The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-12-08
CHATTER VII.
The clown Country.

Flippityf1ops house proved to be one
4 room, built under the platform, and
lighted by soft glow from hidden cleo
trio lamps. The walls were covered In
bright yellow silk hangings and on tire
6oor was crimson carpet. All around
the sides were wide benches with sort
cushions of purple velvet, and near the
middle of the room was a small table OF
biue and silver On the walls Dot
noticed several gaudily colored pictures
of Clowns. and when Flppityfop saw the
children looking at these pictures he
said:
''Those are portraits of my father ana
grandfather and great-grandfather They
were all princes of this Valley of Merry
lard, as well as good men and clever
clowns. Therefore I am proud of them.
''They look very jolly" said Dot.
''They were jolly, and proved comfort
to thousands of children. But you must
be hungry, and 1 trust you will allow
me to offer you some dinLer. What will
you have?"
what you got?" inquired Tot.
''Well, | have in my cupboard some
fried goldfish boiled buttercups ana
picked shoelaces," he answered.
Don't want any," said Tot.
+'These seem rather foolish things to
eat" remarked Dot.
"Of course they are foolish things,
agreed Flippityfop, cheerfully. Every
thing We do here is foolish. You GER
fainly can't expect wisdom in country
of Clowns"
Course not" said Tot.
'If you'll send to the boat for our
basket, 1 think we will prefer to eat
the things we brought with US" de-
clared Dot.
Certainly" answered the prince.
and Immediately sticking his hea,
through the trap door, he ask
ed a clown who stood outside to
fetch the basket.
1t came il remarkably short time, and
then Flippityfiop assisted Dot to lay the
cloth on the blue and silver table, when
the children proceeded to eat of the
sandwiches, cake and apple-tarts that re-
manned in the basket.
Wouldn't you Ike something to drink?
asked the prince.
II am rather thirsty" admitted Dot,
shave you any milk?''
mo. we do not use milk in this val
ley" he answered. But we have some
excellent green paint, or, if you prefer
1t, can give you bottle of red mucil-
age
mo. thank you, said Dot. I'VE
couldn't drink those Perhaps you Will
river.
but the water is quite wet" exclam-
ed the clown, and is liable to make you
damp. Surely you won't think of drink
ing it,
'oh, yes; we're accustomed to drinking
water" said the girl
So the water was sent for, and Dot and
Tot took long and refreshing drinks, al
though their action alarmed Flippityfop,
who urged them to eat a few handfuls
of sawdust afterward to absorb the
dampness.
do all the Clowns live in this valley?''
asked the girl, when the table was clear
ed
Yes, all except those we send into the
world to amuse the children answered
Flippityf1op You see, we train them all
very carefully, and every year one is
selected to go into the world
How do they get there?" asked >the
child.
''At the upper edge of our valley there
is one place not so steep as the rest. The
Clown who is leaving US climbs to this
place and finds himself on the top OF
a mountain, So he makes himself into
q ball, as he has been taught to do, and
rolls down the mountain into the outside
world, where he travels around until he
finds a circus to join.
OH exclaimed Dot, I've seen EN-
In circuses."
ITO be sure; that's the proper place
for Clowns. Do they make the children
laugh?"
Sometimes said the girl.
When they do not" said Flippityfiop
graYely they are imitation Clowns. and
were never trained in this Valley of Mer-
ryland The real Clowns are sure to make
you laugh But come it is time our peo-
pie were gathering on the platform fol
their evening practice. Would you like
to watch thenn?''
Eyes, indeed!' cried Tot, joyfully; and
Tot clapped his hands and echoed, Deco
yesi'
So Flipptyf1op lifted them through the
hole to the top of the padded platform
where they saw a strange and merry
sight
All the platforms on both sides of the
street were now occupied by Clowns, who
were performing in a most marvellous
manner. The trees were full of electric
lights, which shed brilliant rays over the
scene and enabled the children to see ev-
erything distinctly.
Come with me- said their friend "an6
i will lead you through the street, thai