The daily Alaskan., 1906-03-14
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GOin' to the Circus
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[CopyrIght. 1gO5. by J. w. Muller.l

 Parker suddenly run across something to attract his attention.
 Two miles from home and on barn by the roadside two men were at work pasting up circus posters. They had the front of the barn pretty well GOV cred, and they finished their work as Jabez sat and looked at them. There were lions, tigers, elephants, girafres, galloping horses and what not, with woman walking a tight rope and clown making everybody laugh, and tie good old man, who had never seen q circus in his life, even as a boy, sat there long after the men had departed and figured 1t all out in imagination. Presently he heard voice saying
 "Durn my buttons, but I'm goin' to take in that circus or bust"
 It was his own voice, and 1t almost jumped him off the seat. His heart was in his mouth for a moment but then he gained courage to say "getap' to the old horse and muttered to him. self:
 "Yes, sir, I'm nearly sixty years old and never saw a circus, but I'm goin' to begin now. expect ma will make terrible fuss over 1t, but ain't goin' to let her turn me aside. l dunno what's come over me, but If it's wicked to go to a circus then I'm goln' to be wicked"
 He reached home to unharness and 90 to work again, and he said nothing of what was in his mind until supper had been eaten and the milking done. Then as he sat on the piazza with his old wife he carelessly remarked:
 Ma, see that George Williams barn is all covered with circus pie tures."
 And he a Christian man" gasped the wife.
 'Waal. you know, folks don't look at circuses the way they used to-
 What do you mean by that, JabezT
 "Why, a circus ain't considered wick ed. l dunno as they ever was wicked, but folks used to think that way
 .'I don't want to heGr you talkin' that way, Jabez. The circus was d. ways wicked and always will be. It's one of the broad roads leadin' down to pcrdltion.'
 i've never seen circus" said Ja- bez after awhile.
 And you never will-not as long as you live with me"
 I've often wondered where the wick edness comes in."
 Then you must be blind! Don't wo- men, or things called women, dress up In short skirts and ride hOssback and jump through hoops? Can you imagine anything more wicked than that!'
 What makes you call that wicked P''
 Because 1t is, and you know 1t, and there's no use to talk about it any more. I've lived with you for thirty nine years, and know you from head to heel. Jabez, was you thinkin' Of goin' to that circus?'
 Kinder thinkin'."
 "I had a feelin' in my bones that you was. Waal, you stop 1t. l won't have 1t for a minute
 Say, ma, I'm a-gOin'."
 "Jabez Parker"
 'Yes, sir, I'm a-goln'. I've never been to a circus, but I'm goin' to take one in before die. I'm a-goln' to see the elephants, lions and tigers, and I'm a-goin' to see them women In snort skirts. don't believe it'll hurt me any more than to see hoss race at the county fair"
 But I told you to turn your back when they raced"
 "Yes. but wanted to see which hoss came in ahead. I saw, and don't be- IIcve was one mite the wickeder for it."
 But circus, Jabez-a circusi l tell you you can't go. If you do you needn't expect to find me here when you come home. never could live with you for an hour agin."
 Jabez Parker was the soul Of good nature, but when aroused he had streak of the mule In him. He had said he was going to the circus, and hiE wife's opposition only made him the more determined. The subject wal dropped that evening and was hardly referred to during the next week. Then the date Of the circus came along, and one morning Jabez said:
 Ma, I'll be home in time to do the milkln'"
 ''What do you mean"
 'Tm goin' to town to see the circus"
 The wife looked at him and saw that be was determined, and she said no more until he was ready to drive away. Then she observed:
 "Goodby, Jabez. don't 'spose we shall ever see each other ag'in."
 He echoed her goodby and drove of, and she nat on the piazza and cried for an hour. She was still at 1t when some one drove up, and she looked up to see her minister standing before her. To his Inquiry as to the cause of her sor- row she told her tale, and when 1t was finished he said:
 "There's my wife and boys cut in the carriage. Hurry up and get your Sun day clothes on"
 "But what forP'
 HIaH