A Halloween Prank, By F. P. Swanson Essay - 2340 Words

A Halloween prank, which probably occurred during the era of the W. P. Swanson Confectionery, became one of Bill’s numerous favorite stories. A manure spreader parked beside Jarchow Hall on Halloween night presented an inviting target for a resourceful band of mischief seekers. Laboring late into the night, the revelers disassembled the farm implement, hoisted the parts to the top of the two-story Jarchow Hall, and reassembled it straddling the ridge of the full pitched roof. The residents of Harris awoke to the amusing spectacle of a manure spreader perched on top of one of the tallest buildings in town.25 Bill never admitted complicity in the incident. However, in a probable scenario, expecting a bustling business on a holiday that brings people out of their homes, he clerked at the store that evening, and, as he did when asked to fill-in with a band, too willingly succumbed to a diversion. Captivated by the gumption of the pranksters to execute their brilliant plans, Bill probably remained outside to sidewalk-superintended the project with advice and perhaps even the loan of tools. Undoubtedly, on the subsequent morning after hastily completing his farm chores, Bill returned to the scene to witness the retrieval of the manure spreader and to good naturedly delight in the victim’s exasperation. An unfortunate incident occurred toward the conclusion of the 1920s, when robbers broke into Bill, Clara, and Anton’s garage and stole their brand-new Buick automobile. On