If they can be made to wear skins);
Grown-up folks in straw or leather,
Just whichever suits the weather.
These styles are the latest thing,
Brought from Paris for the Spring,
Neat and natty, trim and cool"--

[Illustration]

"April Fool!" cried Amos. He felt sure that was coming.

But the Fool merely put his hand to his ear. "Did you call me?" he asked
politely.

The children shook with laughter at that, and the April Fool turned to the
Journeying Man. "Your turn," he said.

This is the April poem that the Journeying Man recited for the rest:--

"Young Peter Puck and his brothers wrote
To the wise wood-people a little note.
It said, 'If you'll meet us by Ripply Pond,
Wonders we'll show with our magic wand.'
'What shall we do?' said the forest-folk.
'Maybe it's merely a practical joke.'
But they went, good souls, and they only found
A bare, bare bush and the green, green ground.
'But watch,' said the fairies, 'and you shall see
Animals grow on a tiny tree.'

"The rabbits and squirrels felt aggrieved;
They thought that surely they'd been deceived.
But Peter Puck, at the head of the band,
Called, 'Come, come, Kitty!' and waved his hand.
Then the buds on the pussy-willow bush
All became kittens as soft as plush--
Smooth, round kittens, quite calm and fat;
On every twig hung a little cat.
And the fairies danced, and the glad wood-folk
Cried, 'Oh, what a beautiful, beautiful joke!'"

"Now look here," said the April Fool, when J. M. was done. "I have several
important questions to ask this crowd."

He then proceeded to ask the questions, not one of which anyone even tried
to answer.

"Now, speech is very curious:
You never know what minute
A word will show a brand-new side,
With brand-new meaning in it.
This world could hardly turn around,
If some things acted like they sound.

"Suppose the April flower-beds,
Down in the garden spaces,
Were made with green frog-blanket spreads
And caterpillar-cases;
Or oak trees locked their trunks to hide
The countless rings they keep inside!

"Suppose from every pitcher-plant
The milk-weed came a-pouring;
That tiger-lilies could be heard
With dandelions roaring,
Till all the cat-tails, far and near,
Began to bristle up in fear!

"What if the old cow