Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1893-08-30
BEN'S MAGIC.
Story Of HoU Tt0O Boys Sat on the
Fire.
BY MARGARET COMPTON.

Ben and Guy were brothers, but not
at all alike. Ben was eleven and tall,
with broad shoulders and big bones, and
great hands and feet, a fTeckled face
and red hair. Guy had Clark b.ue eyes
with long silky lashes, pink cheeks and
brown cuTls. People said he was faI
too pretty for boy. But Guy had NO
wish ID be made over into a girl, for he
had coed deal Of the boy IN him and
not particularly good boy at that.
Their mother was the only one who
did not pet Guy and make fun OF Ben.
She kissed one quite as often as the
other and scOl led Guy just as 81 a-ply
AZ she did his brother. She knew Just
Low naughty Guy was and how he was
often the one in fault when Othsr peo.
pie put the blame on Ben, who they
thought was old enough TO know bet
ter.
Guy was quick and Ben was slow,
AMI often Ben was caught and punched
and punished when Guy hal really
done the mischief, but had succeed d ia
escaping.
Ore of the boys Christmas presents
was box of magic" two sttt, by
which they could preform ths mCst
wonderful tricks and illusions. After
considerable practice, durIIg which
Ben broke his best wine glass and
spilled half his magic powders, they
thought they could perform well enough
TO give an entertainment.
1t was agreed that Ben was only to
print the tickets, sell them, take them
at the door, show people to their seats,
pull up the curtain, which he was to
arrange beforehand, together with the
table and other preparations, and tn
wave the Enchanter's wand-tLat was
all. Guy was to do the trick.
1t lever entered Een's gOot-nat lred
Lead that this division OF labor gave him
all the work and Guy all the glory. He
printed all the tickets on his typewriter,
pasted them neatly on cards, drew big
poster with picture OF Guy as "Pro
ressOr Wunder, late OF Paris, London, II.
Petersburg, New York, etc., etc"
talked up the show ard succeeded in
getting together Big audience of aunts,
cousins and neighbOr5 at one cent ad-
mission. standing room only, and two
cents for reserved seats.
The exhibition was held in tie back
paTlOr where there was an open CRATE
and beautiful clear fire glowing.
All went we'll until the entire pro-
gram was finished, when Guy ordered
the Cult Iin mp and bOWIng gracefully
TO the audience said:
Ladies and gentlemen, will now
show you the most wonderful tIick OF
al-the great fire act which has de-
lighted the crowned heads of Euro,e
and VIII ch is never on my program, az
1 keep 1t for surprise" WhcIeupon
lie ran quickly TO the freplace and to all
appearances sat down upon the fire,
jumping up again in 2 second and
without even the smell of snged cloth
Ing about him.
The laughter and applause declared
this the gres test trick of the evening.
"Y on rascal" exclaimed jJlly old
uncle in the front row. Come Ban,
you do that and [ Will give you quar-
ter"
The mother was not In the room OF
she would not have allowed such a
challenge. Ben was quick to take 1t
up, and knowing no more of the trek
than those before the curtain, and prob
ably not as much, he sat on the flre and
IN moment there was smell Of burnt
clothes and cry Of burnt boy.
The party broke up in confusion and
Ben was put to bed swathed in oil,
where he remained for several days.
Mother" he said one day, "why am
l so different from Guyp Why can't
do magic?"
''My dear boy" she answered. "your
magic was far greater than your bro
theirs for you had the skill and patience
n getting up the entertainment.
Tricks sometimes win applause, but
hard work VIII tell in the end"
Ben sighed, but he often speaks CT the
incident now that they are rich men.
lie and Guy are still partners and Guy
freely admits that 1t is Ben's magic |
rather than his own which has mad
their business a success. - Exchange