Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1896-02-29

~ did the right thing
by me. and, OF course, do the right
thing by him. You see, we always
make good fuss in the shape OF we'll
billing the places we are going to, for
it doesn't do to be stingy that way,
and the guvnor has some spicy affairs
of rampagious horses, and wonderful
jumping, and all in colOrs to catch
the eye; while for the shop windows
there's some Autographs of the per.
forming horse, or the elephant, or the
Gutta-percha Brothers tied in hu.
man knot. while every onA who ex.
hibits has ticket for free admission.
But it's queer life, sir, and one
not to be envied-only, you see. you
must live; and when there's wife
and some little uns. why they must
live too; and having been in the pro.
fession all my life, why, / don't seem
as if l could do anything out.
There, now, then, them's two of
mine coming in the ring now. First
ones eleven and t'other's nine. 1.-THE
Pigmy Twisters" we call 'em in the
bill, and they don't do smiss for their
size. Pitch n summerset easy, either
OF EN-. There they 60, you see. and
after another year or two's eddication
they'll be agreat help to the family, be.
side having profession of their own
to make 'em Independent when they
won't stop in the nest any longer. All
they've got to do is to keep clear of
their fathers accident, for get hip
joint put out as did, and then the
country doctor to say it was strain,
and never try to put it in till ii is too
late; get in for an accident like that
through treading on piece Of orange
peel and slipping when running for a
jump why, it's doer.up for life, as
with me.
But it's a queer life, sir. No rest,
no comfirt, no peace at all. Hotel al
ways, and say, now, here's to-day.
Long distance to come, and we had to
start early to get here in good time !;
then there was to dress and take part
in the procession at o'clock. Two
o'clock, You know, was the first per.
Torrance. That was over about 4, and
then, OF course, there was begin again
at 7.30. Alb end nobody knows but
them as has been at it, what being
about in the cold, wet weather is,
dressing and undressing in canvas
tent, with the wind cutting through,
and then hopping over the mud to get
into the damp ring, when you're
ready to shiver as you slip about, if
the weather has been very bad. Well,
you get your part through, and then,
IN nine cases out OF ten, what sort OF
a place have you got to go into? Why,
one where there's no rest for You on
account OF its being busy night be.
cause OF the circus, and the house full.
So, p'raps you get an hour or two's
sleep, props not, according to circum.
stances.
As for me, you know, I'm one OF the
tent men; for though one leg shorter
than the other makes me limp a good
deal, I'm strong. you know, and my
job is to see the tent up. You've
noticed us strike it as fast rs ever we
eau as soon as the performance is
nearly over. Well. there's deal to
do over that, can tell you; for look
at the weight of the great tent and its
poles and ropes; besides which it's
most always wet, and 80 ever 50 much
heavier than il it was dry. think
sometimes as we have least rest of any
one; bus then we take it in turns and
sleepin the wagon going from town
to town, and that's very refreshing
when once you get used to it. At first,
you know, it's decidedly rheumatic,
and makes you very queer; but you
soon get used to It, and l can stand
anything now in the shape of wet and
cold. The women feel il the worst,
poor things; but they seldom grum.
BILE. and puts up with everything most
patient-no matter what it is; and
they have some hard times of it when
the weather's bad
You people come to see and be
amused, and we've got to amuse you.
Fancy, then, being the clown, and
coming on with bad toothache, or a
violent cold in the chest, or racked so
with rheumatic pains that every mo-
ment is agony. Just fancy AL that,
in q cold spring time, which is the
fime when you feel the cold most.
But, there, You can't fancy it, you
people who always have comfortable
homes and fires in 'em. l can, though,
an and realize it, too, for I've been
through it all. I began life, with my
father, in a circus.
Little slip Of chap l was then in
tic hts and n bit of naint m each