Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-08-27
Excitement in a Circus.

We have laughed heartily over the following
ludicrous story, and would not deprive our read
ers of the same enjoyment:
A number of years ago, when Michigan was
a new country, in Livingston county, there lived
family by the name of Clayton, and one called
Perkins, also,-as well as a great many others.
Pete Clayton was tall, fine looking fellow
a noble specimen Of our ackwoodsmen-stand-
ing six feet two inches in his stockings.
Pete had taken shine to Miss Sally Perkins
and it was known, in fact, that they were en-
gagged, but the day when the knot was to be
tied had not as yet been dlvulged.
In the month of August, 1S49, June's circus
came through their town for the first time, and
in fact it was the first circus that had ever
passed that way, and there was great many
people who had never seen one. When the
important day arrived, the town was filled to
OVERLOOKING with motley crowd, of course, and
every young fellow had his gal. Now, Pete
wanted to get married on the coming Christ
mas, but Sally wished to have it put off till the
next spring. When the ticket wagon was
opened the tent was filled in a hurry. Pete and
Sally had been looking through the side shows,
and they were late in getting in, and the per-
formance had already commenced. They walked
around the entire ring, trying to find seat
and although they could seat two thousand peo-
pie, every seat was full.
"Never mind, said Sal, It'd just as lief
stand up.'
But the gallant Pete could mt think of it, and
said, "wait mint, I'll get you chair" and
off he started, leaving Sal alone.
Just at this moment the clown came in,
dressed in his usual costume. and dancing
around the ring, stepped right in front of Sal
and began to sing:
''Oh, Sally is the gal for me.''
This caused Sal to blush, for she thought
the clown was looking at her. AS she stood
near the ring, of course, she hid the view of
usual on such occasions, the clown cracked his
jokes at the offenders until they take the hint
and find a seat, but she said she would rather
stand up. At this the clown commenced his
jokes, remarking to the ring master:
There a chance for me now"
GA chance for you? p
eyes, don't you see that gal has lost her
beau. and she is looking at me know and
turning three or four somersaults, he stoned
in front of Sal, and began to sing:
''Oh Sally is the gal for me,
l would have no other,
And if Sal died tomorrow night
I'd marry Sally's mother
This was evidently meant for her and raised
SAILS dander, and she burst out with
I'm the gal for you, am [? Marry my moth
er, would yer? You loW-lived spotted scum of
lor you for that. 1 would Mt stay here another
minit-nor neither would any decent people
either Saying which she rushed out of the
tent, amid roars Of laughter.
The clown assuming comical attitude, re-
marked to the ring master that his grandfather
was remarkable man, and so was his grand
mother, too, but that gal beat all his fore
fathers.
At this juncture Pete rushed in, closely fol-
lowed by Sal, and jumping into the ring
squared off at the clown, and said:
'I' II teach you to insult any female under
my charge" and let fly at his opponent, and
taking him plump in the face, sent him to
mother earth, at which he jumped on him and
commenced kicking him numerically; Sal
standing on the outside of the ring clapping her
hands, and sang out:
''Thats it, Pete, give him jessie, and we'll
git married on Christmas, sure"
At this moment the ring master and three or
four others caught Pete and commenced to
thrash him, when Pete's friends interfered, and
general fight ensued, which completely broke
up the circus.