Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-09-04
NO. 36.

when, after the evening performance was
over and the haring lights extinguished,
climbed into a wagon with Peachblossom, the
Soaring Amazon, aud the Infant Wonder, and
watched the familiar landmarks disappear in
the misty moonlight forever. "Hov proudly
held myself in my gay spangled dresa 80
poised the hoop for fairy PeaohblOasom In
the ensuing performances Of the summer
How eagerly | studied my task, and how
carefully recited my witticismsl My oom-
mOnplaoe name was exchanged for the high
sounding title OF Og, King Of Bashan, and -
look back can see that must have been .
valuable member OF the company, although
was too ignorant to demand any compensA-
tion beyond frequent changes Of my glitter
ing apparel. l remained with the circus Ave
years. In the summer we travelled through
the Western states, exhibiting in the villages
and county towns; in the winter we visited
the various cities az the Great Japanese Mu-
scum, our program consisting Of feats Of
strength and sleight of hand, gymnastics, and
the tricks OF our learned animals. During
this time | was very happy. grew to love
Peachblossom with all my heart, and although
she played thousand pretty tricks upon me,
| loved her all the more. For her sake
learned TO read and write, studied az well -
l could, and read carefully what books and
papers came in my way. My mind was not
mature enough 10 form any definite plan, but
dreamily expected to spend my life by her
side, and as much expected TO part with my
life az with my idol. did not awake to
knowledge of the strength Of my attachment
to Peachblossom until saw her smiling upon
new member Of the company, q dark-eyed
swaTthy fellow, whose forte vas TO vault over
number Of horses standing abreast-a feat
which never failed to elicit q round OF Ap-
plause. What made my position still more
painful was the lessening interest felt in my
performances by the fickle public. That old
Og is about played out, they would say, As
came out to hold the hoop. See his legs,
how they shake Giants are tiresome old
things, anyhow
AFTER time Peachblossom suggested 10
manager that if Hercules (the vaulter) should
hold the hoop the effect would be far better.
Thus l was displaced l could scarcely utter
word Of my part and several Kisses were
audible as / made my final bow. As was
leaving the arena, Hercules bounded past me
to hold the hoop for the beautiful Psaohblos-
som, and unable to bear the sight, sought
refuge behind a heap of properties to brood
in solitude. l must have fallen asleep, for
when 1 awoke all was dark around me, and
heard the sound OF voices. With start
recognized the tones Of Peaohblossom. What,
OgH How could you think SOP Awkward
monster Why, he could not even hold the
hoop straight
''The reply, in a mans voice, was indistin-
guishable, but soon the girl went on. I tell
you he is perfect scareoroW. l would not
have anything 10 do with him for q fortune
Great, shambling, silly, overgrovn calf, with
red hair and snake eyesl 1 wish l might
never see him again could bear no more,
but crawling away into the open air, 1 wan
dered wildly through the woods, nor stopped
until daylight overlook me in the vicinity Of
large town, where a crowd soon collected
around me, attracted by my size and my Rau-
dy dress. Presently an old man approached.
Truly, he said, a veritable giant in distress.
Thy name, friend? 'Og' 1 replied, mechan-
ically. The King Of Basban2 Better and
better. Wilt go home with me, friend p Too
miserable TO resist, 1 suffered myself 10 be led
along toward an old stone house. We enter
ed within its massive doors, and l sank down
in a fsinting fit, brought on by grief and ia
tigue. Within this refuge found shelter for
ten long years. Old DIR. Henbane was . sim
gular compound Of learning and benevolence,
the former passive, the latter active. Wealthy
and without near relatives, he spent his life
in following his fancies, and verifying his
theories by experiments upon humanity. Ny
presence was godsend 10 him. He suffered
my mind to rove at random through the vast
stores of his knowledge with the intention Of
booihB ~ Nuht u p6EI6CLlY uu-
taught soul would arrive by means of its own
unaided judgment. He was curious TO know
what solutions of the various life problems
we're written upon the blank page OF my
mind, and he often asked my opinions of the
most profound subjects, listening 10 my hesi-
tating answers with close attention, and jot-
ting them down for future reference. Thus
l lived in peace il not in happiness My gi-
ant body was well clothed and fed, and my
dwarfed mind carefully fostered and develop
ed. learned the secrets Of philosophy and
the rules of physiology, was initiated into
the mysteries of mental and physical disor-
ders, and under the eye of my benefactoF
began to use my knowledge for the benefit Of
mankind, healing the sick and comforting the
wretched, who hocked TO the house from all
quarters.
"One December night, seven years ago, Q
ragged boy came TO the door to ask Dr. Hem
bane to visit his sick mother on the outskirts
OF the town. As the night was stormy, 1 in
sisted upon going in my patrons place, and
wrapping cloak about me, l followed the
child through the snowy streets to miserable
tavern beyond the town limits, where, in q
back garret, found the patient A tAllow
candle shed a faint light through the cold
room, and saw group of persons around
the bed, heap Of clothes and musical instru-
ments in one corner, and q foFlorn monkey In
his red coat mounted on an old hand-OrgAn in
another. The little creature took OF his red
cap and bowed as 1 entered, holding out Q
supplicating paw; the group divided, and l
approached the bed where . woman lay dy-
ing, faded, worn-out creature, past all hu-
man aid. Saying az much TO the by-stAnders,
l stepped back, but suddenly faint voice
called out, '0g Og, dear old og, Ia It you P
1t was Peachblossom, and she recognized me.
II staid with her until all was over 1t was
not long. And then buried her. Her hus-
band had deserted her, and for years abe had
supported herself and the boy by giving exhi-
bitions as a magician and seer, assisted by
fragment OF the old circus company "a musi-
clans and gymnAsts.
''Yes; there 1 found the Soaring Amazon,
grown rather stout, the Infant Wonder, in
creased to mans size, the japanese JuggleF,
the Sword-swRllOwer, two trained dogs, and
the monkey, all sorrowing for their lost oom-
panion, but welcoming me, the Giant, As the
chief mourner for the once beautiful fairy
Peachblossom.
within the year my benefactOr too was
taken. The heir at law grudgingly gave me
the sum bequeathed TO me by the will, and
with it bought BashAn, the field and cabin
where reside. But / am growing old my
strength is daily on the Wane; feel that
have not long TO wait, and am thankful"
Aou arc ntAA youhBg MI OBg Noplout
as the man paused.
~ am thirty-four, q great age for giant.
Dwarfs live to an advanced age, but giants
die young. shall be glad to go in another
world 1 shall not be ungAinly and distorted.
In another world PeRchblossom viii not
shrink from me. And now farewell II is
late, a storm is approaching, and must re-
turn to Bsshan."
The giant extended his huge hand, clasped
mine in friendly warmth, and opened the out
side door. l watched his retreAting figure
disappear in the darkness but before he was
lost to view he turned and waved his hand.
AS l re-entered the office a man came in
from the opposite side, and, after word with
the landlord, approached me, saying; 81 be-
lieve you're the gentleman as wanted 30 much
to get through TO PersepOlis tomorrow
We're going to run an engine over the
branch start in fifteen minutes. II you
want to go enough to ride all night, wen take
you through. "-Hdyper's Weekly
|
Twenty. five ago st, Paul had about 10000
inhabitants and Minneapolis about half as
many. During the next 10 years MinneAp.
oils gained upon st. Paul, so that they stood
nearly even in 1870, with about 20,O00
apiece, st. Paul slightly leading. By 1880
Minneapolis had forged ahead, and during
A. Iaat ava ,yaara aha has fnaraaaad haR laaA