The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-08-08
THE CLOWNS STORY.
BY FLORENCE REVERE PENDAR.

1t was at one Of New England's pretty
towns that Nina Walters first Joined our
show, with her fellow performer. Louis
Mason, and Joe Fuller, apprcnticed like
himself to old Pa Dryer who was won
to boast that the children he took to
train were as well cared for in every re-
spect as his own. which statement have
never had any reason to doubt and NAV
say have more than once witnessed the
strict impartiality with which he admin
istrated corporal punishment to his pro-
geny and apprentices if they failed to
come up to the mark in their respective
duties. Many time have l seen him in
the ring his full red face beaming with
genial smiles as he put child through
the padact with:
snow, Maudie, dear, one, two three,
Jump. Oh!-can't9 Want little help9''
crack went the whips lash around the
little girls slender ankles, and with:
"Oh please don't, l WILL" over the
banner the frightened child jumped
''Lor! bless you," would this veteran
child trainer observe. you've got to
brighten some on EN- into it. It's all for
their good. Just look at the youngsters
I've turned out, earning their hundred
and fifty and two hundred week now, >
after which speech Pa Dryer would beam
complacently upon his listeners. But l
am DEPRESSING
Nina Walters and her fellow perform
ers were trapeze artists, wonderfully
clever in their line, and consequently
high in favor with Pa Dryer They were
down in the bills as 'The Fays" Pa
Dryer had picked Nina up out of the
streets | believe, when she was about
seven years of age, but the two boys had
been legally apprenticed to him by their
respective parents.
Before many weeks Nina's dusky eyes
and pretty ways had captivated us all
and we were her willing slaves, from Ned
our colored tentman up. 1t was evident
from the first, however, that Louis and
Joe were deeply in love with Nina, but
as far as l could see, she showed prefer
ence to neither; treating each as frankly
as sister might a brother, which was
natural enough, as they had grown up
together during some ten years, having
become apprentices of Pa Dryers mean
the same time. Louis, who was of an
open, frank disposition, with friendly
word for every one, had just turned
twenty when they joined us, thus max
ing him three months the senior Of Joe
his very opposite, being quick to take
offence and of a singularly jealous ma
ture. The only thing they possessed il
common was their good looks, boil
being undeniably handsome.
One evening after they had been witt
us some six months, as | stood waiting
behind the curtain that shut out the rinl
entrance-by the way, l have not yet in
PRODUCED myself. Not that it is at al
necessary, only perhaps some of my read
ers might like to know what manner o
person is relating these facts. | am o
rather a retiring disposition, although
my vocation of clown rather bellies thi
trait of mine. Outside of the ring l an
Familiarity known as "Still Done" earn
ing that title, believe, by my fondnes
for quiet life, the moment have shaker
the saw dust from off my heels. How
ever came to write of this terribl
reality that crossed my path, | am no
quite clear. Perhaps the desire t
see my name in print, in a different forr
from its habtual one influenced me; OF
perhaps, the hope that it might help som
poor souls mad with jealousy, to conque
that frightful maady, maybe save ther
from committing crime, had little t
do with it.
Well, as | was saying, this evening q
stood waiting, saw Nina coming slow
ly as if in thought toward me. 1t wa
something so unusual to see her prett
face without a smile, that ! exclaimed:
"Why, Nina, child What ails YOU
Has Pa Dryer been acting uglyN Wha
ever old Dryer had done in Nina's youns
" days, had never known him since /