The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1880-08-05

| Ahclc was q jerk, dizzy Whir
through the air, and our friend lay
"high,n but by no means dry" upon
the earth.
The crowd gathered round. He heard
Tom Tadgers's voice in terrified wall
Hes dead he's dead ~
Then some one else spoke "Brine
water."s
This.was adding insult to injury. Or
as straight as ramrod sat the afflicted
Philemon. ";If anybody dares to p1,
l-Pn go home" gasped he.
There was a burst of merriment al
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 Almazida 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 q host
of other circus celebrities.
"You're plucky little fellow, and
fit to feed along O. u.s." said Mons. Du-
val, with 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 q 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 q yellow
liquid into q 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
new song was sung he joined Justify in
the chorus. He had clear, high, ring
ing voice.
"Tip us song yourself, boy"
Not whit abashed, Philemon began
to sing.
"Ha, ha! har' 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 minstrel
troupeP"
That yellow liquid was in Philemon's
blood: blood His eyes sparkled' his cheeks
"Yes, I'll sing" cried he, bolster
ously, s.and I'll 90 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 great joke
"You lay down here and take a nap,"
he said, and actually took of his own
coat to put over Philemon. The boy
slept all that afternoon; indeed, he nev-
er 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 a 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?
feeling of intense shame surged over
him. He crouched down in q 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 you?" asked Philemon, as
the boy stared and half smiled.
I'm the Phenomenal Trapezist,'"
the lad, solemnly.
"What do you do?"
"Oh, go up on the trapeze, at the
tiptop of the tent, and my father aud
nncle--they'r the crack gymnasts, you
toss me about as if I was
ball. By-and-by m going to learn to
hang by my toes, and take q flying
cap, 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."
.W course he amt scared" said the
man, roughly. "Come, Bill, it's time
Tor you and me to show ourselves"
They were joined by Bills uncle, and
he three passed into the outer tent
Philemon put his eye against hole in
he canvas to watch them.
Like monkeys the two men and the |
child swung themselves aloft, and |
reached the tent roof. Here they |
they turned, they made fearful |
caps from one trapeze to another, un- |
Ill Philemon trembled to see them At |
asst both men hung by their knees,
,ead downward, and Bill crept careful
y to the end of a long rope gave q
Ipring, and caught his fathers hands. |
There was an awful pause; then small |
Dill was senI sPinuh ehrouSh tne ar,
'ixty-five feet from the ground, to be
caught by his uncle, tossed back to his
'ather, now seized by an arm, now by a
/ leg. now almost missed, now twirled |
,ound and round like ball. Philemon
,aught his breath, and stretched out his
,and in an agony of fear. His hand
,ouehed another, which was as cold as
ce. Glancing up, he found Nine.
Lucetta Almazida close by, her eye
glued to another hole in the canvas, her
breath coming short and thick. her face
ivid and drawn. Not knowing what
The did, she clutched Philemon's hand,
md he heard her mutter:
my baby! my babyn'
"Bilr' was her own Phenomenal
and under Madame Lucet-
q Almazida's shabby bodice mothers