented-looking face toward the individual who had addressed him.
"I think I should gain somet