Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1892-03-12

was so homesick nowadays for the
farm and for the different life. He
liked better to brood over the idea Of
the bees humming over the flower beds
and the doves and martens calling for
the cows than to give his whole heart
and mind to the actual things he saw
and touched.
However, practice makes perfect,
and by the time the new season opened
in BrIghttown Ted had mastered the
ring trick. There was a famous pro-
gramme, and Ted had six different
parts; in the Indian act, the buffalo
hunt, the chariot race and so on finally
10 the wonderful ring trick now ex.
hibited for the first time. The excite.
ment was good for Ted. The dull.
weary feelings he had suffered from OF
late vanished, his blood warmed to his
wish, he liked the mad gallop, he felt
the Joy of his W youth and strength,
and was ready to take wings and float
in air. The tent was packed with ad.
miring spectators, and all the per-
formers were in high spirits. The ring
master and clown cracked fresh jokes,
| at which even the members of the com
pany could laugh. The horses went
like the wind, the performing dogs and
elephants and bears all seemed singu.
larry intelligent, and altogether it was
one of the great days of the greatest
show in the universe, and the ring
trick" was to be the grand climax.
"All right" said old Benny to Ted as
the little fellow ran out of tho dress.
ing.tent in scarlet tights and cap.
"All right, on deck" said Ted.
"Nimbledy, nimbledy, up l go,
The Sky above and the earth below"
He stood for a moment measuring
the supports and frames with a know
ing glance, then with a bound caught
the lowest ring, spun round, and light
as a squirrel leaped to the opposite one
and thus zigzagging mounted the up.
per ring. Here, just to rest and steady
himself, he swung round twice, then
reversed before he should begin
the descent. He liked it up
there. A cool breath of air fresh
ened him. The middle flap of
the tent was open for the sake Of
ventilation and light, and as he swung
he caught aglimpse of the sky, dotted
with tender, tieecy little clouds, like
sheep in a pasture, as his mother had
once said. His thoughts wandered to
the farm for a minute, and he Suddenly
remembered what he had to do; yes,
he had to reverse. He quite forgot
that he had already reversed. What
was this? Where was the ring? How
still it was! How cool! Who was it
gave a sharp cry? What was that
roar? Not Of wild beasts, but of men
and M Oh! that crash~~the end
of the world must have come.
"Im not hurt" said Ted, ~"really,
I'm mott"
Then he tainted away, and was car. |
ried out in old Benny's arms. Word
was passed round that the boy was not |
hurt, and the show went on to It's close,
although all the performers were fur. |
ried and everything went badly.
Ted had broken no bones, strange to
say; he had fallen on the cushion; yet
somehow he was hurt and badly hurt.
Nobody quite knew why they were
afraid it was his back. lays came and
went and he lay on his little bed, hold.
ing his mothers hand.
ST nou15p'+ rat 49, +al1,, y Io ,-o.,lI
mutter in alarm when anybody came
near him; "but Pm getting rested,
and perhaps by tomorrow"
He was so used to playing his part
that he was ashamed thus to lie and
eat the bread of idleness. But he and
old Benny used to plan the wonderful
feats he would accomplish as soon as
he got we'll. Yet it was soon under.
stood that he would never regain his
old powers.
"You see," the doctor said, 'he is
shattered. His age is in his favor, and
if he could have a good home in the
country"
'IHe shall have a home in the coun-
try" said old Benny, and he did not
lose an hour. He set off tn Mrs.
Jewellers old home. he saw her IA
ther and mother and pleaded her and
Ted's case with them, but he did not
need to plead long. Ted got his first
glimpse of the house and the river and
the road within a week. The sight Of
it brought the color to his cheek and
the light to his eye.
"Why, mother" he cried, raising
himself up. ut paid. 1t paid to have
the fall. Perhaps we couldn't have
come home if | hadn't been laid up"
Ellen Olney Kirk, in St. Louis Re-
public.