The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-07-26
JouNNY-s VISIT TO THE CIRCUS.

To do the best you CAM
JouNNY-s VISIT TO THE CIRCUS.
Johnny was bright boy, and the favor
lite of his playtellows. He was a good boy,
and loved his mother dearly. re was fond
of dogs and horses, and visited, if possible,
every circus and show that came into the
village. One day he rushed into the room
where she was sitting, and throwing down
his school books, exclaimed, och, mother
there is such grand circus coming, with
beautiful horses and the little ponies, and
such funny clown and, oh wild animals
and music! And, mother, we must go
and see it, for it only stays one night !"
His mother was quite startled by his sud-
den entrance; but she smiled, as she
looked at his excited face, and, kissing him,
told him to eat his luncheon, and after
wards they could talk about going to the
circus. Johnny's mind was to full of the
circus to be able to eat. He tried, but
gave it up and leaving the table, he came
quietly to his mothers side, and putting
his arms around her neck, he said, won't
you, mamma you go to the circus
Now, mamma, you know you promised
mel" His mother remembered partial
promise to take him to the next circus
that came, and so she rather reluctantly
gave her consent, for she was afraid that
his mind was too much taken from his
studies by going to such places of amuse-
ment but then, she thought, he gees so
seldom, there can be no harm. SONNY ate
but little supper that night ; and long be-
fore the time for the performance he urged
his mother and uncle to start.
You may be sure they secured good
seats. At last the performance began +; aud
it would be difficult to say what pleased
funny clown, the daring riders. the intel
ligent monkeys, or the learned deg if he
the riders. "oh how 1 would like to be
a circus rider !" thought Johnny, as his
mother led him out, after all was over /;
and he kept thinking all the way
home.-r And Wien he went to sleep,
he dreamt of clowns and horses and
riders, and that he was the most expert
rider of them all and he was just perform
ing on the most beautiful horse, amidst
the greatest applause, when he woke to
find the sun shining brightly, and his
mother knocking at his door.
Johnny did not feel like going to school
that day. He had not studied his lessons ];
and it required but little persuasion from
the boys to induce him to play truant. 1t
was the first time that he had disobe5ed
his mother. The boys had often laughed
at him for being tied to his mothers apron
strings, as they called it /; so now, he
thought, he would show them what big
boy he was, and how he would Go as he
pleased. The boys had just decided to 60
up to the circus and take last look at 1T,
when Johnny Joined them. They found
but little of the show left, for most of it
had been started the night before TO the
next village. Johnny recognized one of
the men as the one he had heard called
TBill" so he called out to him, "How are
YOU, Bill T., Now Bill was one of the RI
ders and when he heard his name called,
be looked at Johnny, and thought what q
nice boy he would be to learn to ride; he
had long been in want of such boy and
thought this wou!d be good chance to
nlpQaRn
with Johnny, and invited him into one of
the small tents that was left standing.
When he had Johnny safely inside, he
went out and ordered the other boys away.
Bill asked johnny to help him tie up bun
dies and pack the trappings for wagon
that was just about starting, and then in
vited him to ride short distance with
him. Johnny was delighted when he
found himself seated on the circus wagon,
with four horses before it, and a ceal circus
rider driving.
Bill entertained him with stories of
horses and riders, and circus talk general
ly, and Johnny scarcely noticed how far
he was being carried from home until it
was nearly night al guess 1 will get
down, and walk back" said Johnny, when
there had been pa9se in Blir ,i converse.
ton. 81 guess not" said Bill. II want
you to be a circus rider, and am going to
learn you to be one so como to the circus,
and / will go back tomorrow and make 1T
all right with your mother" Johnny did
not like the plan altogether. he began to
think how his mother would worry about
him, and he was on the point of crying,
when they arrived at the grounds where
the circus was to be. At the sight. of all
the hustle and excitement of putting up
the tent, Johnny's spirits revived and
when Bill asked him il he would not ike
TO put on a clown's dress and ride q little
pony around the ring in the grand opening
nnana. I en- CORY Go cay he ooneented glad-