The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-06-23

the further side of the square the circue
tents were visible. Flags and streamers
were flying from their poles, and a vanish.
ing burst of music came floating from them
upto the top of the hill.
"This beats mel" calculated Mr.. Pinsor
again. With deep-drawn breath he Path
cred ups the ragged, homespun lines and
drove down into the square, picking his WAY
dexterously through the crowd until he
halted alongside the shaky platform in front
of Bush Gaines store. "Holloa agin. Newt
that your' grinned Jack Carter from he
hind the counter within, where he was holm
ing himself to plug of tobacco. .sYe,re
jes' a minute to late to see the percession
1t air certain fine show. The el,nhunt
were Their, mighty nigh ez big ez Ebenezer
Church. An seech a clown! You'd a
laughed yo'sef to death to "a seen him. His
breeches air morn yard wide, an he ,aint
got hair on his head!'
"Ef we hadn't of stopped to look at the el'-
phunts track" began Newt, regretfully
"but nuver min, Nance, it air heap better
to see it fust off fun the inside"
80, heap BETTER" responded Mrs Pin
son, with cheerful alacrity. Bush Gaines.
measuring off some jeans for Mt Zion
matron, called to Newt to bring Instantly
in the sto' an set down, an pass the time
o'day. But after brief consultation with
his wife, during which Becky took mental
note of some town girl in looped overs kirts
and bangs-an observation which bore fruit
at the next Quarterly Meeting-Mr Pinson
declined with thanks, and drove % TO the
town well-all but gone dry from the ex-
cessive strain upon it-where Danand Pete
watered the team.
Afterward they crossed the sqs%s~wd
stopped by the Baptist church, in fht WV
of the circus tents, whence arcs al ina.
moment a prolonged and suen roar
'They're feedin' of the nannalals," eX-
claimed Mr.. Pinson, in fanilif. ot-hand
sort of way, whereat Mrs. Hnso, shuddered
and Rugged the sleeping laby eoser TO her
bosom.
Old Badly and jimmy we're uihitched and
fed from the trough It the back OF the
wagon; the painting Digs laydown IN the
shade of the church the Children had a
snack all around out # the yellow poke, and
Becky and her mther feched out the
chairs and sat dowr to "have Dip
at air a haffn lour yit tTel the dos is
OPEN" said Mr.. Pinson, finally. "Jes We
an the Children say right here, Nance Pm
goin' to tramp own to the pos'-ofnce an
git the las 'lecion news, an sich. III be
back the minifit air time, an min all be
ready, lessn we don't git no seats
Mrs Pinsonnodded, andhe strollel away
This here beats me- he kept sayingto him
self. Johnsburg was indeed in an unwonted
state of excitement. Riddler's was the first
circus that ever quilted the line of railway
aud ventured across the long sandy reaches
of peterborough to the little ISOLATED town
in West Texas. And the whole surrounding
country had pulled to its doors like ne Pin
sons, and responded to the Invitation OF the
huge posters: "Come One Come IL"
Newt progress was slow, owing to the
frequent encOuntering of neighborslnd the
necessity of inquiring after the helth Of
their families He did at last hwever,
reach the post-office, a ram-shaclle hilding
next to the blacksmith shop. As hturned
the corner he came upon a cake anclemon-
ade stand His hand went instantf down
into his pocket, and came up with tie extra
fifteen cents, which he exchanged pr three
solid slabs of mahogany-c olored ginger
bread. Fer Nance an the Children he
explained. as the woman in charg wrapped
up his purchase. The bleary oil creature
looked at him with a sudden kindly smile,
and slipped stick of peppermintcandy into
the parcel.
With one foot on the post-offia ftep, he
paused to look at a man who haa pf5vesa
gigantic yellow umbrella out in tE dusty
square, and, standing bareheaded beneath
it, was yelling some unintelligible argon at
the top Of his lungs. Mr.. Pinson hurried
over and joined the ring Of gaping specta-
tors. On q bit of board in the shadow of
the umbrella couple of odd LITTLE mario
nettes of colored metal were circing in
kind of grotesque waltz. ''LotS Of fun for
twenty-five centsr' shouted the Snowman,
STOPPING now and then to touch up the fig
ures with stubby forefnger. Lots of
fun for twenty-five cents The greatest toy
invented in this age or any other. So sim
pie that a crawling child can not fail TO
manage it, Those who know the trick will
please say nothing. CheaD, gentlemen, for
twenty-five cents. o, see the gentleman is
going to buyr'
Newt grinned and shook his head regret
fully.
zone for one, two for hco, three gets the
half-a-doQah bawled another individual
who had set table near by covered with
wooden nine-pins. Jack Carter and his
crowd were throwing at these with little
painted balls. A cigar, Jack explained to
Newt, was the reward for one pin knocked
down at throw; two cigars went to the
player who knocked down two; while the
lucky thrower who succeeded in knocking
down three received fifty cents. "One for
one, two for tro, three gets the half-adol-
lab" went on the proprietor anonymously.
Three throws for foe cents Step up, gen
tlemen, and try your luck! For nicksU
One for one, two fortwo, three gets the half
a-dollah"
Lord eff hadn't Of bought this burned
ginger-cakep' groaned Mr.. Pinson in spirit,
gathering the paper-psrcel more securely
under his arm and moving on with the
crowd
A step or two brought him to an open
wagon from which pateut-medicine man
was holding forth. "7ry the remedy,n he
whined, flourishing a stout black bottle and
a pewter spoon. "Cures all diseases Tn
the remedy! Administered freed charge
to any one in the crowd. This suHe5 eistle
filled with the remedy only fifty cents. lac
wise man tries, the fool dies. Try the
remedyr'
This here beats me-" murmured Newt,
mechanically wiping the perspiration from
his forehead, and backing against the court
house fence, where he leaned fairly ex-
hausted with the variety and novelty of his
emotions. '"The haffn hour mus he nigh
bout up. Dinged eff I amt gladn he con-
tinued, letting the crowd drift on without