Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1892-04-29

promised him by the manager as soon as
he had made success of the ring trick,
and this was what he and his mother had
been looking forward to ever since he
was ten years old. Ne ~
1t was odd how he dislik ed the ring
trick, when it was simply ma tier OF
swinging himself up to the top of q
high, tall framework on rings which
hung on horizontal bars. The supports
below were twelve feet apart, but met
with another transom beam and ring on
the apex. The way was to catch the
lower ring, swing round on it, then with
the impetus gained to leap the gap,i
seize the opposite ring little higher up,
and so on from right and left and lett
and right to the top ring and down
again. 1t was pretty feat, aud, per-
haps, no harder than any other of tho
flying tricks, but it needed clear head,
and the trouble was that Ted had got
into u dreamy mood. He was SO home
sick nowadays for the farm and for the
different life. lie liked better to brood
over the idea of the bees humming over
the flower beds and the doves aud mar.
tins calling for the cows than to give his
whole heart and mind to the actual
things he saw and touched.
However, practice makes perfect, aud
by the time the new season opened in
Brightown Ted had mastered the ring
trick. There was a famous programme,
and Ted had six different parts; in tho
Indian act, the buffalo hunt, the chariot
race, aud SO on, finally to the wonderful
ring trick, now exhibited for the first
time. The excitement 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 own youth and strength
and was ready to take wings and float in
air. The tent was packed with admir-
ing spectators, aud all the performers
were IN high spirits. The ringmaster
and clown cracked fresh jokes, at which
even the members of the company could
laugh. The horses were like the wind,
the performing dogs and elephants and
bears all seemed singularly intelligent,
ane altogether it was one of the great
days of the greatest show in tue universe,
and the "ring trick" was to be the grand
climax.
"All ri2ht1" said old Benny to Ted US
the little fellow ran out of the dressing
tent in his scarlet tights and cap.
He stood for moment measuring the
supports aud frames with knowing
glance, then, with bound, caught the
lowest ring, spun round, and light as
squirrel leaped to the opposite one and
thus zigzigging mounted to the upper
ring. Here, just to rest and steady him
self, lie swung round twice, then reversed
before he should begin the descent. He
liked it up there. a cold breath of air
frcshened him. The middle flap of the
tent was open for the sake of ventilation
and light, and MS he swung he caught
glimpse of the sky dotted with tender,
fleecy little clouds, like sheep in pas
turc, rs his mother once said. His
thoughts wandered to the farm for n
minute, then he suddenly remembered
what he had to do; yes, he had to re-
verse. He quite forgot that he had al
ready reversed. What was this2 Where
was the ring7 How still it wasl How
COOL Who was it gave sharp cry2
What was the roar2 Not of wild beasts,
but of men and women. Oh, that crash
the end of the world must have come.
''Pm not hurt" said Ted, 'really Pm
not!"
Then he tainted away and was carried
out III, old Benny's arms. Word was
passed round that the boy was not hurt,
and the show went ON to its close, al
though all the performers we're Hurried
aud 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. Days came and went,
and he lay on his little bedSholdihg his
mothers hnnd.
81 couldn't get up today" he would
muttcr In alarm when anybody came
near him, "but Pm getting rested and
perhaps by Tomorrow"
Hewas so used to playing his parts
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
well. Yet it was soon understood that
he would never regain his old powers.
"You see," the doctor said, she is
shattered. His age is in his favor, and
if he could have good home in the
country"
nHe shall have home in the coun-
try" said old Benny. aud he did not
lose an hour. He set off to Mrs. Lie
wellen's old home, he saw her father and
mother and pleaded Ted's case with
them, but he did not need to plead long.
Ted had his first glimpse of the house
and the river and the road within a
week. The sight of it brought color to
his cheek and the lightto his eye.
"Why, mother" he cried, raising
himself ups, SIT paid. 1t paid to have
the fall. Perhaps we couldn't have come
home if I hai not been laid up
Courier-Journal.
The Decline of the Buffalo.
s Last year I gave short account of the