All in Fun : April Fool's Day on Shiloh
April Fool's Day on Shiloh started before breakfast in the bunk-house , all of the hands were sound asleep , when Trampas decided to play a joke on his unsuspecting bunk-mate Randy. ''What are you doin' , Trampas''? ; Beldon whispered from the next bunk. What does it look like I'm doin' , I'm playing an April Fool's joke on our friend here , ; Trampas whispered as he put a small frog on Randy's bunk. Trying not to laugh and give the joke away , Trampas and Beldon watched as the frog hopped around in confusion and then made a big leap into Randy's hair! Half awake , Randy felt something wet with legs on top of his head. ''What in the blue blazes''! ; Randy thought as he became fully awake and reached a hand up to find out what was in his hair.
''What's goin' on''? ; Randy said as his hand closed around the frog and he sat up. April Fool ! ; Trampas and Beldon yelled out as Randy sat up with the frog in his hand. April Fool yourself , Trampas ! ; Randy exclaimed as he threw the frog at Trampas , all the while laughing heartily. So , that was what woke me out of a sound sleep just now! ; Randy laughed , waking up all the other hands. What's goin' on , Randy ! ; one of them called out. Oh , nothin' , just a little April Foolin'! ; Randy called back. Oh , I'll bet ! ; the other hand called back. Hearing a thump coming from The Virginian's bunk , Trampas whispered , ''You don't suppose we woke him up , Randy '' ? ; Trampas said.
No , the frog's hopped onto his bed ! ; Randy laughed as the frog made a leap for The Virginian's face. Well , he's up now , ; Randy said as The Virginian woke up and picked up the frog. Mornin , Trampas , mornin' , Randy , ; The Virginian said as he walked over to their bunks with the frog in tow. Whose idea was this , Randy ? ; The Virginian asked , gesturing to the frog with an amused grin. Oh , that was Trampas's idea of an April Fool's joke on me , boss , ; Randy said , trying not to laugh. I reckon he got away after I threw him back at Trampas , ; Randy said. So , that's what today is ! ; The Virginian laughed. Now , how about putting our long- legged friend outside where he belongs , Trampas , ; The Virginian said with a grin in his friend's direction. Sure , bossman ! ; Trampas said as he hopped down from his bunk and took the frog.
How'd he even get that frog in here , Randy ? ; The Virginian said with a laugh as Randy and the other boys got ready for breakfast. He must've picked it up at the church picnic yesterday , boss ! ; Randy replied with a laugh as he got dressed. One things for sure , I hope nobody played a joke on Cookie today , boss , ; Randy said as The Virginian got dressed. I hope not either , Randy , ; The Virginian said when they were finished. Yeah , 'cause if somebody did , we'd be liable to get horse meat for breakfast ! ; Randy laughed. We'd be liable at that , Randy ! ; The Virginian laughed as they went to eat breakfast. During the rest of the day , at lunch time , around the campfire , and dinnertime , there were many more practical jokes , Randy being the instigator of some of them ; but none quite so funny as the early morning adventure with the frog ! Later on , when Randy told Betsy about it , she laughed until she could'nt stop laughing. And her father laughed even more when she told him about Randy's early morning adventure with the frog ! - The End