The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-09

E. W. Howe in the American Magazine.
 V1HEN circus day arrized, father NA/ told us we were not to attend the
 W circus; and, what was more, we were to work all day and not see the crowds or the parade.
 l told Jim l intended to make a sneak and see the circus if l died for it. Jim was a good boy, and warned me not to go, but when he saw I was determined, he accompanied me in the wild run we made for liberty.
 Then we started out to borrow money with which to attend the evening per formance. But We didn't make any progress, so when the. band struck up for the night show We decided to crawl un- der the tent. It seemed easy, and l was about in when a man caught me by the heels and pulled me out. While the cir GUS man was cuffing me, I saw another circus man cuffing Jim, about 20 feet away
 He had also failed. Then we met man named McCurry, a member of my fathers church, good man who did not intend to witness the performance, but who was nevertheless walking around outside to see the crowds and hear the band. We appealed to him. We said we had run off and should get whipping, but that it would be terrible to get a beAAlng and not see the performance.
 MT. McCurry looked around, to see no one was watching, and said;
 Well, l don't want your father to know but
 A few minutes later were were inside the tent, whistling with the other boys, and inviting the circus men to play ball." for the performance had not yet commenced But whNu it did begin it was all we had expeCAsM and more. It was Miles ortons cirfaN, I remember, and the clown was a merry fellow called Doctor Gilkerson.
 But at last the show was over, and dreading to go home-we knew whG3 was coming to us
 The last wagon drove away about 1 o clock in the morning, and then there was nothing left for us but to face the editor. So we snealzed in at the kitchen door; we imagined mother would leave that open for us, and found she had. After entering the Kitchen, there was a door leading into the sitting room, and then stairway leading up to our room. We had gone around the house and noted a light in the sitting room; we expected trouble there After entering the kitchen we tried the knob of the sitting room door, and tried, to turn 1t quietly Ever notice how a door knob 1 saueaks when you try to turn. it quietly ? That door Knob squeaked, and when we turned it. and went into the sitting room, there sat the editor, waiting for us. l went in first, and Jim sneaked in be- hind me.
 | the circus?'
 1 There was no use trying to deceive him. I was willing to try, but knew it was impossible, so I replied meekly:
 ''Yes, sir
 He thought awhile as though trying to decide just how hard he would whip us and finally inquired:
 How did you like it?'' i I was too wise boy to be enthusiastic l
 "Oh. I didn't think it amounted [, much" Qt did, though; it was the very best show l ever saw in my. life) l For some reason the editor. didn't grat up and begin the punishment we expected and he had no switch
 Did they say anything. about )me?" he asked.
 hadn't thought of that before. but evidently he had been expecting an at tack. I repeated what the clown hat
 said. making .it as mild as possible.
 oIIow did the people take it?" ht asked again.
 Then I bad an idea. I replied witl anmation;
 well, sir; you should have been there and seen kow the people took it! Ell