The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-08-26


with sense" of--wcll, their total dcpravi-
ty as much as anything. Accordingly they
were profoundly admonishcd anl counselcd
during the drive to the city, regarding .the
evils of that form of dissipation known as
circus going"
"1t has a corrupting influence on the
manners, said tho deacon, as loftily as if
addressing convention of Congrega tional
churches. "And it tlebases the morals TO
an unlimited degree. 1t creates a taste for
low and sordid amusemcnts, which, once
formed, can never he wholly eradcated.
intend to hitch the horse at the upper end
OF the town, where he cannot be frightened,
and 80 injure himself, by the noise and
hustle of the parade. An evil tendency
once implanted in the lninu is like a noXious
weed. 1t will grow and spread and even
tually crowd out the good. This street
parade will no doubt draw many who
should be better employed, and will cause
them to long for the intenser excitement of
the circus itself, thereby causing them to
waste money as well us time. | hope that
none of you boys will ever he tempted TO
waste your time, energies and money in that
way"
This last was said 50 pointclly that the
boys felt that an answer was necessary lest
he should turn around and take them ull
home again. Rabbity spoke up. loudly:
eyes, sir |"
''I'd like to JUS find money enough to
git into the big tent" said Ted; at which
johnny shook him, and whispered:
"You dry up yer gab. He's tcllin' us
not to-"
81 amt don' to dry up my CAB. Dry
up y'own. lie amt dot nothin' to say
bout ii, any way"
ooh, shut up! BE still |" whispered
Johnny, in terror "lIe'll take us home if
you don't look out. You keep still"
'Dess I've dot 8 much yitc to say suthin
8 you N Dave has to be talllln' to yer
selves all the time" muttcrcd Ted, half
crying.
"Wcll, VIC won't. Wc'll keep still,
won't we, Dave 2" said Johnny, willing to
DO anything to keep Ted's .ntrary little
tongue quiet.
The sermon was resumed again, and
Dave and Johnny, who sat on the back seat
with Ted between them, nudged each other
occasionally, and tried to smother their
giggling at the sight of Rabbity, who sat on
the front seat beside the deacon, and listen
cd attcntivcly, apparently drinking in every
word; which SO encouraged the speaker
that his discourse soon began to sound like
some of the columns Of 'words of four syl :.
lahles" IN Wcbstcr's old spelling book.
But the drive was not lorESand once out
OF tho buggy, the boys gave their whole at
tcnton to the sightseeing, and the admon-
iCions they had received had the fate of the
seeds which once fell by the way side. The
deacon had his hands full when tho sspan-
oramic pageant" appeared. Tho 4llrce
Older boys forgot all their promises, and
wormcd their way through the crowd that
made the street almost impossible, to the
curbstone, where they stood 'rapt in as
tonishmcnt," as the old anthem has it,
Ted could not follow, his hand being firmly
held by the deacon, who vainly tried to at
tract the attention of the boys, Of whom he
now and then caught glimpse.
81 can't see it," shrickcd Ted, jumping
with all his might, as he heard the music.
The deacon held him up to stop his noise,
but without success, for the shrieking was
changed into shouts of delight.
eff ever get those boys home, "-sald
the deacon, vengefully.
But there seemed to be possibility that
he would not get them home, for when the
last chariot passed, the boys started with
the crowd, and the staid deacon had to trot
along too, whether he would or not, with
Ted in his arms. The day was very warm,
and Ted was heavy, and tho deacon had
not taken off his tlannels, and he felt like
ignoring his position, dropping his oratory,
and indulging in a sulphuric oath. To tell
the truth he did say "Godfrcy" with con-
siderable emphasis.
Suddenly he came upon his party talking
with All acquaintance. But he was too
breathless to say anything, and between the
crowd and the determined boys, he found
himself hurrying toward the great white
tents at the other end of the town. 1t was
useless to resist, 80 he gave up the contest
and soon became almost as eager to go on
as the boys themselves. There We're the
usual scenes on the circus ground, the
shouting agents, the flaming show-bills, the
time-worn accidental escape" of the
"wild man," and the mysterious sounds
from the tents, which the boys were posi-
tive were caused by the wild animals rush
ing around loose; and this and the presence
Of the blue-coated gentry in the crowd ren-
dered them quite manageable, so that in the
course of time the deacon was able to start
on the return trip.
If the deacon had talked all the way in
to town, the boys made up for lost time on
the way home, and more than that they all
talked at once, and he could hardly hear
his own voice when he spoke to the horse.
So they were left to themselves, except
that once when they were bemoaning their
lack of funds, he said impressively "Save
your money, boys, against the time of need.
Once lost you never can get 1t again" No
one noticed this remark except Ted, and it
was so simply worded that he understood
it, and accordingly, when they were passing
the village store, he insisted on going in.
Presently he came back TO the buggy it'll
stick Of candy in each hand, and another
in his mouth. The last he divided between
tho other boys
"What do you spend your money for, so
near home 2" asked the deacon.
f'For candy"
The query was repeated with "why"
substituting "what."
"Ohl |" said Ted, scrambling mp on the
seat. ''Causc you tol' us to look out not
lose it, an had one a. Them nasty little
Is-S AN.I T