River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-07-09
RESCUED,

Westminster, Md, Advocate.
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RESCUED.
1t was in the fail of the year that the
circus tents were pitched in the beau
tiful flat meadows just outside the vii
lage and after that time, as the teacher
said, in despair, there was no getting
decent lesson studied.
John johnson lived in an out-of-the
way spot on the side of the mountain,
where he took care of a charcoal-pit.
John johnson had no family of his
own. but he and his wife had adopted
their two little orphan nephews, Sid
ney and Didcote Warren, commonly
known as sid" and Did" little
urchins of nine and eleven years old.
The house was small, but it was very
cosy and comfortable when once YOU
got to it. And Sid and Did had their
piay-room in the garnet, full of curl
oslies which they had collected on
1 mountain-sides and in raYines.
They were too far away to 90 to
school very regularly, SO Aunt Elsie
! heard their lessons; and as she had
! once been Il school-teacher herself, they
! got along very nicely indeed.
But one afternoon, down in the vii
| lage. they heard of the circus.
wild ani-miles!' said breathless Joe
| Potter
"And zebra, all striped" said Will
lie Henderson, land a buffalo, and
tiger. -
''And a clown that tells the funniest
stories you ever heard, and tumbles
head over heels right under the horses
feet. !" suffered Billy Jenkins, anxious
to get in his word.
''Oh, and the performing ponies"
squeaked Fanny Bliss Il do love that
little speckled darling with the two
white feet? And"
''Ho!' said Beckford Bliss, chats
nothing. Ponies are ponies all the
world over. You should see the Edu-
Gated Leopard and Little Leonardo"
'Is Leonardo wild beast, tooP"
asked Didcote, while Sidney stood by
with wde-open mouth and eyes.
Hes little boy, no bigger than
you or me, in black velvet and spangles,
and stunning pink boots" said Beck
ford. ale puts his hand into the
leopard mouth, and rides on his back
with only pink ribbon for Bride
Fan won't look at him. She shuts her
eyes when Little Leonardo comes on.
She says it makes her blood feel like
ice''
Sid and Did looked at each other.
How | should like to see him, said
Sid.
Lets ask Uncle Jack to let us CO."
said Did
Everybody is going" said Beck
ford loftily. Il tell you it's fun. :"
And that was how it happened that
Uncle Jack and the two boys came
down to visit the circus that windy
autumn evening.
All the show was very fine, and re-
ceived plenty of applause, particularly
Little Leonardo, who looked like a
picture in his black velvet suit, long
yellow curls, pink silk stockings, and
Kid boots, with gilt crown perched on
his curly head.
The leopard bounded, snarling, on to
the stage, but Little Leonardo sprang
lightly on his back, and evinced no
fear when the savage beast crouched
in one corner of the stage.
"Open," said the child, lifting up
one finger, and stamping the pink kid
foot on the floor. "Openi"
The keeper cracked his whip-the
leopard sullcnly opened his mouth, dis
playing red throat and double rows
OF sharp white teeth.
Leonardo thrust his hand in up to
the wrist, and turned smiling to the
audience.
Look" he said. ''Look!'
And, followed by burst of applause,
he skipped off the stage.
The audience, however was not sat
isfed
Loud cheers, clippings, and whistles
sounded shrilly on the air.
"Leonardo. Leonardor' echoed from
one end of the place to the other.
And then Mr. johnson, sitting close
to the dividing curtain, overheard
very remarkable dialogue.
ooh, | cant! | n'tn' walled
shrill little voice "Oh, master, don't
ask me! Oh, please don't!'
Hold your noise, spoke low saw
age tone. Get up this minute. Don't
you hear 'em! WHAT are you lying
there for? Do You want another taste
of the red hot iron?'
But he snapped at me the last
time. He'll kin me!' shrieked the lit
tie accents. "Oh, master, am afraid
of him"
"Hush-sh-sh!' Kissed the stern voice.
"Never let me hear that word again.
Afraid If ever they thought you
were afraid of the creature, the bust
ness would be All mp. Here! Jump
quick, | say! III pull out another one
Of your teeth, if you make any more
fuss.
At the same moment he stepped
smilingly before the footlights.
Good ladies and gentlemen" he
said smoothly, "the Little Leonardo
will be here instantly. He but stays to
lace his boot. Pedro, bring the Loop
ardr
But the leopard did not wait to be
brought. Either his savage instinct
broke fully forth at that moment or
something in the audience terrified and
displeased him.
At all events, he gave a sudden leap,
swapping the chain, and sprang at the
showman's throat!
For an instant there was a deadly
grapple. Shrieks filled the air. Wo-
men tainted Children screamed.
The keeper who had momentarily
seemed TO lose his senses. recovered
iutIn d1tlE, duIg III " Al AAio LCfbAFbA
shot the brute through the head, but
not before its claws and teeth had SO
lacerated the showman's face that he
fell insensible on the stage floor.
And when he had once more recov-
cred. and the panic was over, the dead
brute was dragged out by two men,
and the performing ponies cantered on
to the stage.
They looked around for Leonardo,
who was to come next in his Grand
Act of driving pair of ostriches,
harnessed to tiny chariot.
But Leonardo was gone.
Nowhere could they find him. In
fact, they never found him. All search,
all the printed advertisements were in
And when the circus company left
Lone Ledge, Little Leonardo's place
was vacant.
Where do you suppose be was?
Well, of course you will all guess.
You can easily imagine how at the in
slant when the. Snowman stepped SO