The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-04-15
Our Small Boys Elrst Circus.

1t was an event in the early life of ou
boy Charley, and, as he says, he derive,
lesson from it that has been of use to hin
slncc--a lesson to the effect of making
sure of landing place before lcaping, -
he shall tell the story himself:
was twelve years old when the big cir
Gus came to our village, of Conway, N.
H., and exhibited on land belonging tt
Sam Thorn. For many days before it.
advent the great flaming posters had glarct
upon the sides OF barns, upon fences, an,
on the walls of our stories, and was eager
| to see the sight. But | must earn the mo
ncy, for my mother had it not to spare. Ii
| was during the planting season, and fount
odd jobs enough at dropping corn and po
tatocs, and such like, to enable me to earn
he coveted quarter. The day came, clcal
and bright, and those who have passed tho
enhancing ordeal, and can remember the
feelings Of boyhood, will know how tho
grand entry of the circus, with the band
playing, the performers and their horses
bcdeckcd in glittcring array, and the two
elephants grandly hoping along--how it
all affected me. 1t did not seem as though,
could wait for tho opening hour; but
waited, nevertheless. When dinner had
been eaten, and we were ready to set forth,
my mother, believing that the men-folks
would not bother themselves i'm looking out
for nc, gave me particular directions for
my conduct.
''Now, Charles" she said, "you will
look out for your money you will sec
where the people are going in; and do YOU
look sharp and go i'll with them. Give
your money to the man that you sec others
paying, and be sure you don't make any
But didn't get half Oh her directions.
If had been patient ID listen, ! might
have been spared the gricf to which was
she had warned me againa that very thing.
But was only boy, and suppose had
boys lesson to learn.
| got of at length, and ran all the way
to the village. l stood in crowd for an
hour, listening to music which | could not
see; and ut length l saw men pushing
towards the entrance TO u tent, and l Join
ed in and pushed with them ! saw folks
give money to rcd-faccd man who stood
in passagc-way Of canvas, and heard
music beyond. l gave lin my quarter,
and he gave me back twelve cents. l
thought | was getting in FOR half price, and
looked around.
Mercy! How my heart sank don't
know how many spectators were there !;
but for show l saw what tho man who
exhibited called the Five legged Horse
Then there were two White Negroes, on
platform; and man grinding hand
organ. And that was all | had Just
seen so much, when somebody cried out
that the circus was openl and upon that
there was rush for tho entrance won't
out, and looked up at the tent had been
into, and then discovered that it was but Il
small ailair-one of the -catch-penny side
shows always accompanying tho big circus
looked around for our men -follls-men
who lived with us-but could not find them.
Most likely they had gone in. 1 asked the
man Mt the entrance if he would let nc in
for twelve cents. lie said must go and
buy ticket. Ifound the man who sold
tickets, and when | asked him like uucs-
ton he laughed ut me.
And Then l went home, crying all tho
way: and when had told my mother of
my grief she soothed me by declaring that
l was tho biggest fool she had ever seen,
and she would take me over her knee if
did not stop crying. J.
Well got over ii III time; and il
aught INC valuable lesson. From that
day l have never paid money to enter a
show, or for any other purpose, without
being first assured that was headed in tho
right direction. ,sas