American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1880-08-07

treated his rider to few extra bucket
fuls of water, twisted his trunk round
one of Philemon's legs.
| There was jerk. a dizzy whirl
through the air, and our friend lay
"high," but by no means dry" upon
the earth.
The crowd gathered round. He heard
| Tom Tadgers's voice in n terrified wall:
"He's dead he's dead ~
| Then some one else spoke Bring
water"
This was adding insult to injury. Up
as straight as a ramrod sat the afflicted
Philemon. IF anybody dares to put
another drop of water on me, rn-Tll
III go home" gasped he.
There was a burst of merriment at
that tremendous threat, and the young
hero was lifted on some ones shoulders
and borne along in triumph. Strange
to say, he was not even bruised, and he
almost forgot his mishap, when, an
hour later, he was permitted to help in
spreading tan around the open space
where Madame Lucette Amanda was
to ride the famous horse Pegasus, and
perform her :. world-renowned feat of
jumping through seventeen hoops and
barrel wrapped in flames"
That noon Philemon was actually in
vited to dine with Mons. Duval. the
Incompatible gymnast," and host
of other circus celebrities.
"You're n plucky little fellow, and
fit to feed along O. u.s." said Mons. Du-
val, with a grin.
Philemon was much pleased by the
compliment, which. though perchance
not expressed in the most refined Ian
guage, showed a kindly appreciation of
| his merits.
He entirely forgot Tom Tadgers. who,
not having had the luck to meet with
an accident, was left outside. In fact,
Philemon saw Tom no more that day.
and the latter, at the close of the after
noon, met Silas Elder once more, and
rode peacefully home, where he went to
bed, quite emitting to say word to
anybody about Philemon.
In the mean time that worthy ate his
dinner with his new companions. He
wondered vaguely what his mother
would say if she knew where he was.
He might have wondered more had
not one Of the men poured a yellow
liquid into cup, and handed it to him.
"Drink this, my man." said he.
Then everybody laughed. The liquid
was sweet. Philemon liked it. He
drank every drop. Soon he began to
feel very bright and merry; and when a
the chorus. He had a clear, high, ring
ing voice.
"Bless usr' exclaimed Mons Duval.
"Tip us song yourself, boy"
Not a whit abashed, Philemon began
to sing.
"Ha! ha! ha!'' laughed Mons. Du-
val Tim Luker, what used to do our
first tribble, was took sick this morn
ing. What dye say, youngster, to be-
ing blacked up, and singing this even
ing to the circus along O. our min trel
troupe?"
That yellow liquid was in Philemon's
blood. His eyes sparkled, his cheeks
famed.
"Yes. I'll sing" cried he, bolster
ously, land I'll 60 to the ends Of the
earth with YOU"
After dinner--it was strange-he felt
drowsy. Mons. Duval. for some reason,
was extremely amused, and considered
it a great joke. . >,
he said, and actually took Oft his own
coat to put over Philemon. The boy
slept all that afternoon; indeed, he new
err opened his eyes till it was nearly
time for the evenings entertainment to
begin.
The big dingy tent where the per-
formance was to come off was lighted.
Philemon followed Mons. Duval into the
small tent behind the large one, where
those who were to take part awaited
their several turns.
He stood meekly silent. while his face,
hands and neck were daubed with some
sticky black stuff; and then, as hidden,
he arrayed himself in some extraordi-
nary baggy yellow clothes, and big
paper collar.
He caught sight of himself in bit of
glass. He looked like little black imp.
What would his mother say to see him?
A feeling of intense shame surged over
him. He crouched down in corner,
wishing he could hide himself from the
eyes of all men.
Philemon looked around him, and
there, close by, was boy about his
own age, with large brown eyes and
white cheeks. He was dressed in flesh
colored tights.
"Who are your" asked Philemon, as
the boy stared and half smiled.
I'm the Phenomenal Trapezist,'"
announced the lad, solemnly.
"What do you dop"
"Oh, go up on the trapeze, at the
tiptop of the tent, and my father and
uncle they're the crack gymnasts, you
know-they toss me about as if was a
ball. By-and-by I'm going to learn to
hang by my toes, and take a flying
leap, sixty foot. to the slack-rope near
the ground"
Aren't you frightened?' exclaimed
Philemon.
"Ye-" began the boy, and then
quickly changed his tone, as man clad
in scarlet and gilt came near. "No,
amt scared. like it.
"Of course he amt scared" said the
man, roughly. "Come, Bill, it's time
for you and me to show ourselves
They were joined by Bills uncle, and
the three passed into the outer tent.
Philemon put his eye against hole in
the canvas to watch them.
Like monkeys the two men and the
child swung themselves aloft, and
reached the tent roof. Here they
twisted, they turned, they. made fearful
leaps from one trapeze to another, I'm
til Philemon trembled to see them At
last both men hung by their knees,
head downward, and Bill crept careful
ly to the end of long rope gave a
spring, and caught his fathers hands.
There was an awful pause; then small
Bill was sent spinning through the air,
sixty-ive feet from the ground, to be
caught by his uncle, tossed back to his
father, now seized by an arm, now by a
a leg, now almost missed, now twir1ed
round and round like ball. Philemon
caught his breath, and stretched out his
hand in an agony of fear. His hand
touched another, which was as cold as