<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div dir="ltr"><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 36px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">April Fool’s Day</span><div dir="ltr"><div><br></div><div>by Will E. Cowles</div><div><br></div><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Talk about yer Chris'masses</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Fourth o' Julys and cirkusses—</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">They ain't in it for the real fun</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">That's to be had on April one;</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Even Hallowe'en is very tame</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">To April first—that is 'f yer game.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">I think that April first must be</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Ind'pendence Day fer kids like me,</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">When we kin play all sorts of jokes</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">And not be punished by our folks—</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Though pa, he says, in a threat'nin' way:</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">"Bill, no nonsense from you today!"</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">When Jim's pants legs are found sewed up;</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">When ma of coffee takes a sup</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">And finds the sugar tastes like salt—</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">I say, quite inn'cent, "Taint my fault."</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">They frown and say, half-scold, half-laugh,</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">"This here is some of Willie's chaff."</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">The teacher has her troubles too</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">(You know what mischeevous boys can do).</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">But when I hollered "April Fool!"</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">She kept me in long after school.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">I didn't care much for I knew</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">She wasn't game—like me or you.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Say, you look as though you might</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Know how a boy 'd feel at night,</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">As though a big day's work was done,</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">And how h'd fooled 'em all—'cept one—</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">For pa, he'd said to me, one side,</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">"Don't ye fool Me, 'r I'll tan yer hide!"</span><br><br><div dir="ltr"><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Moscow Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">http://www.MoscowCares.net</span></div><div><br></div><div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Tom Hansen</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Moscow, Idaho</span></div></div><div><br></div><div>“A stranger is just a friend you haven’t met.”</div><div>- Roy E. Stolworthy</div><div></div></div></div></div></div></body></html>