Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-11-15
Aanraster f,,telligercer.
"WEDNESDAY EVENING, NOV. IS, 1851

THE CLOWNS BABY.
1t was out on the Western frontier,
The miners, rugged and brown.
We're gathered around the posters
The circus had come to town!
The great tent sh0ne in the darkness,
Like q wonderful palace OF light,
And rough men crowded the entrance
Shows didn't come every night!
Not a woman's face among them,
Many q face that was bad,
And some that were only vacant,
And some that were very cad.
And behind q canvass curtain,
In a corner Of the place,
The clown, with chalk and vermiiiion.
Was making up his face.
A weary-looking woman,
With smile that still was sweet.
Sawcd on little garment,
With cradle 1t her feet.
Pantaloons stood ready and waiting,
1t was time for the going on;
But the clown In vain searchcd wildly
The property baby was gone.
lie murmured, impatien:ly hunting,
..It's strange that cannot find
There I've looked in every corner;
Ii must have been left behind :"
The miners were stamping and shouting,
They were not patient men
The clown bent over the cradle
Imust take gou, little Benz
The mother started and shiverc.,
hut trouble and want were near:
She lifted her baby gently;
You'll be very careful, dear"
Careful! You foolish darling'-
How tenderly it WAS said
WHAT 4 smile shonc through. tae chaiE ans
paint
IL love each hair OF his bead -
TIE noise rose into an uproar,
M!srulo for the time was king!
The clown, with foolish chucklc,
Boltcd into the ring.
But as, with a squeak and flourish.
The fiddIes closed their tune.
You'll hold him as ii he was made of glass :
said the clown TO Pantaloon-
The jovial fellow nodded;
1--WE couple myself" he said.
~ know how to handle 'er'. b!ass yoH'
Old fellow, go ahcad!'
The fun grew fast and furious.
And not one of all the GROVE:
.Ia., guessed that the baby was alive,
When he suddenly laughed aloud
On, that baby laugh! it was echoed
From the benches with ring.
And the roughest customer there sprang up
With Boys, it's the real thinG:'
The ring was iauDlcd In a minute,
Not man that did not strive
For "shot nj holding the baby
Tie baby that was ''a!ive!'
Tic was thron;cd by knceling su;tors
In the midst OF the dusty ring,
And he held his court right royalty.
The fair little baby king;
Till one Of the shouting courticrs,
A man with a bold, hard face,
The talk for miles of the country.
And the terror of the place.
Ea,sed the little king to his shoulder,
And chuckled, Look at that ::
As the chubby fingers cluiched his hair,
Then, Boys. hand round the hat:'
There never was such hatful
Ots.lyer and gold and notes;
People are not always pennilcss
Because they don't wear coats!
And then. Three cheers for the baby -
Itch YOU those cheers were meant
Anc the way in which they were given
Was enough TO raise the tent.
And then there was sudden silence,
And gruG old miner said,
"Cone, boys, enough of this rump''s
it's time it was put to bed"
So, looking a little sheepish,
But with faces strangely bright,
The audience, somewhat lingering,
FIocked out into :he night.
And the bold faced leader chuck!cd,
"He wasn't bit afraid;
He's as game rs he is good looking;
Bows that IVES O show that paid :"
Margaret TandegriT in 81. NtcEotds'