Los Angeles herald., 1906-08-19
Copyright by James Elverson.

Copyright by James Elverson
mT1 ERRY BROWN was angry. That
M could be easily seen as he stood,
N$esSA pitchfork in hand, gazing fxedly at
ES&%s% the barn floor and nervously biting
his finger nails.
''Well, l think father" he said,
in low tone, ''that you might let me oil tins
once and leave the work slide. l haven't been
to circus for three years"
Farmer Brown hestated
"Well, Jerry, my boy" he said, at length,
II know it's hard work on you myself; but
it can't be helped. The work has got to be
done. To make up for your not going, though,
if everything goes on all right tomorrow, III
give you half dollar in the evening Now
that ought to satisfy you"
And with this, Mr.. Brown turned away and
left Jerry to his own thoughts.
But Jerry was not satisfied even with this
offer. He had set his heart on going to the
circus, which the showbils picturesquely de
scribed as Washburn's Monster Aggregation
of Unknown Wonders and Stupendous Royal
Menagerie, and which was to exhibit In
Chestnutville on the following day, and he
could not make up his mind not to CO. In
deed, he determined that he would go.
"I'll get off in the morning." he declared to
himself as he left the barn and walked sui
leny up to the house, before any of them
are up"
1t was three o'clock the next morning when
Jerry cautiously opened his window and drop
ped out upon the grass beneath. The stars
were shining brightly the night air was fresh
and cool, and as Jerry walked off, only his
own footballs broke the stiffness of the air.
Chestnutville lay ten miles away over the
mountain; but Jerry was good walker, and
could easily get there in three hours.
He knew he was doing wrong. His con-
science, indeed, accused him at every step
of the way; but he tried to silence it by pic
turing the wonders that he was about to see,
and before he had reached Chestnutvine he
had worked himself into quite a fever of ex-
pectation over the mammoth elephants, trick
horses, performing lions and tigers, and "dar-
ing balloon ascension" which the posters had
generously promised.
1t was a little after six when he entered
the village, and SO far as he could see, there
were no signs that the circus had yet ar
rived
Making his way to the hotel, he sat down
to breakfast, which half dozen hardfeatured
and addressed men were already engaged in
eating. From their conversation, Jerry de
cided that they belonged to the circus; but
in that case, where was the show itself? Per
haps these had come on ahead.
Hastily taking his meal, the boy got up
from the table and hurried out of doors.
"When will the circus be here~ he asked
q man who was lomging near the porch.
The man looked as though he had not had
q good nights sleep.
"Its here already" he said, slowly.
Jerry gazed up and down the road without
seeing any evidences of the Monster Aggre-
CATION"
whereabouts is it?' he asked.
"Up the road Bit" answered the man
~fust vacant lot on the left-hand side"
Jerry thanked his informant and walked
away in the direction the man had pointed
out. He did remember having passed three
or four dilapidated wagons at that place, but
there was nothing about them that suggested
the "Stupendous Royal Menagerie." Probably
that was yet to come.
The ground, when he came up to it, pre-
sented a very bare and unpromising appear.
ance The horses-lean and ill-fed-were un-
hitched from the wagons and grazing upon
a rich pasturage Of weeds and gravel near by.
Leaning against one of the wagons, with
eyes half closed, Jerry saw boy of nearly his
own age, who had apparently been left in
charge by the breakfasting men. Here was
some one who could tell him about the show.
"Say Johnny" he called out, "do you be-
long to the circus|
frown gathered on the brow of the
boy as he slowly opened his eyes and gazed
sleeDily at his disturber