The Indianapolis leader. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1879-1890, 1880-09-18
GEORGES VISIT 70 THE CIRCUS.
How the Old Man Was Embarrassed b.

GEORGES VISIT 70 THE CIRCUS.
How the Old Man Was Embarrassed by
Questions.
Georges papa told George one day that
he would take him to the circus on the NOR
row-to show him the animals, he said.
! OF course George was delighted. He had
been to the menagerie once with his Aunt
Maria, but as she did not know a peccary
from pelican, or a camel from a came
leopard, it was not much satisfaction to him.
He was going with his papa now, and he
danced about the room like jumping-jack
till his Aunt Maria threatened to die and
his mamma to go crazy if he did not be
quiet. So George became quiet-but that
was after he had been sent to bed.
When the morrow came, George and his
papa into horse-car that was going by
horse-cars passed the house every five min
utes-the bell rang twice, and away they
went rattlingelong over the pavements
They got out when they arrived at the
circus grounds, and Georges papa led
George safely through the crowd that was
tending toward the entrance to the great
tent. How excited George wasl
When they got inside where the animals
were George was an animated interrogation
every animal he saw-he was glad his papa
was with him. Boys have such confidence
in their fatberl They know he knows
everything. Georges papa began to wish
that he had never seen circus. This little
son was so eager and talked SO loud that
everybody near was looking at him.
'Oh, pa" exclaimed George pointing to
an hyena, whats that?"
A sudden hush ensued, during which
every one near listened with painful earnest
ness to catch the answer
Georges papa asked. "What did you say,
my SOM"
He said this very slowly, in the mean
time running his eve over and under the
cage, thinking perhaps there might be
name somewhere. But there wasn't.
By this time the anxiety manifest on every
face to ASCERTAIN that animals name had
become so intense that he couldn't, without
cruelty, keep it longer secret. So he said
'Ohl- er-tha - er - that - is-er-a
wolf, my SOM"
verybody felt relieved. He did, not
withstanding he thought he detected a
giggle and heard one of the young ladies
who had been the most eager of all to get
bis answer say to the other, .'Oh! come along,
May No use to waste our time herel' He
suspected they were schoolmarms. George
looked little incredulous, too; bat he SAID
nothing.
.'Ob, pal there's a lionlr shouted George,
forgetting the wolf-hyena episode at sight OF
the king of beasts.
"Yes, my son. said his papa, who just
now seemed to prefer assertion to inquiry;
that is lion" Georges father said this quite
loud
utAl .bo,o :; . o.oly o-o,;.xol
George again; ''or is it drcmedary?' he
added, thoughfully. 81 forget which one
has two humps.
Eyes, George" said his father, "the camel
has one hump and the dromedary two--no,"
he added, seeing a queer look in a gentle
mans eye near by, 'the camel has two
humps and the dromedary three'-that
giggle again-''I should say, sometimes the
dromedary has three humps and sometimes
the camel"
AT this juncture Georges papa observed
a lady stuff her pocket handkerchief in her
mouth, while the gentleman with her showed
face as red as a beet, and "A noise like the
merry brooks a-gurgling" issued from his
asophagus.
Georges papa grssped Georges hand with
the energy of despair and rushed to the
other side of the tent. He might as well
have remained where he was.
Better, i'll fact. 1t did seem to Georges
papa that the earth had been ransacked for
rare birds and beasts with the sole and sim.
pie intent of setting him, crazy.
.'Strange" thought he, "that they don't
have the names of the animal on their
cages. 1t would be so convenient when one
happened to forget~
"What's that, pa? said George for the
twentieth time, pointing at porcupine.
1t would not do to hesitate. There was a
pretty and handsomely dressed young lady
close by. She was waiting for his reply.
"Oh, that's an ostrich" he said.
Was it the "ostrich" that gave vent to
that scream2 No; it was quiet enough.
Georges pape didn't cast another look at
the young lady. He remembered that he
was married.
But he took hold of Georges hand once
more and made bee linefor the circus part
Of the inclosure. When he got in there, he
cast look about him.
There were no strange beasts in there.
He was happy.
By and.by the performance began.
1t was truly edifying to see Georges papa
blossom out into knowledge.
Why, ne seemed to know everything. \
George did not have to ask questions. His
papa told him everything as it went along.
He knew the name of everything that was
used in the ring, and the names of the per-
formers, especially the ladies.
He told George that these were "bal-
looms" and those "banners;" that this was
Madame Suchaone. and that Mademoiselle
Soandso.
George was proud of his papa-prouder
than he was in the menagerie.
When he got home, he told his mamma
and Aunt Maria good deal more about the
circus than the animals