The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1912-03-22

b b By N. QUAD
\ Copyright, 1s1i. ~ Associated LII.
1 ersry Press. &
p, 4 N. QUAD

As Il was several years ago. but Deacon
Spooner IL still shivering over his mar.
row escape. There was to be a circus
over at Darby's Ferry. and q good
many Of the simple people Of Delhi
calculated on going. The ministers
and deacons and other Christian PEG.
pie frowned upon the idea. Of course.
and Deacon spooner in particular used
all his influence to keep people at
home.
Whatever got the matter with him
on circus day be himself could never
explain. but he got up at daylight and
walked seven miles. and when the l,er-
Torrance opened he had q front seat.
A hundred Delhi people saw him there,
but he didn't seem to care. In fact.
he appeared to be having the best time
possible, and he didn't even get con.
sci0us stricken over 1t when be got
home.
OF course. such break could not
pass unnoticed. When Deacon Tyler
heard Of 1t he called Deacon Williams.
and the two together called upon the
minister and others. and 1t was decid-
ed to bring Deacon Spooner to account.
He got scared about It and wanted to
60 to Iowa and visit bis sister. but
he was held on to and put on trial.
When he was asked IL he wanted to
make a statement. he rose up and said:
II said I wouldn't go to the circus.
and advised others not to go. and
whatever got into me I can't under
stand. went to bed feeling that cir
Gus performances was invented by
Satan to trap the unwary and that
my face was set agin 'em like a flint.
but l got up at daylight and headed
for Darby's Ferry and struck gait
of four miles an hour. I was there to
see the circus come in.''
"Deacon Spooner. does insanity run
in your family?" asked Tyler in very
serious tones. "Have you ever lost
your mind for day or so?'
'If so l don't remember It. I've been
told that lost my mind when l came
pretty near marrying widow with
nine children. but l Dunno
"And neither your father nor mother
was ever an inmate of an insane asy
lum?"
II don't think so. though my father
acted Il leetle of at times"
''Then you couldn't truthfully say
that insanity runs in your family:"
mo. I couldn't
"Could you truthfully say that your
mind was unchanged for the time
being? Did you seem to be yourself
or somebody else? II you was crazy.
Of course. we can't hold you to blame"
mo. can't say as was crazy" re-
piled the deacon.
'But do you lay 1t to sinful curl
osity?" asked Deacon Williams.
IL guess I'll have to. Id been hear
in about circuses for the last fifty
years and had never attended one"
"But you found 1t sinful when you
got there:" asked Moses Schemerhorn.
who rings the bell for prayer meetings.
mo. can't say as I did," slowly
replied Deacon Spooner.
There was long drawn sigh and
shudder all around. and the minister
said:
Deacon. you may tell US what you
saw there"
"Waal. the first thing run up agin
was four elephants. They was flap
pin their ears and eatin' hay. and
didn't feel no sinful thoughts AZ
stood and looked at 'em. Can't body
see elephants and be saved too?"
eco on. deacon"
''Then took in the camels and ze
bras and CRATES. I looked at 'em
over and over agin. but I didn't boil
over and want to swear and fight.
Fact is. felt powerful peaceful over
It. Is it agin me to look at critters
with humps and stripes and long
necks?"
"But they was connected with a cir
Gus" protested Deacon Tyler.
Eyes. believe they was. but !
help it. After got through
there went over to look at the rhi-
BY gum. but he was hefty
critter: He weighed as much ss two
cows and a calf. / admit that I felt
a little bit sinful when iookin' at him.
I made up my mind that II critter
like that tackled me in the road at
night Id bust my suspenders tryin' to
knock his horn of. IL 1t too much to
ask that my sin be overlooked;''
I'VE will hear further" said the
minister. who wasn't looking so SOL
Bmn as he might.
"Waal. they had an ostrich. two ALL
gators. four hyenas and sacred bull
from India. If was hurt by seem
Them critters and things I'm willin' to
give in. but I'm sayin'. that l don't
feel like calm any one liar"
"And you didn't feel that you had
dnned?" queried Moses Schermerhorn
ID he shook his head in q solemn way.
'.Not a feel. even wanted the
bosses to 20 faster and the fellers to
1ipaop the harder. When a Teller
.ame climbin' around with pink lemon
lde and charged me 10 cents for a
mall glass did wish had him in a
:en acre lot for about two minits. but