The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1909-05-28
Big Clown and
Little Clown.
BY TEMPLE BAILEY.
BY TEMPLE BAILEY.


He was big and burly. figure In his
fantastic dress to make all the little
boys giggle and the little girls stare.
half frightened
That was when he was In the ring.
But when he was clothed in the ordi.
nary garb of citizen he was simply a
fresh faced boy who could stroll along
the village streets without attracting
unusual attention.
He liked the little villages where the
circus stayed for-a day or two and
then moved on languidly down dusty
roads to the next stopping place.
"Some time" he said to the little
clown, 'I'd just like to stay behind in
one of these little towns and turn
farmer and stop being funny for
awhile"
The little clown was woman
When she was dressed for the ring she
wore infantile clothes, with a blue
sash, and carried a big stick of red
striped candy. and all the little girls
and boys would almost go into convul-
sions of laughter when she shook her
rattle at them.
II know" said the little clown, chow
you feel. Sometimes think it would
be nice to have little house and make
bread and put the weeks wash out on
the green grass and have cat and
fireplace
Her voice trailed Off dreamiy.
The big clown looked down at her
"I've been funny all my life," he said
when wasn't anything but baby
my father used to take me in the ring
with him. He was clown, too, and
I've just grown up to It,"
The little clown nodded sympathetic
ally Most Of us grow up to it," she
said, "and then somehow we can't get
away"
The big clown stood up. 1t was time
for him to go into the ring. He twirled
his pointed hat In his hand and then
put it on. ~ am going to get away
from it." he said. 81 want home and
neighbors. I'd like to be a sheriff in
some town or mayor or on the school
board'A He smiled till the thick white
paint on his face was folded into deep
| creaSes
Then he was off to the ring, and the
little clown turned her attention to the
contcrtionist, who was in shining iri-
descent green like snake.
81 wish you wouldn't pay so much
attention to the big clown" the contor-
ZIONIST told her. II can't ever get a
minute with you"
The little clown looked at him with
eyes that went beyond him through
the door of the tent to where the APP
pie trees We're iinging up pink branch
es to a sapphire sky.
did you ever see anything so pref
typ she asked. and pointed to it.
But the contortionist had no eyes
for apple trees. 81 have never seen
anything so pretty as you are" he
said, land If you will stop this clown
business and marry me will put you
in an act that will give you a chance
to show people how good looking you
are You could wear white and your
hair in yellow ringlets down your back
and a gold crown. And I'd put on red
with horns, and we'd give an angel
and devil act"
The little clown leaned forward
eagerly Il have always wanted to
do something like that" she said
I've wanted to have an act that
would make people do something be.
sides giggle. and ought to get pref.
ty good pay"
well. | should say" the contortion.
list Dragged. 81 get bigger pay now
than any one in the show. and you'd
just about double it after | had taught
you what to do. 1t would be swell
business"
Yes" said the little clown, "it
/ would"
And when the contortionist had gone
| the little clown sought the bearded
lady.
2 Which would you rather do" she
demanded. have a little house in q
I country town, with a fireplace and q
( cat and IA husband that people looked
I vi to, or would you rather be head
t liner in the circus businessT'
' Now, the bearded lady, in spite OF
( her masculine appearance, was a wise
2 woman and a sympathetic one. I'D
rather be the wife of the man loved
- she told the little clown, whether he
= was in n country village or the circus
) It isn't the place that makes us happy
it's the man"
I The little clown nodded her head
b But I'm not sure she began, and
r then the bearded lady said, well, be
. sure before you decide"
I How am | going to know" ques
. toned the little clown
"You'H knew when the time comes, >
2 said the bearded lady sensibly. AnC
after the little clown had gone away
the bearded lady sat and thought ant
thought, and when the performance
. was over she sent for the big clown.
80 you love the little clown?" she
said.
How did you known he demanded
= Everybody knows" the bearded
;. lady told him. you can't hide it,
"Well, do love her." the big clown
: confessed, land | want to take hei
y away from all this and live in a littlC
!, house In a little town and have chick
u ems and cow
'The little clown wants a fireplac,
u and q cat" smiled the bearded ladv