The Circus Comes to Town

s to P

hought it could be arranged that he shouldn't go there at all. Consequently it was with a joyous heart that Jerry awoke early on the morning of the great day that the circus was to reach t

alled Danny, but Danny was a sound sleeper and merely turned on his side. Chris and Jerry then rolled

unload," they told him. "We

e, "Aw, it's not time yet," he mutt

disgust. "We ain't got time to wake h

they knew Mrs. Mullarkey had gone back to bed, and ra

ys in town seemed to be perched on fences, roofs, and in trees, watching the proceed

ard incline to the road. The funny, awkward animal walked right along as though the wagon were as light as a feather. Many of the boys complained because the sides of the wagons in which the wild animals were kept were clos

hauled away, the troop of small boys-and many older ones a

htfully circusy smell of oils and sawdust and hay and animals pervading the air. Then through it all came another smell that made Jerry and C

er get home. Mother will be waiting breakfast for us." They left the circus

fast to scores of the onlookers, and the crowd fairly melted away until

andered around half an hour longer. "Let's go ho

a while longer an' mebbe th

once caught sight of the elephants and camels in the second largest tent, as one of the canvasmen came out and held bac

at diamond!" exclaimed Darn

as afraid he might be angry because he and Chris were so close to the tent. He

asked the other. "There were hundreds about a few minutes ago. Don't they know

never saw a circus before, Mr.

alled to Darn. "Want to ea

've got a reserved box seat

Burrows. "There's money in this jay to

s eyes, with Chris treading on his heels. "Please, mister,"

ee the circus

ry water," said Sam. "Whe

replied Chris. "Please, mister, we

s shirt, "but the elephants are awful thirsty and it will take you a

arted i

get the water

ve to pump it. Your brother there had bette

aid Jerry eagerly. "I'm

e you?" ask

losing this opportunity to see the circus, he co

" exclaimed the man. "You look m

found when he was alive. My brother's at home with mother and

and seemed to be studying over something in his

d once, just after she was married to father. She wished she cou

sed to be a orfum myself

smiled up at the man, unafraid,

erry. "I got to see my first circus th

ith four other boys, all olde

s," he said. "They've melted away as though the circus

carrying. These two boys," and he put a hand on Jerry's head and one on Chris's shoulder, "have

," replied Sam.

them," continued Mr. Burrows, "I d

after all! He was gladder than ever that he had bought the cough medicine for Kathleen with the black half-dollar. He looked up a

ettin' me carry water for

e man. "Here, there's a dime f

Mr. Burrows pressed it into his hand and went

d Sam to Jerry. "Well, them elephants is awful

eemed to be treading on air instead of the solid earth as he followed

of exhilaration at his good fortune kept up, despite the hard work of carrying that pailful of water from the pump across the street to the back of the second biggest tent, where he and Chris emptied it into a kind of a tub. Th

d the prospect of a ticket to the circus wilted but did not die. When the fourth tub w

ink a nawful lot

ed, ain't yo

, I guess. It makes my back ache

am, "and I ain't going to fill your pail clear full any mor

s," said Jerry quickly. "Chris wants to

," repli

ng as I'm on the job," said Sam, giving them

o carry," Jerry assured Sam,

felt almost starving. The sun seemed to be 'way up and he was so tired and hot that he was about ready to d

thers them tickets if they scold you for stayin' so long and I guess they'll hush right up. The matinee starts

, made them forget their hunger and weariness and they set off for home at full speed. They raced brea

fter almost every word, "we've got tickets for th

tickets to paradise to you. Now you'll get to see t

most," Jerr

s ache," Chr

liniment while I get your breakfast," Mother 'Lar

ticket, too?" C

said

Danny?" inqui

was asleep when we left. We tried t

calling him and then heard you tiptoeing downstairs and out of the house and thought he was w

t time for the c

Jerry have got back with each of them a ticket to t

ou call me!"

ther. "I heard them and heard you answer. It'

irs, his hair all tousled and his eyes still heavy

t kept a possessive hold

and Fa

H CIRC

AGE

IT

lime

marked. "Was that all you had to do to

but it took hours and h

," said

you make m

nd turned you over," Chris repli

e out of bed?" Danny asked. "Then

id Celia Jane. "The el'funt

once, but Mrs. Mullarkey made him wait for breakfast. He

a sleepy-head like

," echo