The Harrison times. (Harrison, Boone Co., Ark) 1876-1938, 1906-05-05
Aunt Sally's
Conscience
By CLAUDE PAMARES
Copyright, 1906. by Homer Spfague

Never was there better natured,
Sally Warner, relict of Joab Warner,
who departed this life after Il fall from
the roof of his barn. Aunt Sally had
no children of her own, but did have
half II dozen nieces and nephews, and
among the latter was the rollicking.
frolicking Joe Henderson, who was
twenty years old ut the time the great
calamity fell upon the house of War
ner. Reference Is not made to the fall
from the roof of the barn, but To Il
calamity that overlook Aunt Sally's
conscience
One day nephew Joe, whose parents
lived five or six miles away, arrived at
Aunt Sally's on an errand. SHE was
about to set out for the village of
Jacksonville to do some trading" and
of old Robin. Aunt Sally had not
been over that road for month, and
she WAS surprised to see circus pie
lures pasted up on every barn Oh the
route. Since childhood she had had Il
fondness for circus pictures, but had
been brougbt up to believe that eternal
punishment awaited every one who
passed the doors of the circus itself
During his lifetime Joab had discharg
ed various hired men for staying a day
off TO go to the circus, and he had re
fused to deal with certain men who
had accepted free tickets for the privi-
lege of posting pictures on their barns
As the good aunt and her nephew
logged along the dusty highway and
came to barn after barn decked out In
gayest colors of printers Ink Joe heard
her signing He didn't stop to ask hir'-
self whether she was signing over the
death of Uncle Joab or the fact that
she couldn't attend a circus promising
so much entertainment but he forth
with proceeded to concoct u plan, r
II single person could conspire 1t
would have been called conspiracy as
well as plan. He made no comment
on the barebacked riders, on the wom
en- jumping through hoops, on the rhi-
noceros grazing along the banks of the
African river and the hyena sneaking
about In the Indian theket He just
sat still and chuckled, and when he
wasn't chuckling he was talking about
going to Alaska to dig for gold.
When they reached town and found
things in hustle he had to make
some explanations. He explained that
an exhibition was to be given that
afternoon for the benefit of widows
and orphans, but he didn't say too
much While Aunt Sally was making
her purchases the merchant might have
referred to the exhibition" and called
II by some other name II nephew Joe
hadn't given him the wink.
When ten yards of calico, fifteen of
sheeting, three towels, one table cloth
and thread, pins and needles had been
bought Aunt Sally suddenly remem.
bered something and turned to Joe and
said.
IF there Is anything going on for
the benefit of widows and orphans |
ought TO be interested, being as | am
widow myself. Is II spelling bee
or anything of that sortY
"Oh, no. They have got tent and a
collection of wild animals. It's what
you might call natural history exhibit
ton. Did you ever see live lion or
tiger. Aunt SallyY
mo, never did"
Ever see an elephant or a zebra or
glraffe?"
"No."
well, you can see them now and
help the widows and orphans the same
time. It's 80 cents apiece, but I've
got the money for my ticket"
But ! shall pay for both of u.s." re-
piled Aunt Sally as she handed over
a dollar when / set out to do any.
thing for the benefit of charity I'm not
one to scrlmp at 1t. There won't be
any gambling or horse racing, will
theref"
Mercy, no. The bills say there will
be nothing to offend the most fas-
tidlous. Come on"
They had a quarter of mile to go tC
reach the tent, and during the walk
Aunt Sally was puzzled that so many
people should have turned out In the
cause OF charity. II she had had hel
glnsses ON she might have read signs
on the gnyly painted wagons to arouse
suspicion. but she passed into the tent
with the innocence OF child Of Ave.
1t was the menagerle, and Nephew
Joe guided her around and saw thai
she missed nothing II was real trea
to the woman. and she felt herself
growing bit reckless under the wav,
Of enthusiasm. She ate peanuts ant
drank lemonade. and after taking an
other look at the Bengal tiger whicl
had killed seven men aud was anxious
TO finish on seven more MS soon as pos
slble she said:
"Joe. this Is real nice, and rm GLAD
we came. What are the folks goinl
into that other tent forf"
"Oh that's part Of the show, 20,
know. There are folks who don't care
to look at wild animals, and so thel
have some riding and tumbllng In Their