CHAPTER V
A JOKE THAT WENT WRONG
For several days after the prank with the mouse Bob did not play anyjokes. The teacher ascribed that fact to the lecture she had givenhim. Bob's mother, who also noticed that he was much more quietthan usual, feared he was going to be sick.
"I never knew him to be so subdued," she thought. "I think I mustgive him some sulphur and molasses. Perhaps he is getting somedisease."
She mentioned it to the captain.
"Nonsense," said the mariner. "He's hatching up some trick, that'swhat he's doing. You want to look out."
"Oh, captain, I don't think so!"
"Well, I do. Now you mark my words. It's down on the chart thatBob is up to some mischief. He's hauled down his colors for awhile, but that's only to fool the enemy. First thing you knowhe'll hoist the Jolly Roger, and then there'll be some queer doingsin these waters."
"Hoist the Jolly Roger?"
"I mean turn pirate, so to speak. You keep your eye on that boy,Lucy. Something's going to break loose or I'm a Dutchman."
Bob's father thought his son's subdued behavior on the few daysfollowing the captain's arrival was due to a hint Bob had obtained,that, unless he mended his ways, he might be sent on a long voyageto work his passage.
Now the truth was that Bob was merely waiting for a good chance toplay a trick. He was not particular what sort of a trick it was solong as it created a laugh. The consequences never gave him athought or worry.
So, as he could think of nothing sufficiently "funny" to do, heremained quiet. But all the while he was looking about to see if heand his boon companion, Ted Neefus, could not perpetrate some prankthat would be "worth while."
"Things are awful slow," complained Ted one afternoon as he and Bobwalked home from school.
"That's right," agreed Bob. "But wait. I've got a plan."
"What is it?"
Bob looked carefully up and down the street. Then he glanced behindhim. Next he drew Ted into some bushes that lined the thoroughfareon which they were walking.
"You know what's going to happen Friday night, don't you?" Bob asked.
"No; what?"
"The annual donation party for the minister."
"Well, what of it?"
"I'm going."
"That's nothing. Don't you generally go? So do I, though I don'tsee much fun in it. Ma makes me. She says it saves gittin' a mealat home, but I don't like the stuff they have there."
"I don't either--not much--but I'm going this time and so are you.Because, listen, something's going to happen."
"Honest?"
Bob nodded vigorously several times. There was a bright twinkle inhis eyes.
"Don't say a word to anybody," he cautioned Ted, "but just you be onhand. This is going to be the best joke yet."
"Maybe he'll get mad."
"What if he does? He won't know who did it. You and I will be upin the gallery, or somewhere, and no one will see us. I'll betthere'll be some fun."
The chief trouble was, as I have pointed out before, that Bob'sideas of fun and those of other persons did not always agree. Boysand older folks seldom think the same on any subject, and so how canthey be expected to about "jokes"?
The minister's donation party was an annual affair in Moreville.Rev. Daniel Blackton, who had charge of the only church in thevillage, did not receive a very large salary, and it was the customto give him a "donation party" once a year to help pay him.
This usually took the form of a supper, held in the church parlors.The women of the congregation provided the food, and a small pricewas charged for the meal. Nearly every one, including the "menfolks" and the children, attended, and sometimes quite a fair sumwas realized in this way.
In addition, every one who could afford to was expected to bringsome "donation" for the minister. The women would knit him mittens,or slippers, or socks, they would crochet articles for theminister's wife, or bring jars of preserves, which were very welcomeat the parsonage.
The men would donate wood, garden products, or whatever they couldbest afford. In this way, while the reverend gentleman's salary wasnot large, he managed to obtain a comfortable living.
It was to this donation party, or supper, that Bob and Ted weregoing, and as they crouched in the shadow of the bushes theyperfected Bob's plan for some fun.
Mrs. Henderson was usually on the committee of arrangements for thesupper, and this occasion was no exception. For a week before shewas busy making pies and cakes and getting great pans of baked beansready, for the supper victuals were of a plain but very wholesomesort.
As Captain Spark was a guest at the Henderson home at the time thesupper was to be held, he, of course, was invited to attend, aninvitation he quickly accepted, for he was fond of hearty eating,and he was not ashore often enough so that such affairs as donationsuppers were distasteful to him, as they are to some persons.
At last the eventful evening came. Bob, dressed in his best suit,prepared to accompany his parents and Captain Spark to the church.
Such a thing as their son attempting a joke at the donation suppernever occurred to Mr. or Mrs. Henderson. It is true that at theaffair there was more or less jollity and good-natured fun after theformal function of supper was over and the minister had asked theblessing. But no one had ever dared play such a joke as Bobcontemplated. If his mother had in the least suspected him of evendreaming of it she would have made him stay at home.
There was a good-sized throng in the church when the Henderson partyarrived. Long tables had been set in the parlors, which were backof the church proper. Women in long white aprons were hurrying toand fro, getting ready to serve the meal. Bob followed his parentsand the captain into the edifice.
"Is everything all ready?" asked Ted Neefus in a whisper as heapproached Bob.
"Don't come near me," was the cautious answer. "Folks'll suspect ifthey see us together."
So Ted quickly glided away and was lost in the crowd.
The tables were all set, the victuals put on, and nearly every onehad arrived.
"I guess we'd better get the chairs up now," proposed Mrs. Olney,who with Mrs. Henderson was superintending things. "Some of theboys can do it."
"I will, mom," volunteered Bob, who stood near his mother. "I'llget some of the fellows to help me."
"That's good," said Mrs. Henderson.
Bob hurried away, and soon he, Ted Neefus, Will Merton, Sam Shoopand some other chums were placing the chairs at the long tables.
"Is it all ready?" asked Ted in a hoarse whisper.
"Hush, can't you!" cautioned Bob. "Do you want to give it away?"
All was in readiness for the grown folks to sit down. They wouldeat first, then the tables would be set anew and the young peoplewould have their turn. There was always more fun at the secondtable, and Bob and his chums would take their meals there.
Some one told Rev. Daniel Blackton that supper was ready, and hemoved up to the head of the table, prepared to say grace. In honorof Mrs. Henderson, who was one of the chief workers in the church,her relative, Captain Spark, had been accorded a place next to theminister.
"Come on up in the gallery now," said Bob to Ted. "We can see thefun from there." Bob had been busy straightening the chairs nearthe head of the table.
Just as the boys reached the gallery, the assembled diners tooktheir seats. The reverend gentleman stood up to say grace, and thensat down.
"How long before it works?" asked Ted.
"It's working now," replied Bob, "but you won't see the full effectuntil he gets up."
"Think he'll make much of a fuss?"
"Naw. He's too good-natured. He'll only laugh."
The meal progressed. To and fro went the women with big plates offood. Every one seemed to have a good appetite, and some youngpeople, who were hungry, began to think the grown folks would neverget done.
But at last there was a general scraping of chairs as they werepushed back.
> "Watch now!" called Bob to several of his cronies who were with himin the gallery that overlooked the room where supper was beingserved. "He's getting up."
In fact nearly every one was leaving the table. The tall form ofRev. Daniel Blackton was seen to rise. Something else arose also.It was the minister's chair. He felt that something was wrong, andhalf turned around. What he saw caused a deep flush to spread overhis pale face.
His chair was glued fast to him, and wherever he moved the chairwent too!
"Oh!" exclaimed Bob in a hoarse and horrified whisper. "I put thestuff on the wrong chair! I wanted Captain Spark to stick fast, andI put it on the minister's chair by mistake!"
By this time the dominie was endeavoring to pull the chair loosefrom the seat of his trousers. But the glue Bob had spread was verysticky. Pull and tug as he did, the minister could not free himself.
First there was a murmur, then some one laughed. In a moment thewhole room was in an uproar.
"You'll catch it!" prophesied Ted, in an awestruck whisper.
"I won't unless some of you squeal on me," declared Bob.
He looked over the balcony railing at the struggling minister, whowas trying in vain to get free from the chair.
"Nobody'll squeal," declared Will Merton.
"Of course not," added Sam Shoop.