West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1879-08-09

lttNti III tilt utIt a lllllc anu thcfN a III
tie system, and as the boys climbed into
the buggy, he saw an opportunity too pre-
cious To be neglected, 10 Empress them
with "A sense of-well, their total depravi-
" as much as anything. Accordingly they
We're profoundly admonished and counseled
during the drive 10 the city, regarding ''thc
evils of that form of dissipation known AS
circus going"
''lt has corrupting influence ON the
manners, said The deacon, rs loftily as If
addressing a convention of Congregational
churches. "And it debases the morals To
an unlimited degree. IL creates taste for
low and sordid amuscmcnts. which. once
formed, can never be wholly eradicated
intend to hitch the horse AT the upper end
of the town, where he cannot bc frightened.
and 50 injure himself, bV the noise and
hustle of the parade An evil tendency
once implanted in the mind is like a noNious
weed. Ii 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 intcnser excitement of
the circus itself, thereby causing them To
waste money as well as time hope that
none of you boys will ever be tempted To
waste your time, energies andmoney in that
way"
This last was said so pointcdly that the
boys felt that an answer was necessary lest
he should turn around and take them all
home again. Rabbity spoke up loudly
"lcs, sir ~
I'D like to JUS find money enough to
GIT into the big tent, - said Ted at which
johnny shook him, and whispered
"fou dry mp yer gab. He's telliu' us
81 amt doin' to dry p my gab. Dry
up y'own. He amt dot nothin to say
bout it, any way"
''Oh, shut up, BE stilll" whispered
Johnny, in terror. "Hell take us home if
you don't look out You keep still.
''Dess I've dot s much yite to say suthin'
3 you N Dave has TO be a talkin 10 YER
selves all the time, muttcred Ted, half
crying.
"Well, we won't Wen keep still.
won't we, Dave p 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
gigglng at the sight of Rabbity, who sal on
the front seat beside the deacon, and listen
ed attentively, apparently drinking in every
word; which 50 encouraged the speaker
that his discourse soon began To sound like
some of the columns Of words of four syl
tables IN Webstcr's old spelling book
But the drive was not long, and once out
of the buggy, the boys gave their whole at
tention TO the sightseeing, and the admon-
itions they had received had the fate of the
seeds which once fell 10y the way side. The
deacon had his hands full when the ''pan-
oramic pageant appeared The three
older boys forgot all their promises, and
wormcd their way through the crowd that
made the street almost impassable, to the
curbstone where they stood ''rapt i'm AS
tonishment, 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,, shriekcd 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.
''lf ever get those boys home, said
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 the deacon had
not taken of his flannels, and he felt like
ignoring his position, dropping his oratory,
and indulging in sulphuric oath. To tell
the truth he did say "Godfrey" with con
siderable emphasis.
Suddenly he came upon his party talking
with an acquaintance. But me 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 II was
useless to resist, 80 he gave up the contest
and soon became almost as eager TO 90 on
as the boys themselves There were 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 10 start
ON the return trip
If the deacon had talked all the way in
10 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 90 the horse
SO they were left TO themselves. except
that once when they were bemoanng their
lack Of funds, he said impressively "Savc
your money, boys, against the time Of need
, Once lost you never can get IL again No
one noticed this remark except Ted, and IL
was 80 simply wordcd that nc understood
it, and accordingly, when they were passing
the village store, he insisted ON going in.
Presently nc came back 90 the buggy with
q stick Of candy in each hand, and another
in his mouth. The lSf be divided between
the other boys.
"What do you spend your money for, so
near home asked the deacon.
''For candy.
The query was repeated with "why"
substituting 'what.
ooh ' said Ted, scrambling up ON the
seat Cause you toi us TO look out not
/ lose it, an had one a. them nasty little
7 thee cent things, an ! was 'fraid I'd lose
him, 80 spent him, an dot all this candy.
/ Want some ~