The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-02-11

NOON.
would make charming summer re-
sort. With the city visitors came a
naughty ostriches and gIittering char
lots. Jim lost all interest in other
things, and every spare moment was
spent In watching the giddy whirls Of
the merry go round and its patrons.
Then came the day of days. when the
youth who collected fares on the car
rousel announced that be was tired of
country life and was going back to the
city. Dismay was pictured on the face
of the proprietor of the carrousel. but
joy filed the heart of Jim. who stood
by. watching the daily polishing of the
golden chariots- And. best of all. 1t
was vacation season!
Drawing on supply of latent energy
which be did not dream he possessed,
Jim approached the proprietor.
Say, If you want boy. I'd like that
job. | can rub up the animals and the
chariots, and collect the tickets, and
hold on the little ones that's afraid,
and
His list of accomplishments came to
an abrupt end The man studied him
with shrewd but not unkindly eyes.
Eyes. I've noticed you hanging round
here pretty steady. and guess you'll
do II your folks are willing and won't
pull you off to do jobs around home.
The uniform will fit you pretty well
too"
And SO did Jim spring suddenly into
the very limelight of Bergen Mills
publicity. Before the first week had
elapsed. be fitted into his nook as nat
business all his life. He could lean
with easy nonchalance against the
rods of TIE carrousel as it whirled
round at mad pace. He had a name
for every animal In the circle. And his
mother had cleaned the red and gold
uniform and polished the buttons till
they looked like new.
The dizzy existence he led might
have caused it. but. somehow. Jim COM
menced to dream dreams and to see
visions. The chariots were ridden by
fairy princesses. dainty creatures In
white frocks. Hover trimmed hats and
gay ribbons. who came with the sum-
mer visitors. And Jim was always the
knight who would some day rescue
! them when the ostrich should stretch
his long legs and spring from the plat
form, or the lion, stiffening his tufted
tail. should leap straight over the
heads of the gaping spectators. Jim
would fly after them on his Arabian
charger.
But when August came painting
down it was not a matter of fairy
princesses, but just one princess who
rode lion every afternoon, with q
watchful maid seated in the chariot
behind her. Jim felt that their posi-
lions should be reversed. The colored
maid with a gay turban and carrying
a spear should mount the lion, while
the princess. all in spangled white with
| glittering wings should sit enthroned
IN the golden chariot. Jim told the
Arabian charger all about it, too, and
warned that astute animal to be ready
for the call to arms at any moment.
One day while hurrying back to the
carrousel from dinner he had worked
himself up to a fine pitch of enthu-
siasm over the thrilling situation when
he was reused from his reveries by
frightened screams and the hoof beats
of a galloping horse. He ran into the
dusty street. to face plunging horse
Hanging on to the reins in the phaeton
was the colored maidl The princess
was not to be seen. Probably she was
crouching In terror at the feet of heI
servant. Could he do it without the
Arabian charger? All this passed
through his mind in a flash. The next
instant he was clinging to the bride
/ of the maddened horse-then darkness
When he woke. he was lying In
strange room with white capped
nurse bending over him. She felt his
forehead with her cool hand and gave
him something to drink, something cold
j and delicious. Next came the doctor
who asked him many tiresome ques
1 tions,. and bis mother. who cried 4