National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-09-13
Tom Hartley got His Wish.


there, oil around; and these were to tel
that grand circus was coming. Beside
the wild animals, which were in grea
cages, there were three elephants; thel
there we're ponies, with monkeys TO ride
them, and trained horses, and the fun
NEST looking fellow of clown. Alto
gether, there was n great deal to see
and ies no wonder the boys we're hal
crazy over it; I'm sure | should have
been myself.
Well, very soon the music was heard
and how delightfully."- it sounded that
bright, snnshiny morning! "There
there! they're coming" cried ever 81
many OF the boys at once, and in q
moment they saw the cloud OF dust away
down the rold
81 wonder II the lions ever get out?'
said little Bob Emmett, as they all stood
watching.
Il guess we'd all run if they should,
said Dick Upton.
"Poohl run! | wouldn't" said Tom
Hartley. aid just like to see them run.
ming around loose wouldn't it be jolly?
az guess You'd he scared if the eleph.
ant should step on You" said Bob.
"Scarei!--n what do you think I'd
10? I'd just push his foot away, and I'd
give him great kick and guess he
wonldn't step on me again"
Now, Tom always talked in this grand
vav, and the boys thought he must b.
very brave. It's trne he huttered n red
shirt among the geese, and when the old
gander flew at him Tom ran screeching
ike n loon. Then another time he roar.
IL Justify because he thought COW
chased him.
Well, pretty soon the circus came, and
while the performance was going on IA
monkey was brought and put on the
pony "Hector's' back. "Ohl don't |
wish / could ride him." said Tom Hart
ley.
"Wouldn't you be scared?" said Jack
Wilson.
":Scared-poohl / shouldn't be scared
if he jumped as high as the top of the
tent. The higher he jumped the better
I'd like it.
Just at that minute "Hector" kicked
mp his hind legs and threw the monkey
across the tent. But the monkey pick,
ed himself up and ran after "Hector"
caught him by the tail. Then he com.
menced striking him with stick. 1t
didn't hurt the horse at all. but he pre-
tended that it did, aud so he ran around
the ring as fast as he could go.
BIT it happened that he stopped just
under the platform where the boys were.
md as the clown came up, Bob Upton
threw peice OF melon rind at his head,
md Jack Wilson reached down with
long stick he had. and poked the cap of
his head. Then the boys all shouted and
stamped their feet, and screamed out all
manner of rude things again.
The clown looked very angry; he pick
ID up his cap, but no sooner had lie put
it on his head again, than Tom Hartley
reached down with his stick to poke il
off. But Toms stick was not long enough,
and in reaching down, over Tom went.
de fell to the ground and hurt himself
Il good deal, but he hadn't time to think
If that, for quick as wink, the clown
picked him upand put him on Electors"
back.
sob! Oh! OH" roared Tom, as the
Town cracked his whip, and Hector"
commenced running around the ring at
an awful gallop. Tom thought he should
die; he tried to hold on, but he scream
ed so lou "Hector" was frightened,
and ran great deal faster than ever he
did with the monkey. The clown put
mp the bars, and Hector" gave great
Jump and went over them. II almost
took the breath out of Tom. I really
think then the clown might have taken
him of. But he didn't; he clapped his
hands aud "Hector" understood what he
was to do; SO he kicked up his hind legs.
and Tom weDt-not exactly sky high,
nut over the horses head and almost
across the tent.
OF course it hurt Tom great deal
more than ever it did the monkey, for
The monkey was such little fellow, and
hen he always knew when Hector"
was going to throw him, and could give
1 jump. But there lay poor Tom on the
ground, screaming louder than ever he
lid in his life before.
Then the clown took up long iron
rod that had hook on the end Of it, and
vent up to Tom. ooh, see," cried the
/0ys, he's going to lick him"
We clown came up to where Tom lay
ing on the ground, and he stoop-
and looked at him, as though
pine very curious thing that he
seen before. He looked in
" way, that it made every.
circus laugh. Then the
be hook right through the
Toms trousers and held
2 shouted and laughed
looked just like crab
of poker. And so
! him over, and lifted
form.
my own part, I felt
i'm; but after that he
B say that he should
circus horse, and he
known to teaze the
Yorker