Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-03-10
half hour past eight Aunt Mary led
Uncle Joe and Tommy down the
Straat touardc the railway atation


well, I'll eat my hat if we're not
in for little trip to the city," said
Uncle Joe, nudging Tommy and wink
ing.
Aunt Mary said never a word, but
taking three bits of pasteboard from
her pocketbook she held them up for
Uncle Joe's inspection, and marched
them through the waiting room of the
railroad station straight to the train
platform.
tits an excursion, you see," she at
last spoke. land we must jump on the
minute the train draws in. for the seats
will be snapped up like hot cakes.
In another minute Aunt Mary, Uncle
Joe and Tommy were hustling
for seats in the train, which
had hardly stopped before they
made their entrance into it. Gee
whiz. I call that a scramble" said
Uncle Joe, as soon as the three of
them had secured two good seats,
which they turned together.
Tommy's mouth was spread from
ear to ear. for if there was anything
he really enjoyed above all other
pleasures it was riding on railroad
train.
"Well, I'll bet my best boots that
there's big surprise waiting at the
other end said Uncle Joe, beaming
on Tommy. "And how does this strike
you, son? About as good as ride on
the old Atlantic, being SO seasick that
even the thought of water makes you
turn your boots inside out?"
This is great said Tommy, look
ing at the flying landscape.
And it will be greater" declared
Uncle Joe.
And Uncle Joe was right AS soon
as the train pulled into the city sta
ton Aunt Mary said to Uncle Joe and
Tommy, pointing to great billboard
that faced the train. What do you
think of going to see that this after
noon, eh?"
THE circus!" cried Tommy. "Wy
I didn't know they ever had circuses
in the winter time, Aunt Mary"
"Of course we have 'em here dur
ing the months you northerners call
winter" laughed Aunt Mary.
But there was no time spent in idle
talking Aunt Mary was hostess for
the day and took her guests to a
restaurant, where they had fine din
ner of fried chicken and sweet pota.
toes Tommy ate so much that he de-
clared he'd not want another bite that
day.
wait till after the circus" warned
Uncle Joe. warningly.
After dinner they repaired at once
to the circus grounds, where was as.
sembled the greatest crowd Tommy
had ever seen. Two o'clock found the
three through with all the sideshows
and ready for the big tent AS they
passed through the menagerie tent
toward the circus tent Tommy was
deeply impressed with the strange an
imals that were crowded about in
cages. ooh. let's stop an see them!'
he cried, all enthusiasm.
We'll do that after the circus" ex
planned Aunt Mary. "As we come out
We'll 60 around the menagerie tent
1t was Tommy's first circus, and he
had never enjoyed anything so much
in all his life.
But even while the exciting circus
performance was going on Tommy's
eyes became heavy and he felt that
unless he should do something tc
drive away sleep he must certainly
succumb. He had gotten up unusually
early that morning, and the ride anG
the abundant dinner had combined tc
make him drowsy He put his head
against Aunt Mary's shoulder anG
closed his eyes, deciding to steal &
bit of a nap
But he hadn't mapped long when o.
a sudden the clown left the circus
ring and came up to the row of seats
where Tommy sat Come with me
wid,' he whispered in Tommy's ear
I'm going to give you real party in
the big kitchen tent Hully gee, but
we'll have gay time! Say nothing o.
this to anyone, but creep softly dowr
and follow me. Well return before
time for the circus to close.
But I want to see the menagerie. )
said Tommy in whisper to the
:. clown.
"It will be there to the last monk.
declared the clown. you just come
with me and see. Why, the party II
give you will make you turn double
summer-sets, you'll laugh to hard"
Tommy slipped from the side o.
Aunt Mary as that good lady was sc
busy watching the Japanese jugglerf
she had no eyes for anything else
Down beneath the high seats Tom
my jumped and made his way
under them to curtained ex
it through which he had seen tn,
clown disappear. And there on The
. other side Of the curtain stood tn;
, funny fellow. waiting for Tommy
Now. to the gayest party that eve
you saw" And the clown, 6ancins
and fris!king ahead, led Tommy to
great outside tent, which they enter
ed hand in hand.
/ And it was surely a great party
t There were assembled all the curiou.
animals that Tommy had seen in tn.
menagerie tent. But now they were
r uncaged, and stood about laughing
t and chatting just like human beings
Why. who ever heard of animals
talking!" said Tommy, much amazed
And you shall be introduced to eaci
individually promised the clown
Then, hooking his arm into that o
Tommy, he walked round the tent
bowling and introducing his yount
guest. "Ah, Mr.. Giraffe, allow me tt
present to you NV newly made friend
Master America And the clown drew
Tommy close to the tallest giraffe h,
had ever dreamed of. My name
Thomas Henry Smith, corrected Tom
nv Whispering In the clowns GAR