River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-09-18
MINIS REV ENGE.

to its remotest nook and corner with the
motley. eager throng.
A heavy rain had fallen lit ceased about
noon, and NIL went as merry as marriage
bell. Trade was brisk, schnapps flowed
freely, all sorts OF side soows enhanced
the jollIty OF that hour. Humblest among
these was small tent v it'll loud voiced
owner, Who proclaimed to all and sundry
the surprising merit OF the troupe. In
VAIN! A woman W tn hand organ had
Stationed hers elf right before her door,
and this blousy muse, with her sariil
songs of love and murder and her lsping
organ notes, proved more entlcing to the
pleasant throng than the feats of our old
man in worsted tights and his company.
Il boy of ten, poodle dog and monkey.
The boy Arthur, who also wore tights,
was the old mans son. He was well
versed in grotesque antics OF his trade,
but his tace had pinched, worn lock
that told of hunger and suffering. He
had eaten almost nothing to-day, his last
bit of bread having been shared with the
poodle and ape. his fellow gymnasts and
comedians, who were dear 70 him as
brothers.
Poor strolling PLAYERS father, son, ape
and poodle! They have been many sea-
sons together in fair weather and foul,
and now their fortunes were at the low
est ebb. The old man, Hermann, had
months before fallen from the tight-rope
and broken his leg. A long illness fol-
| lowed and when he rose from his sick
| bed the last kreutzer of his little hoard
had gone for food and doctors bills.
Schutt and Mimi, the poodle and the
ape, had shared their masters better days.
| They were now his comrades in misfor.
tune The dog and the boy had grown
up together, and the ape, who had been
| purchased of Hamburg sailor for five
| thalers, had entered into the new life
with the pride of new artist. Mimi
was q born comic actor and mimic; her
plquant Turkish costume and her funny
antics had won much applause for her
and some money for her owner. Her ac-
complishments were many. She could
ride spendidly on the poodle's back,
shoot eff five-barreled revolver and do
many wonderful things.
Night came on The Hermann troupe
had taken no money They repaired
sad and hungry TO their inn, to their bare
attic and bed Of straw, with only an old
SclultI CIOth itI
Father. please buy me Hermann's
ape and poodle pleaded the landlords
little son, down stairs in the taproom.
IF you will manage to secure them for
me will give you taenty thaiars," said
a guest.
Done" returned Sharper, the host,
The next morning Hermann went down
TO the kitchen after bit Of food for him
self and family, The landlord met Tim
at the door, and declared that he could
have nothing un;il he had paid the three
thalers already due for three days lodg-
ings. Hermann replied that his business
had been dull through the fair, that he
had no money; but he designed to give
performances before the public houses to-
day, and hoped to pay the reckoning up
on his return at night.
''The ape and the dog remain here I'M
til you pay me- said Sharper.
Hermann begged that the two lead
ing members OF his troupe might not
he taken IRON him, rs without them he
could do nothing; but the landlord was
inexorable. The father and son left the
inn, beggared and hopeless, while Mimi
and Schuft remained behind rs surety
tor the debt. A good breakfast was Civ
en- them, and then they were slut up in
an out of the aay room, where 1t was sup
posed they could do no mischief.
They were prisoners, but Mimi, who
ALWAYS looked on the bright side of
things, was at no loss for diversion. She
rode on Schufts back, cutting up tor her
own amusement those varied pranks with
which she was wont TO divert the public
Schuft could see nothing funny in the
situation; he missed his young master;
| ha also missed the crowds and applause
which had been the very breath of life
to HIM; he was moody and silent
Mimi at length seated herself on the
window ledge. She gazed across tho
street, and saw man painting the walls
of house "f can do that, too" she
thought, and nodded her head and winked
knowingly at Schuft.
After watching the painter while she
ran to the top of the clothes-press. Here
the housewife had slowed away some
preserved fruits. A row of bilberry.j jars
ranged in front obstructed Mimi view,
and she threw them down. The glass
Jars were broken and their contents dyed
the floor deep black. 1t Lilberrles
could paint a floor, they could also paint
other things; Mimi, who had Just been
longing to be painter, now found the
materials ready to her hand. She jumped
from the press, seized brush that hung
behird the stove, dipped it IN the bilber-
~ Juice, and began TO make artistic
strokes over the walls.
Schultz, who had been proving around
IN search of some egress, ere long found
door in the wall hidden by curtain
He tried the knob with his fore paw; the
door flew open, disclosing the state cham
Der, the finest room in the house.
Mimi, who had all the curiosity OF her
species, rushed in to examine the room.
She carried the dripping brush IN her
right paw, and found, to her horror, I at
these walls were not painted. They were
, hung with white tapestry, the floor was
covered with white mating white cur
talns were at the windows. This will
never do, In ten minutes, thanks to Mi
mis- artistic taste and SAIL, and the bill
berry syrup, the snowy whiteness of the
dainty guest chamber had taken ON the
hue of night and Erebus.
4 white parrot nth yellow crest,
who protested loudly against the sacri-
lege, was quickly silenced. Mimi poured
| Jar of bilberries over him, aud threat
ened By pantomime he we'll understood
/ TO wiring his neck if he did not keep quiet.
Schuit took no part in Minis art decora-
ton; he was asleep on the high posted
bed that stood in fhe shaded aleove- Mi
mi. still clutching the brush IN her fore
, paw, Law down on the beautiful counter
5 pane at his side.
Hermann and his son passed the nigh,
, in hay loft. and dreamed Of their lost
, comrades. The subject of Schuft's and
J Minis dreams we shall never know they
we're, perhaps of dusky forms rising from
! sable bilberry jars, Of screeching cocka-
, toos with black feathers, Of hearth brush
/ es endowed with life stalking about on
demonIac errands.
Il Morning damned; the ape and the
poodle awoke refreshed from + cir SUM
, bers. Schultz gazed in terror at the Sly
5 gian blackness around HIM, but Mimi
! smiled complacently on her work, and
D busted herself about other matters. She
/. had slept roy ally; she wondered what
D made the bed 50 soft; she must find out
5 she therefore made rest in the mattres:
! and drew out pawful Of downy feathers
} 1t was showing outside--the first fall o.
I, snow this season, the first Mimi had eyel
] seen. "Ah, all! can make il look II