National Republican., 1883-07-19
SHE COULDN'T HOLD HIM.
The Old Man Got Too Near the Circus ana
What Came OF II.

The other morning an aged couple who
had driven thirteen miles to SEQ the circus,
hitched their team near tho western hay
market says the Detroit Free Press. When
old DObbin had been secured they moved
across to the big tent, and the woman said:
"Now, Perry, don't get excited. A circus
is circus the world over. Wen go slow, see
everything ON the outside, and thea jog back
hum"
"NIcbbe we'll go in," replied the old man.
"Mebbe we won't! You solemnly prom
iscd mo over and over agin before we left
hum that you wouldn't so in, and shall
hold you to it. We'd look purity in IA circus,
wouldn't wcW
II didn't promise nuthin' about side
shows" observed Perry, as they edged along
with tho crowd. Here's them wild men OF
Bunkio or Barney-oh, or some such place in
Europe. I've allus heard and read of en-,
and I've allus said I'd see EN- if ever got
chance"
"Perry Baker, are you demcnted ?" she
asked. "You let me catch you sneakin' into
n side show and III never live with you
another day !"
Tho dulcet tones of the keeper Of lemon
ade stand now fell upon their ears, and the
old man was licking his chops and bearing off
in that direction, when his wife checked min
with: -.. ...a.
what you after now2 Taint Ave minutes
since you swnllcrcd pint of cold tea, and
YOU ain't II bit thiraty? Perry. don't yon un-
dcrtaiot to sneak out of your solemn promises"
Tho couple got along down to whc'e the
living skeleton and tho fat woman and great
contortionst hold out, and the man ut the
door called out:
Right this way, old man This is your
only chance to SEQ living man weighing
only twenty-five poundsw
TN cumin'!n shouted Perry in reply.
Not "a NH n
she sei2cd his ARM
"Im II gOn to see that skeleton if it takes
a leg It's the iust chance l ever had, and ii
may be the lastw -.
But he didn't go in. She walked him aside,
lodged two peanut stands, crawlod under
three wagons, just missed snake exhibition
and held himup on the outskirts of the crowd,
ana calmly remarked:
You promised and promised, and now you
want to break il. Perry Baker, we're goin'
back hum, and, when we git out past the toll
gate, you'n | will have settlement"
Say let's go clear around the tent
Not u rod"
Lots have one glass of lemonade2"
mot swaler, Perry. You come hence"
Ilo crossed to the wagon with her, and she
climbed in. While she was lifting herself up
he bOlted, and when she turned around, lie
was gone-miXed up with the circus crowd.
She stood up and called him by name as loud
as she could yen until Policeman ordered
her to stop, and then she got down and said
to a boy about l6 years old
Bub,l want you to come with me. My
old man has cut loose, and he'll never stop
seeing wild men and living skeletons and fat
women and red lemonade as long rs he's got a
cent left. III give ye ~ quarter If we find him.
want to steal on him before he knows it, l
want to find him in front of the only boa con-
strictor on the North American continent and
want to open performance which will dis
count the circus all boiler"
She was last heard of at the door of the cir
Gus. Having failed to find him elsewhere,
she was about to pass in, when the ticket
taker objected.
But Pm looking for Perry"
Cant help it, ma'am."
Won't you find out if Perry is in therep
she persisted.
Can't leave the door, ma'am-better get a
club and wait for him! Fall back-fall back
tickets on this side p';;