The Democratic advocate., 1909-05-14
Big Clown and
Little Clown.

Copyrisi4ed. 1909, BY Associated
Literary Press.

the village streets without attracting
nnusual attention.
He liked the little villages where the
circus stayed for 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 ana stop being funny for
awhile"
The little clown was a woman.
When she was dressed for the ring she
wore infaHtiie clothes, with a blue
sash, and carried big stick Of red
striped candy. and all the little girls
and boys would almost so into convul-
sions of laughter when she shook her
n0ttle at them.
Il know said the little clown, 'how
you feel Sometimes I think IL would
be nice to have little house and make
bread and put the weeks wash out on
the green grass and have a cat and
fireplace
Her voice trailed or dreamiIy.
The big down looked down at her.
I've bees funny all my life," he said.
when | wasn't anything but a baby
my father used to take me in the ring
with him. He was a clown. too, and
I've just grown up to st."
The little clown nodded sympathetlc-
any Most Of us grow up to It." she
said, "and then somehow we can't get
away"
The big clown stood up. IT was time
for him to GO into the ring. He twIrled
his pointed hat In his hand and then
put 1t on. ~ am going to get away
from It," he said. II want home ana
neighbors. I'd like TO be a sheriff in
some town OF mayor or on the school
board lie smiled till the thick white
paint on his face was folded into deep
cReases.
Then he was of TO the ring, and the
little clown turned her attention to the
contortionist. who was in shining iri.
descent gneeR like a snake.
Il wish yOu wouldn't pay so much
attention 10 the big clown" the contor-
ZIONIST told her. II can't ever get a
minute VIA you"
The littae down looked at him with
eyes that went beyond him through
the door " the tent to where the an.
pie trees were dinging up pink branch
es to sapphire sky.
did you eGer sec anything so pret-
tyr she asAsed. and pointed TO It.
But the eOntortionist had no eyes
for apple trees. II have never seen
anything % pretty as you are" he
said. "and II you will stop this clown
business and marry me viii put you
In an act that viii give you 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
aud devil act''
The little clown leaned forward
eagerly. Il have always wanted TO
do something like that" she said.
tive wanted to have an act that
would make people do something be.
sides giggbe. and ought TO get pret.
ty good pay"
well, should say" the contortIon.
tst Dragged. II get bigger pay now
than any one in the show, and you'd
just about double 1t after had taught
you what to do. II would be swell
business"
YES" sah tho little clown, -it
would"
And when the contoftionist had gone
the little clown sought the bearded
lady.
(which would yvu rather do" she
demanded, have q little house in a
country town, with fireplace and a
cat and husband that people looked
up to, or would you rather be bead
liner in the circus businessT'
Now, the bearded Lady, In spite Of
her masculine appearance, was a wise
woman and sympathetic one. "Pd
rather be the wife Of the man loved"
she told the little clown, whether he
was in country village or the circus.
1t isn't the place that makes US happy;
it's the man."
The little down nodded her head
but I'm not sure" she began, and
then the bearded lady said, "weil, be
sure before you decide.n
How am 1 going 70 kDowY' Ques-
toned the little clown.
@You'll know when the time comes"
said the bearded Lady sensibiy. And
after the little clown had gone away
the bearded Lady sat and thought and
thought, and when the performance
was over she sent for the big clown.
$50 you love the little clowaT' she
said.
How did you known be demanded.
Everybody knows" the bearded
lady told him. you can't hide it,
"Well, do love her." the big clown
confessed, "and want to take her
away from all this and live In a little
house in a little town and have chick
ems and a cow
"The little clown wants a fireplace
and a cat" smiled the bearded lady.
~but II all amounts to the same thing?'
did she tell your the big clown
asked eagerly.
Yes" said the bearded lady. ''but
she is not sure that she loves you, ana
it's up to you to make her sure"
But how?" demanded the big clown.
"Leave the show" was the sage ad-
vice, "at the next village and see how
she takes It
So the night when the lights
were out III ne big tent and the tired
performers were packing their belong
ings into trunks and bags the bia
clown came TO the little clown and