The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1875-05-11
she Went TO the CIRCUS,
A Narrative Showing the Awful Ex-
Pertence OF a Husband Left In Charge
of the Children.
From the Louisville Commercial.

She simply, innocently and emphatic-
ally said that she must see the circus.
rain or shine, and, of course, she did.
The woman who used that argument to
her down-trodden iege is the mother of
half dozen youngsters, all of whom in
hefit her indomitable pluck in being ex-
ceedingly self.willed. This woman re-
sides in the west end of Louisville; and
it 1t was only yesterday that she ex-
pressed the determination which we
quote. Her audience At the time men.
toned consisted of exactly seven persons
the old gentleman and six off.springs.
and, of course, her words were applauded
in the minor key. She went to the show,
and with her went two of the eldest chill
dren, while the masculine protector re.
manned at home in charge Of the remain
der of the brood. The Governor tells the
story of that awful afternoon, so full Of
sorrow and tribulation, in q manner
somewhat like this:
You see, says he. my Jennie Jane was
bent on going to the circus. and says 1
Jennie Jane; Jennie Jane, you may 20
to the circus any time you please, except
to-day. My qualification riled the pes-
sion of Jennie Jane to such degree that
l at once amended my say by striking
out the last words -'except to-day"
and she went, as I knew she would at the
start. Well, as rule, l am fond of
children; and I like them best about
eight feet from me, or even in an adioin.
ing room. 1solaetimes think that light
ming couldn't strike my dwelling without
hitting one or two young tow-heads; but
still they are never Silly wouldn't take
ten shares of "Air-line" stock for one of
them.
AS the form Of my Jennie Jane passed
the threshold, en- route circusward, /
thought heard her say, "Don't leave the
house, but stay and see that nothing hap.
pens to the baby" stayed; I have a
distinct recollection of the circumstance.
For four long hours hung on the ragged
edge of despair, drifting on domestic
Niagara. surrounded by children. The
first event ofmoment that transpired dur
ing my reign was my effort to calm
squall that had broken over our latest
acquisition, and which threatened to
wreck the juvenile. The afterpart of
my junior man.O sWargman had taken in
4 heavy sea and though not versed in
nautical matters, determined to re.rig
his spanker.boom canvas-that is, pro.
posed to make the venture, sink or swim.
l survived the unsuccessful trial in that
direction, and with the energy of an army
quartermaster, turned my whole mind
to planning strategic move on the hero
Of the hour. His yelling would hardly
give an old man chance to scheme for
his happiness, and as fate seemed against
me, was about to throw up the sponge
and confess my inability to run baby.
The moment was inauspicious for new and
additional horrors, but, truly, in my case
one woe treads upon another's heels.
My arrangement for the suppression of
the baby revolt was getting along hand
somely, when in popped pert little
urchin, with more CAB to the square inch
than have ever known, with ''Oh! Mr..
Jones, Jimmy Knuckledabster has Hinged
your Bob in the street gut-mudder, and
took d his 'lasses candy, and made his
feets all muddy, and hit him on the tore
soc and tor'd his frock, and he's crying
for his mother, and run home, and
Here this champion representative of
her sex wilted from exhaustion, in the
midst of half.told tale, without explain.
ing who was 'crying for his mother" or
who had run home. In after years I will
recall with pleasure the fact that that
human talking-machine busted stay be-
fore finishing that story.
seized Dora from his cradle, chucked
him under my off arm, and struck out
for the ''gut mudder" in search of Bob,
whom soon found. He was in = pitiful
plight, covered with mud from garrett to
basement; his dress was in tatters, while
the largey member Of his toe tribe, here.
to1ore not in excellent health was bleed.
ing. With young Jones to the right OF
me and young Jones to the left Of me,
each vying with Bailey's steam piano in
the high notes, started for home and
soon had the pleasure Of planting Dora in
his COOP AS for Bob well, we CON-