The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1909-04-29

70 20 on
"i'ye heard how some church folk
feels towards us circus people. siI
an jes' wanted you 10 know tina
there Amt finer families or bette
mothers or fathers or grandfathers o
grandmother anywhere than anon
as Why. that girls mother rode th,
horses afore her. an her mother afor
that, an her grandmother an grand
father afore that, an there amt no
body what's cared more for their goot
name an their children's good mann
an her people has. You see. sir, cir
Gus folks y AL like that. They's jes
like one big family They tends e
their business an takes good care Of
themselves. They has TO or they
couldn't do their work. It's cause I'm
leayin her with you that I'm sayin
all this" the old man apologized
I'm glad son told me. Toby" Doug
las answered kindly, i've never
known much about circus folks"
Il guess I'D better be goln'," Toby
faltered as his eyes roved hungrily to
ward the stairway.
I'm send you our route. an mebbe
you'll be ettln' us know how she is"
Indeed, will" Douglas assured
him heartily.
You might tell her Wen write ever
day or so.' he added
an tell her. Douglas promised ear
nestly.
Good night" The old man hesltat.
cd, unwilling TO go, but unable to find
further pretext for staying.
Good night, Toby" Douglas ex-
tended his hand toward the bent figure
that was about TO shuttle past him
The withered hand Of the white faced
clown rested In the strong grasp of the
pastor. and bis pale little eyes sought
the face OF the stalwart man before
him. A numb desolatlon was growing
In his heart. The object for which he
had gone on day by day was being left
behind. and he must stumble forth
Into the night alone.
ITS hard to leave her. he mum.
bled. but tpc show has got TO go on"
The door shut out the bent, old fig
ure. 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 shrieklng
and roaring OF the animals. as the cir
Gus train moved up the distant hill
1.-THE show has got TO go on" he re
peated as he crossed to his study tai
and seated himself for work In the
dim light OF the old fashioned lamp
He put out one hand TO draw the
sheets Of his interrupted sermon to
ward him, but instead IL fell upon a
small sailor hat He twisted the hat
nbsently In HIS fingers. not yet realiz
Ing the new order Of things that was
coming into his life. Mandy hptoed
softly down the stairs. She placed one |
pudgy forefnger on her lips and rolled
her large eyes skyward. dat sure
AN an angel chile straight from heb
pen" she whispered. she done got a
lace jes' like a little flower"
straight from heaven" Douglas re-
Deated us she crossed softly to the ia
Die 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
'aw the imprint OF the days cares on
he young pastors face.
"Yo' mus be powful tired" she
aid.
mo, no; not at all Good night,
Mandy"
She closed the door behind her, and
Douglas was alone He gazed absent
y at the pages Of his untiisbed ser
non as he tapped his idle pen on the
Iesk "'fhe show has got TO 90 on"
Ie repeated. and far up the hillside
With the slow moving wagons Jim and
Toby looked with unseeing eyes into
he dim. starlit distance and echoed
he thought. THE show has got to go
n"