Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1896-09-19

One time Lou ana were nOe108 pOt0
toeo, when we saw man In blue uni.
form coming down the road. Lou was
my older brother, and he didn't like to
hoe potatoes any better than ] did, but
he could dissemble better. Twice that
hot August morning In 1854 he had left
me TO tread the wine press alOne-I re-
gard that smile as heap pleasanter
than 70 the fact--whlle he pretended to
az something on the shady side Of the
barn. He explained each time when he
came back that he much regretted the
necessity Of leaving this nice, easy
work In the potato field for such un.
pleasant tasks at the barn, and I grew
quite sorry for him. I offered to 60
next time In his place, but he was the
most self.abnegntlng fellow you ever
cav, and insisted on this systematic
martyrdom.
When the man In the blue uniform
came down the road we stopped hoeing
long enough to look at him and wonder
who he was. We had stopped several
times before, but that was not to won.
der who the travellers were. We knew
who they were. We even knew where
they were going. We knew they were
neighbory going to the circus at the
county seat-thc circus that had been
advertised with tremendous posters
and Incorporate print for just four
weeks. We knew In a general way
people did 60 to such places, but we
Thought about It rs almost as distant
- the battles with which the uniform
"a man was associated. A circus was
not for us. We must hoe potatoes.
Tho man In blue uniform turned in at
our house and sat there In the shade Of
che locust trees while mother rlnsed the
milk pals and set them In the sun.
Presently he came out In tho held and
shook hands with us. We remembered
him 40 hired man who had formerly
worked for us-an excellent fellow, 40
you shall see. He was something far
removed from potato hoelng. Ho had
seen big battles. and we believed we
had found his portrait In colorctl
print Of the timos. which showed a col.
umn Of even-stepping heroes rushing to
conflict a. to a carnival. We were q
little embarrassed In his presence, and
scarcely asked him about the weapons
he welded and the focmen he had slain.
Ourlibrary contained some books which
treated Of conflict In those rarer times
when men went single handed into the
ranks Of an enemy and swept down
swaths Of neutrality-suspicious. rarer times
eAD a. 0Nss11 nk In mn ~
good 40 another.
John asked NJ how the cattle were
getting along. and something about the
neighborhood gossips. and then march.
Cd away very straight. a. II he were
under the eye Of a drillmaster. Another
neighbor came along and John signalcd
him.
II guess I'll go to the circus. too" he
Said to Us. laughingly. over his Shout
dor.
Oh! soldiers could do anything. This
proved Il. Men who could suddenly
think Of something desirable, something
wonderful. and who could instantly de.
eide they wanted II and 40 have it
these were the favored among men.
A. to the circus! Why. would have
given nything-cverything discounted
hope and bonded the future for the
plain privilege Of "going to the show"
You cannot know the heart hunger felt
Tor the circus by country boy In war
dime. Il was an expected, an illimit.
able. an inexhaustible case Of wonders.
John ran to the fence, placed his
hands on the top rail and vaulted over.
- became O soldier homo ON furlOugh.
while tho people In the wagon-they
were dressed In the very flower Of gala
attire-pushed forward to shake hands
with him. Then they called across to
~:
"Ain't you going to the circus?" and
- went on. Fate was despOt. We did
not question tho decree. though we
could very freely understand the charm
that was cr0uched In that one phrase
"Going to the clrcus!"
We had hoed out tho row when moth.
Or called to us, and We went to the
house. It was not nearly noon, but
there was a luncheon of bread and but.
Ter, Of milk and Of warm currant pie
on the little table In the vine-shaded
porch. The spread astonished us. Moth.
Or was getting at her spinning wheel.
do you want to 60 to the circus?''
she asked.
OF course that meant permission. No
mother can taunt her child. John had
said he would pay for our tickets II
she would let us 60. He wanted to do
that much for the sake of old times, he
Said. And, dressed In the best those
trying war times afforded, we started
on foot for the county seat.
My people were church members
and We knew about miracles. But nc
sun waiting the will of Joshua was
ever more miraculous than this instant
change In our condition. But an hour
ago hoeing potatoes; now going to the
circus!
had never seen a lion nor an Gle.
!vhant nor ny Of the curious beasts
from foreign lands. I knew their pres.
sncs In the garden Of Eden and In the
ark. ] knew that African travellers had
found them. But that was far away
At the end of these little miles, lust be.
yond these business buildings. already
In sight. ! should lind "wild beasts OF
the deld," and should drink my all OF
'marvels.
The season was right. Harvest wal
over, corn needed no more blowing
There was midsummer lull In all &C
'dvity. Even In time when few men