Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1892-07-22
A FRIEND OF THE FAMIL Y.

Christie was very small even for his ten
der years, and he had red hair and the
freckles that always go with it. As far
back as Christie could remember he had
sold newspapers on the streets. The eX-
perience he had gained in this line was
very extensive one, and had completely de-
stroyed any ideas he might otherwise have
had of a domestic life. For the last few
summers he had given up the paper bust
ness, and blackened boots on ferry-boat.
He might have done very well at this, but
he preferred to sit on the deck and listen
to the three Italians who played popular
airs on a harp and two viOlins. On the
last few trips Christie would generally find
that he had no money to pay for his sup
per and lodging, so he would get down to
work and try to make enough to keep him
until the following day.
He was very improvdent character
was Christie, but he had no one depend
ing on him, so it really did not make very
much difference. 1t frequently happened
that when night came on he found himself
without any money at all. On these occa-
sions he would spend the night at a shed
on a pier in the East river.
Christie was great favorite with the
Waterman at the pier and the old man
was always rather glad when the boy had
had a bad day and was forced to spend the
night in the shed, for Christie was very
good company, and sat up until late at
night telling the old man of his days ad-
ventures, and making plans, and getting
advice for the future. Young as he was,
Christie had seen more of New \ DIRK than
most men of forty He knew the BOwery
and the East Side, every bit of it. As for
the other side of the town, he did not care
for it; his ambitions did not lie in that di-
rection. He had already tired of New
York, and wanted to get out in the world
and travel from place to place. He was
an enthusiastic admirer of the country and
the water; and the little green parks of the
metropolis, and even the waters of the bay
did not afford him sufficient of either He
was a born rover, and heartily dreaded any
kind of regular employment. SO far as he
could see, to travel with circus would
about suit his ideas. But his friend of the
pier looked to something higher for his
protegG, and constantly told him of the
many hardships the circus people had to
endure; how they never slept, but worked
all day and travelled at night. This view
of the situation did not strike Christie's
fancy at all. 1t vas the music, the always
that he wanted. Whenever he saw a cir
Gus billed he worked very hard and slept
on the pier so that he might save enough
money to be able to go just as often as
possible When the first day came for
him to 90 he never did any work at all,
but went over to the grounds early and
talked to the tentmen and any one con
cerned with the circus who would listen to
him. The accounts they gave him were
not very encouraging, and generally Tailed
with those of his friend on the pier but
Christie would not be convinced.
1t was in the spring of the year. and
Christie was not yet twelve years old, when
he got chance to satisfy his life,s ambi-
ton. 1t was not tirst-Class circus, but it
had two rings, and sometimes played as
many as three days in one town. The du-
ties assigned him were not very OnerOuS,
and his salary was cOrrespondingly small.
Before the performance began, he stood
behind a wooden stand and helped a man
to sell peanuts and lemonade. AT eight
o'clock they left the stand, and while the
man carried around trays of lemonade
Christie peddled peanuts among the audi
ence.
For all of this Christie was paid only
five dollars a week, but he was pursuing
his chosen profession, and was much hap
pier than he had ever been before. His
great pleasure was in the morning, when he
rode donkey in the procession, and after
ward stood outside the tent and was sur
rounded by a circle of small boys of the
town. and was sincerely envied as an at
tach6 of "Clyde's Monster Allied Shows -
Marcus Clyde, the proprietor of the
show, was perhaps no better or no worse
than the proprietOrs OF small circuses usu-
ally are. He had originally been a butch
er, then a householder, and on account of
some bad debts had taken an interest in a
small circus. From silent partner he had
drifted into sole proprietor. Now he wore
a high silk hat, and a diamond horseshoe
in his shirt-front, and drove about the cir
Gus grounds in buggy, which was always
taken along for his personal use. He knew
the name of every man and woman con-
nected with the show, and frequently SUI
perintended the raising of the tents
when the manager, Mr.. Ross, was indis-
posed or drunk. He knew Christie well,
and frequently honored him with a ride in
his buggy. On these occasions the red
haired boy amused him by recOunting some
of his escapades in New York. He used
TO embellish them good deal, for Christie
i'm the eyes of his employer, and had, in
deed, strong hopes of some day becoming
a junior partner of the Allied Shows.
The proprietOr's liking for the boy gave
Christie certain importance in the eyes
of the other employees and he was general
~ regarded as the mascot of the company
But Christie did not care very much for
most of the people. He lavished all the
affection he had on one family call ed Boyn
ton. There was Boynton, his wife, and
their little girl Patricia. The man did a
bareback act, in which he was assisted bN
the little girl. The woman, who had beer
born a little above the circus business, con
fined herselfto riding around the ring dress
ed in a habit and a high hat. She really
rode very well, and the act was extremely
popular with the masses.
The friendship between Christie and the
family came about through the boys de
votiOn TO the daughter Patricia, or "Pat
sy, as she was called by the circus people
She was very pretty, with her long yellow
hair and blue eyes, and Christie no sooner
saw her than he found himself very mucl
in love with her. The first time he saw PATS
was when she was doing her act with hel
father in the ring. Dressed in a short, rec
silk dress, with red stockings and golC
shoes, she was led out from the dressing
tent. Her father took her on the hors
with him. Then he stood up and helC
her at arm s-length, with one of her fee
resting on his hip, while the horse 'slowl,
galloped around the ring. The act ende,
with the little girl standing on his shoul
ders, while the horse jumped some Low