Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1905-07-30
Row HE GOT HIS CIRCUS TICKET

circus asked Little. 81 was raised
| in an Indiana town where the coming
| OF the circus was the event of the sea-
son. One year when the circus came
| along my father was not in good
; humOr and I concluded that would
have to work to get ticket to the
show. Long before the first train
! pulled in I was sitting on the depot
platform waiting for the red wagon,
but l had not decided on any plan of
action, when one of the men with the
elephants approached me. Say, son,
said he, do you want to do littlo
work?' was only too anxious and
told him so.
"Where is the nearest stream Of
water?'
! lover here a piece l said, indicat-
ing.
We'll, you take these buckets and
get me some water for the elephants
"'Will you give me a ticket Tor
the show?
Sure; now run along and get
busy
! II got busy all right enough, and
when l was through with the job the
+; elephant man asked me to bring him
bucket of water for himself When
l came back I wore a look that sai;!
unmistakably, I am ready for the
ticket
But instead of giving me an honor
able discharge Mr.. Elephant Man
had me help unbale and scatter about
twenty tons of hay. We fixed it most
temptingly around the feet of the
rachyderms. About this time I asked
how much more there was .or me to
do. The elephant man saiG he was
through and l would get ticket if
came with him to the baggage car.
followed without a word. He tossed
around a few trunks and other ar.
ticles of baggage, and finally found
the trunk.
'He took out a bundle Of tickets
giving me one. Give that to the mar
in the ticket wagon, he said, and
he will let you in to see the show
AS happy as a bug in rug | ran
home to breakfast, holding the
coveted ticket in my hand all the
way I was SC excited that ate but
little, and as soon as ! thouoht It
safe I took my hat and went back to
the circus grounds.
The crowd passed the wagon SO
rapidly that I thought the tent would
be filled before I got in. I pushed
as hard as small boy can pnsh and
finally thrust my ticket into the TAX
er's hand 1t was different size
from those given him by other poo
pie, and he noticed it, and, reaching
down, grabbed me by the coiia".
was hauled out Of line end the man
with a scowl demanded:
"'Where did you get this ticket
From the elephant man. ! whin'
pered. I carried thirty-three buck
cts of water for him ana he gave me
that
'.Well, that is no good here he
said. The show that issued this
ticket was here three years ago.
81 mustered ZIP courage enoneh to
blurt out:
&c. | don't care about lhat. I car
ried water for your elephants and I
want to see this show, and I'm going
to see it,
"sNot if / know it. Now get out
of the way
'sDespite the fact that the ticket
man was big enout:n to toss me
around like rubber ball, I got fight
ing mad
"'Do get in to See the show |
demanded.
"'Not on your life. Run away
'sBy this time the circus men We're
chatting each other about he shrawd
trick the elephant mar had played On
me This added to h1v anger, and !
decided to settle the affair Tor once
and all. Undaunted ay the rebIffs
offered me before | sent mp to the
ticket taker.
"'Say YOU called out, if you
dent let re in now and be quick
about it ] will get eve" with vou.'
Nothing doing, son; trot along.
"sWel1 TIL trOt. but I'll como back
with box of matchc, and pnrn every
old car in your train
y started off on run. bur did not
Get far. One of %he canvass men
caught me up in his arms, and, With
mt a word. he dashed by The ticket
tsker and gave me one of the best
seats in the tent.
"'Stay here, son, and see the show.