The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1884-09-06


carried by those about him. he found
himself on the ground, holding bis sis
ter tightly by the hand. He could hear
tho voice of her mother as she clamored
and struggled to keep hold of her little
ones, and did his best to keep near her,
but in the noise and the crush they
were soon far from her. Johnny and
his sister were thrown down, and their
little lives surely must have been tram
pied out, had they not been close to the
band-stand. under which Johnny man
aged to scramble, and then drag the
little girl after him.
She cried at first, but he gave her his
orange and she became interested in
seeing him peel and divide il, opening
her ROSY little mouth in sober satisfac-
ton as he put each juicy morsel into it.
Quiet after a while fell as the crowd
worked its way out and the storm
gradually lulled. The air was close
and heavy, aud Just as little yellow
braids was wondering If Johnny had
any more oranges in his pocket her head
toppled over on her little fat shoulder
and she was leaning against him fast
asleep.
He laid her tenderly down on the
grass, feeling proud to the very depths
of his chivalric little soul of having
some one to take care OF. He gave the
round cheek a kiss, and thought he
would call her Kathleen, which was the
name OF beautiful little girl Bridget
often sang about, and just as he was
softly saying: Kathleen, Kathleen"
to try how it would sound. he heard a
noise like the tuning of instruments
above him, which surprised him very
much, for he had thought the circus was
over.
Peeping out he saw the elephant
gravely seated, with one of the biggest,
shiniest brass instruments. The camel
and the giraffe and lion and polar
bear came, too, and each one began tun-
ing an instrument. Johnny listened as
they played and thought they did it
very well. They went on for hours and
hours, until the elephant peeped down
and spied Kathleen.
Come and dance for us, little girl, I"
he said. Gwen take you all over the
world with u.s."
''Oh you're very good, sir, Pm sure, -
said Johnny, as he reached down for
Kathleen, ''but it's my little sister, she
is, and couldn't spare her,"
Without, however, paying any atten-
ton to him, the elephant took up the
darling Kathleen, Johnny Selling hold
of her and crying:
"You can't have her! I've bought
her, and she's mine.'
The lion took hold of his arm to draw
him back, but he still chung to his sis,
ter, screaming:
"Let go-she's mine. Let go! Lei
gor'
''Why, my little chap, we won't hurt
her, but YOU must come out of this"
Johnny opened his eyes. 1t was no
the horrid elephant but pleasant-faceo
man who was lifting Kathleen from thu
grass, and another man hsd hold of his
own arm. He stared about and saw
that night was coming, and that mer
were making things ready for the even
ing show. He took Kathleen's hanC
and led her out
! He half expected Bridget would b,
waiting somewhere for him, but not see
ing her he struck bravely out to taxi
Kathleen home, feeling sure he coult
find his way alone.
She walked demurely by his side til
both became tired, and then she frettec
little, but he gave her all the cand,
he had left, and still led her on till hi
poor little heart began TO fail him
At last Kathleen sat down on a door
step and set up cry which terrified
him. He tried to coax and comfor
her, but she cried louder and louder
and Johnny was nearly beside himsel
by the time policeman bent over thu
two.
"Lost?"
"Oh, no." said Johnny, "it's hom
we're going"
land where is your home?''
Well, | don't Exactly know jus
now, but I'll know when we get there.
Every likely. Do you know you
street and number"
"No-but it's right next to Mrs. Din
giles house"
"And where is Mrs. Dingle's?"
Why! Right next to our house."
well, l guess you'd better com
with me and have some supper"
Johnny was so greatly relieved a
kathleen's having stopped crying tina
he willingly followed as the man tool
her up. The poor little strays ha,
hardly eaten the bread and milk whicl
was given them at the station befor
both had again forgotten their trouble
in sound sleep. So sound and so dream
less was Johnny's rest that a little hub
bub which came soon after neve
aroused him, although the end of it wa
that, with many an exclamation O
"Ach-mein kind! Mein pabyr' ami,
tears, laughter, hugs and kisses, the be
loved Kathleen, red cheeks, yellow hal
and all. was borne away.
Telephones and policemen had beef
astir since Bridget, after two hours O
active search, had carried home tn
alarming news. Mamma sat with hea,