Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1907-03-21
Coin to the Circus
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with the lines loose in his hand and hi
thoughts fixed on the hay crop, Jabe
Parker suddenly ran across something
to attract his attention.
Two miles from home and on barr
by the roadside two men were at worl
paSting up circus posters. They ha(
the front of the barn pretty we'll GOV
cred, and they finished their work a.
Jabez sat and looked at them. There
were lions. tigers, elephants, giraffes
galIoping horses and what not, with @
woman walking tight rope and O
clown making. everybody laugh, and
the good old man, who had never seen
circus in his life, even as 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 bust1'
1t was his own voice, and it almost
Jumped him off the seat. His heart
was in his mouth for 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. l expect ma will
make terrible fuss over it, but amt
goin' to let her turn me aside. l dunno
what's come over me, but if it's wicked
to go to circus then I'm goin' to be
wicked"
He reached home to unharness and
go 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, l see that George Williams
barn is all covered with circus pic
lures"
"And he q 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 Jabez?'
why, circus amt considered wick.
ed. l dunno as they ever was wicked,
but folks used to think that way"
II don't want to hear you talkin'
that way, Jabez. The circus was al
ways wicked and always Will be. It's
one of the broad roads leadin' down
to perdition."
"Ive never seen circus" said ia
bez after awhile.
And you never will-not as long as
you live with me-"
"rve 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 thatT'
What makes you call that wickedT
Because It Is. and you know 1t, and
b, ,w's no use to talk about it any
more. I'VE lived with you for thirty
line years, and I know you from head
0 heel. jazz, was you thinkin' Of
DIN to that circ.1s 1s' ,
Kinder thinkin'."
II had feelin' in my bones that you
7as. Waal, you stop it. won't have
!: for a minute" X
Say, ma, I'm a-goin'."
"Iabez Parker!''
~---- ..
les, ~ sir, I'm a-goin'. I've never
cen to a circus, but I'm go'u l" ..Aet
ne in before l d.. I'm a-goin to see
,e elephar...s, lions and tigers, and I'm
.goin' to see them women in short
kirts. I don't believe It'll hurt me
ny more than to see boss race at the
ounty fair"
"But I told you to turn your back
1hen they raced"
"Yes, but wanted to see which hoss
ame In ahead. l saw, and don't be-
eve l was one mite the wickeder for
But circus, Jabez-a circus! I tell
ou you can't 60. II you do you
eedn't expect to fnd me here when
on como home. never could 1--we
nth you for an hour agin."
Jabez Parker was the soul OF good
ature, but when aroused he had -
freak of the mule In him. he had
aid he was going to the circus, and hid
7ife's opposition only made him the
lore determined. The subject was
ropped that evening and was hardly
sferred to during the next week. Then
ne date of the circus came along, and
ne morning Jabez said:
Ma, I'll be home In time to do the ,
,ilkin'." X
What do you meanT U
I'm goin' to town to see the circus"
The wife looked at him and saw that
Q was determined, and she said no
lore until he was ready to drive away.
hen she observed:
"Goodby, Jabez. l don't 'spose we
lall ever see each other agin."
He echoed her goodby and drove of,
nd she sat on the piazza and cried for T
q hour She was still at it when some l
ne drove up, and she looked up to see
er minister standing before her. To
Is inquiry as to the cause of her sor-
wv she told her tale, and when it was
nished he said:
There's my wife and boys out in the
lrriage Hurry up and get your Sun q
ay clothes on"
But what for?'
"We'll find room In the carriage for
~, and I'll buy your circus ticket" an
Te hog ont homo half hoI1r ri