Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1909-06-19

lNflN lONdAuo no NllNuN It'l'lNt Oh
IN | jes' wanted sou to know tina,
there amt finer families or better
mothers or fathers or graudfulhCrS o.
grundmoth"rs anywhere than among
us. Why, that girls mother rode tn"
horses afurc her, an her mother aforH
that, an her grandmother an grand.
father afore that an there amt no
body what's cared more for their goOu
name an their childrcn's good nam"
AN her people has. You see, sir, cir
Gus folks is all like that. They'S jcs'
like one big family. They tends to
their business an takes good care o.
themselves. They has to or they
couldn't do their work. It's cause l'm
leavin' her with you that I'm sayin'
all this" the old man apoogi2ed.
"Tm glad you told me, Toby" Doug,
las answered kindly. 1--WE never
known much about circus folks"
II guess I'd better he goin," Toby
faltcred as his eyes rovcd hungrly to.
ward the stairway.
"Ill send you our route, an mebbc
you'll he letrin' us know how she u.s."
Indeed, WILL" Douglas assured
him heartily.
You might teH her Wen write ever
day or So" he added
"I'll tell her" Douglas promised ear
ncstly.
Good night" The old man hcsitat
ed unwilling to go, hut unable to find
f,,rtbnr ,.-otnvt f,y, ctovinn
Good night, Toby" Douglas eX-
tended his hand toward the bent figure
that was about to shuttle past him
The withsrcd hand Of the white faced
clown rested in the strong grasp Of the
pastor, and his pale little eyes sought
the face of the stafwart man before
him. 4 numb dpSOlation was growing
in his heart The object for which he
had gone ON day by day was being left
behind ard ne must stumble forth
into the night alone.
ITS hard to leave her." be mum
blcd "but the show has got to go on"
The door shut out the bent, old fig
uEc Douglas stood for some time
where Toby had left him, still think
ing Of his prophetic words. His rev.
erie was broken by the sounds of the
departing wagons, the low muttered
curses Of the drivers. the ShriekinG
| and roaring Of the animals rs tho cir.
Gus train moved up the distant hill
1.-THE show has got to 90 on" he re
pcatcd rs he crossed to his study table
and seated himself for work in the
| dim light Of the old fashioned lamp
| He put out one hand to draw tho
sheets uf his interrupted sermon to-
ward him. but instead it fell upon a
small sai,Cr hat. He twisted the hat
aIScntIy in his fingers, not yet realiZ
ing the new order Of things that was
coming into his life. Mandy tiptoed
softly down the stairs. She placed one
pudgy fOrctingcr on her lips and rolled
her large eyes skyward. Dat sure
am an angel chile straight from heb
ben" she whispered. she done got a
face jes' like little flower"
straight from heaven" Douglas re-
peatcd as she crossed softly to the ia
BILE and picked up the satchel and coat
You can leave the lamp, Mandy. |
must finish tomOrrow's sermon"
She turned at the threshold and
shook her head rather sadly as she
saw the imprint of the days cares ON
the young pastors face.
"Yo' mus be pow'ful tired" she
said.
mo, no; not at all. Good night,
Mandy"
She closed the door behind her. and
Douglas was alone. He gazcd absent
ly at the pages Of his untiiShcd ser
mon as he tapped his idle pen On the
desk. "The show has got to 80 on
he repeated, and far up the hillside
! with the slow moving wagons Jim and
Toby looked with unseetng eyes into
the dim, starlt distance and echoed
the thought The show has got to go
on"