The Prescott daily news., 1912-10-24
Willie
 Surfeit

WllneS Aunt victoria was suspicious. His mother said she just knew the child was i'll and she held the medical thermometer under his tongue by main force, but his Aunt Victoria raised her eyebrows and narrowed her eyes while studying him.
 The trouble was that Willie had not shrieked with joy when his mother had said that she would take him to the circus. He had not even seemed faintly interested. It was an unheard of state of things!
 He hasn't any fever" announced his mother anxiously, consulting the thermometer. Does your head ache, darling?"
 Nope" Willie said cheerfully.
 q never heard of boy who wasn't perfectly crazy to go to a circus!" per sisted his mother. ''Why, usually you worry the life out of me from the time the posters are put up! You acted that way when this circus first was announced, and I don't see-are you sure you don't want to go?"
 "Td ruther go play with Arthur Jones'" Willie said, wriggling. He edged out of the door.
 T just know he's going to be sick" repeated his mother.
 q wouldn't worry" said his Aunt Victoria He looks perfectly healthy"
 But secretly she was as much amazed as was Willie's mother. Re garding Willie from calm, unemo- tional point of view, she recognized the fact that there might be other ex- plantations than any which came into the mind of his worried parent.
 There had been gorgeous posters for several weeks in the suburb show ing forth the glories of the small cir GUS that was coming, and Willie, with the other small boys, had followed the bill poster about, hysterically whoop- ing with glee. He had talked circus and dreamed circus for days and had nearly broke his neck practicing on the tight rope in the back yard, to the serious injury of the family clothes line. And now, the second day of the show, he had rejected his chance to SO. IL SSl ldlllly Ndo LOS HUI AioA SOAi duct on Willie's part.
 His Aunt Victoria cornered Willie tkat evening and offered him some chocolates. Tell me why you don't want to go to the circus" she said, be- guilingly.
 "Huh!" said Willie. 'I seen it."
 "I knew perfectly well you weren't going to be sick" she said, triumph antly. Have another chocolate. Did you go to it yesterday?'
 "Huh!" confided Willie. q wuz in it."
 Aunt Victoria clutched the chair arm. Tn it?" she repeated faintly.
 Willie kicked one foot meditatively against the step. Well" he amend ed, mot eggzactly in it, y'know. I wu2 on it"
 Aunt Victoria felt her back hair dis tractedly and swallowed hard.
 "NVillie!" she cried impressively. Tel. me this minute what you mean! If your mother dreamed"
 Willie edged nearer. T rode nele- phunt," he confided, in the parade
 Do you mean to say" his question CT gasped, that you actually were 'n the procession? On an elephant that has a million more germs than a Fly has-and you know how frightened your mother is if fly gets near you? How did you dare"
 "A man said 1 could," Willie pro- tested. T was. hanging around with the other kids. 1 seen it all because l crawled under the tent. 1 helped feed the elephunts an the man he ast if 1 wanted to be in the procession, an l said I did, an he got red coat an l wore it! Say, did you know elephunts are so high up when you ride 'em?"
 Willie is not coming down with typhoid or the measles" his Aunt Vic toria announced later to his parents. Tn fact, l should say he is more than ordinarily sane and healthy"
 Willie's father hates germs as much as does Willie's mother, and he was annoyed on hearing of his sons deeds. You really ought to tell him not to do such things!" he said to his wife.
 It was then that Willie's mother turned on Willie's father. My good ness!" she said. "Who on earth would ever think on getting up in the morn ing of telling a perfectly we'll brought up child that he must not on any ac- count put on red coat and ride an elephant! Between you and your son you'll drive me crazy!"
 Anyhow" sighed Willie contented- ly, "I seen the circus!"