A Practical Joker

Mr. Sothern's energy and liberality in the beneöts for the widow of Edwin Adoras - eepecially his two rnpid railroad trips to, and day performances in, Philadelpbia and Boston, by which the Bum of $3,200 was added to the fund. now aniounting to $13,000 - havegreatly endeaxed him to the profession, and wou additional regard for hiinself from the public. Mr. Sothern has sometimes been allnded to as fond of a " lurk." On one occasion, when driving out with Mrs. John Wood, with whoni lic was actiug at the time, he stopped, and with his companion entered an irou-monger's shop. Advancing to tho counter, he said, " Have you the eecond edition of ' Macaulay's History of England V " The shop-keeper explained that he kept an iron-mongeriug establishment. " Well, it don't matter whetlier it is boiuid in calf or not," answered tho customer. " But, sir, this is not a bookseller's." "It don't matter how yon put it up," says Sothern ; " pieco of brown paper - the sort of thing you would give your own mother." "Sir!" bawled the shop-keeper, "we - don't - keep - it ! No books ; this is an ironmongering shop !" " Yes," says Sothern, "the binding differs, but lm not particular - as long as I have a flyleaf, don't you know?" "Sir!"fairly sereamed the shop-keeper, " can 't you see we keep no books ? This is an ironmonger's shop!" " Certainly," said Sothern, senting himself, " 111 wait for it." Believing that his customer was either hopeleBslyJdeaf or equaüy mRd, the man called another from the other end of tliO store, and explained that 1; coulJ do nothing with tho gentleman. "What do you wish, air?" shouted the second man, advancing. "I should liko," sayu Sothtrn, quietly, "a smal] plait fileaboutsoloDg." " Certainly, sir," said the man, casting upon bewildered No. 1 a glance of the most unmitigated disgust. Before the article could be proouied, Mrs. Wood, who liad been pretending to be occupied in looking at sawa and such (rifles, had yielded to always dominant TÍBÍbilities, so that she became quite helpless, and Sothern incontinently lied with bis purchaso as soon as he could obtain it, leaving her to recover at her leisure. When they met ut the theater she accused him of huving abandoned her after reducing her to an utterly inert state by his practical joke, but he made it all right by presenting her, not with " Macaulay's History," but the file. - Uaper's J lazar.