Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1908-03-19

W IStCu Tue IOu', ouN uuAAoH ehO "oA'
Aunt Silly was puzzled that so many
people should have turned out in th,
cause of charity. If she had had he
glasses on she might have read sign
on the gayly painted wagons to arous
suspicion, but she passed into the ten
with the innocence of a child of FIVE.
1t was the menagerie, and NepheV
Joe guided her around and saw that
she missed nothing. 1t was rea
treat to the woman, and she felt her
self growing bit reckless under tn
wave of enthusiasm. She ate peanuts
and drank lemonade, and after taking
another look at the Bengal tigel
which had killed seven men and wal
anxious to finish off seven more al
coon as possible she said:
"Joe, this is real nice, and I'm GLAD
we came. What are the folks going
into that other tent for p
ooh, that's part of the show, you
know. There are folks who don t care
to look at wild animals, and 30 they
have some riding and tumbling il
there fof them.
"But why cant we see it ?"
1--WE can, and it won't cost cent
more.
They went in and found seats, and
the circus performance opened. How
was the guileless Aunt Sally to tell
that it was a circusP 1t was her first
attendance, and she had never even
had performance described to her.
She grinned from the time the clown
first appeared, and the hurdle Jumping
and bareback riding brought "Ohs J.
and "Ahs |" from her until everybody
around her was delighted. She
bought lemonade and peanuts every
time the boy came along, and when
the performance was over at last she
said to her nephew:
"Joe, 1 could go to such show every
day in the week and not see enough.
I don't know who got it up for the
benefit of the widows and orphans,
but Pm telling you he was mighty
sensible feller. If it had been husk-
ing bee he wouldn't have taken in halt
the money. If you hear Of any more
shows like it this summer you let me
know, and we'll go"
Something really new had come into
Aunt Sally's life, and she talked Of ii
all the way home. Joe let her do
most of the talking. he was prePar'
ing for the impending calamity.
1t came within fifteen minutes oi
their arrival home. Mrs. Bronson, q
neighbor, was at the house on an er'
rand, and as soon as Aunt Sally began
to describe the show given for the ben
eft Of the widows and orphans th'
cat was out of the bag.
"Do you know what you've done
Aunt Sally Warner2" asked the caller
in serious tone.
"Why, I've had a good time.
Yes, you've had good time, and
you are going to pay an awful price
for it. wouldn't be in your shoes
for all the money this side Of Jericho.
"But what do you mean2 Isn't il
everybody's duty to help the widows
and orphans ?"
"Not if it's going to send your sou
to the bad place. Aunt Sally, you v'
been to circus u
mo, haven't l wouldn't go t.
a circus for a thousand dollars, anC
you know it.
you've been to circus-a regula
circus-with all its wickedness, am
how on earth you are ever going +
get forgiveness for it is more'n l cal
say"
Nephew Joe was called in from th'
barn and the matter put to him, an
he had to acknowledge that he haC
worked plot.
~ never would have believed it {
you-never !" walled Aunt Sally. "T
think that one Of my own kith an
kin would take me to a circus an
make me lose my chance of going
heaven +"
"But the animals interested you.
eyes, they did"
"And you liked the peanuts an
lemonade"
"Alas, but / did !"
"Aud you thought the clown WI
funny and the riding good
"Heaven forgive me, but did"
"Well, I don't see where the kiC
comes in. I don't believe you are al
wickeder than before"