The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1875-04-30


that headboard awhile?" asked the
clown, CHANGING at the bedstead.
"No, I couldn't"
cor Jump up to the top of that look
ing glass;"
"No, l wouldn't"
cor sit astride the gas fixtures for
half an hour"
ono"
"Brothers," said the clown, maiesti-
cally, "he doesn't know anything. He
must be taught"
eyes" shouted the others, she really
must be taught"
Here one Of the %jolliest of the group
seated himself upon Johnny's breast and
waved n flag over him a moment.
Johnny began to feel the queerest SEN
sations in his back and limbs. His
fingers and toes We're gone, and instead
of them were three or four funny little
grooves. He knew well enough what
these grooves were for. He liked them
very much indeed-upon the acrobats,
but to find them upon himself was a
very different matter.
"Suppose [ should grow into n of
them," he said, thoughtfully.
"Come :" said the clown, ".you're all
ready. Get up"
81 shan't DO it."
You'd better"
81 shan't."
Its a clear case of disobedience,"
Numbered the clown. "What shall We
do?"
"He must be punished"
$50 he must. Brothers, | have a
headache, caused by a tremendous whack
which he gave me this very evening. L
demand Il fair exchange"
While Johnny was wondering what a
fair exchange" WAS, the clown came
toward him with a series of jumps, pulled
his head quickly from his shoulders, and
thrust his own in its place.
"Iou LET my head alone" screamed
Johnny.
But he found himself staring at his
own face, which looked at him from the
clowns painted shoulders, and which
seemed to take on a leering, hooking ex-
preston rs he looked.
"Anybody else want to change"
eyes; my arms broken"
"O-h.' exclaimed Johnny. q
don't believe it."
MY legs are both black and blue"
cts the paint" cried Johnny, way
ing his arms and trying to kick with his
little wooden legs.
But the acrobats had them off in a
trice, and in the twinkling of an eye the
exchange was made.
"Hardly any of this is me-" thought
Johnny, ~ruefully. wonder if 1 shall
ever get myself back again. This head
does ache a little, truly"
But he couldn't stop to think about it,
for Just then the clown announced in Il
loud voice that IN entertainment would
commence in five minutes, and the three
others busted themselves in arranging
their poles for the performance.
And what wonderful things they did
Balancing themselves upon each others
shoulders, jumping from bed to bureau
and back again, turning somersaults
from soap dish to water pitcher, waving
a toothbrush instead of a fiag-in short,
indulging in more ~extravagant feats than
the little boy had eve dreamed of before.
"Now," shouted the clown, "we'1
have our song. Well give you some.
thing worth hearing" And, without
stopping their evolutions for an instant,
the queer little figures piped up:
Jolly accrobats are we,
As you see,
Mounting high or stepping low.
Here We go,
without hands and without feet,
Our gymnastics who can beat?
Oh
Jolly accrobats are We,
Doing wonders, as you see.'
There were a great many verses, bu'
they all sounded Just alike. Johnny be
came tired of it at last, and was thinking
that he might just as well go to sleep
when the clown cried out, "Silence."
Instantly the three accrobats jumped
upon their poles and stood there.
y "Do you want your head back again.
inquired the clown gravely of Johnny.