Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1888-06-15

were blocked with wagons little and
big, carts. ambulances, dilapidated
hacks. high-swung red-bodied stages
every imaginable kind of vehicle -
and all the intervening spaces, as well
as the irregular sidewalks in front of
the four infacing rows of stores, were
alive with men, women. and children,
who elbowed one another, whooping,
laughing, gesticulating - surging
about in state of the widest, best
natured excitement. Beyond the un-
painted little Baptist church, on the
further side of the
square, the circus tents were visible
Flags and streamers were flying from
their poles, and vanishing burst Of
music came floating from them up to
the top of the hill.
"This beats me !" insisted Mr.. Pin
son again. With deep-drawn
breath he gathered up the ragged,
homespun lines and drove down into
the square, picking his way dexter
ously through the crowd until he
halted alongside the shaky platform
in front of Bush Gaines's store "Hol-
loa agin, Newt-that you ?" grinned
Jack Carter from behind the counter
within, where he was helping himself
to plug of tobacco. "Ye're jes' a
mint too late to see the percession.
1t air csrt'n' a fue show. The
elphunt were ther', mighty nigh ez
big ez Ebenezer Church. AM sech a
clown! Ye'd a laughed yo'sef to
death to "a seen him. His breeches
air mon a yard wide, an he 'ain't
got har on his head !"
EFF we hadn't of stopped to look
at the el'phunt's track" began
Newt, regretfully; "but nuver min,
Nance, it air heap better to see it
fust off fun the inside"
"Oh, a heap better" responded
Mrs. Pnson, with cheerful alacrity.
Bush Gaines, measuring off some
jeans for a Mount Zion matron, called
to Newt to bring his family 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 girls
in looped overskirts and bangs-an
observation which bore fruit at the
next Quarterly Meeting-Mr. Pinson
declined with thanks, and drove on
to the town well-all but gone dry
from the excessive strain put upon it
where Dan and Pete watered the
team
Afterward they crossed the square
and stopped by the Baptist church,
in full view of the circus tents. whence
arose at that moment a prolonged and
sullen roar. They're feedin' of the
mammals" explained Mr.. Pinson, in
familiar, off.hand sort of way,
whereat Mrs. Pinson shuddered and
and hugged the sleeping baby closer
to her bosom.
Old Baldy and Jimmy were un-
hitched and fed from the trough at
back of the wagon; the painting dogs
lay down in the shade of the church;
the children had snack all around
out of the yellow poke, and Becky
and her mother fetched out the chairs
and sat down to "have Dip"
at air a haffn hour yit twel the
dos is open, said Mr.. Pinson, finally.
"Jes We an the Children stay right
here, Nance I'm goin' to tramp
down to the pos'otfice an git the las'
lection news, an sich. I'll be back
the mint it air time, an min ye all
be ready, lessn we don't git no seats" !"
Mrs Pinson nodded, and he stroll
ed away. "This here beats me-" he
kept saying to himself. Johnsburg
was indeed in an unwonted state of
excitement. Riddler's was the first
circus that had ever quitt> j the line
of railway and ventured across the
long sandy reaches of post-oak rough
to the isolated town in West Texas
And the whole surrounding country
had pulled to its doors like the Pin
sons, and responded to the invitation
of the huge posters: Come one.
Come ALL"
Newt's progress was slow. owing
to frequent encountering of neighbors
and the necessity of inquiring after
the health of their families He did
at last, however, reach the post-office,
ramshackle building next to the
blacksmith shop. AS he turned the
corner he came upon cake-and-lem-
onade stard. His hand went instant
ly down into his pocket, and came up
with the extra fifteen cents, which he
exchanged for three solid slabs OF
mahogany-colored gingerbread. "Fer
Nance an the childern," he explained
as the woman in charge wrapped up
his purchase. The bleary old creature
looked at him with a sudden kindly
smile, and slipped stick of pepper
mint candy into the parcel.
With one foot on the post office
step be paused to look at man who
planted q gigantic yellow umbrella
out in the dusty square, and standing
barekeaded beneath, was yelling some
unintelligible jsrgon at the top Of his
lungs. Mr.. Pinson buried over and
joined the ring of gaping spectators
On bit of board in the shadow oi
the umbrella a couple of odd little
marionettes of colored metal were cir
cling in kind of grotesque waltz
"Lots of fun for twenty-five cents "
shouted the Snowman, STOPPING now
and then to touch up the figures with
stubby forefnger. "Lots of fun for
twenty-five cents The greatest toy
invented in this age or any other. So
simple that crawling child cannot
fail to manage itl Those who know
the trick will please say nothing.
Cheap, gentlemen, for twenty-five
cents. Oh, l see the gentleman is
going to buy !" Newt grinned and
shook his head regretfully.
Zone for one, two for two. three
gets the half-a-dollah!" bawled anoth-
er individual who had set up table
near by covered with wooden nine.
pins. Jack Garter and his crowd
were throwing at these with little
painted balls. A cigar, Jack explain
ed to Newt, was the reward for one
pin knocked down at throw; two
cigars went to the player who knock
ed down two; while the lucky throw