The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1913-09-25

WI WIN I'IltNtl courage.
When was big enough. wore a
tiny black skirt, and q red coat with
shiny buttons. and I beat the drum
In the carnival band You ought to
nave seen mc-so little Alb.
bot, you cant imagine how little !
vast We had about dozen small
shows in our company. fortune.tellcrs,
MINISTRIES, magic wonders, and all that
and the band had to march from one
tent TO the next, and stand out In front
ana play to get the crowd in a bunch,
so the free exhibition could work on
their nerves And I'd beat away, in
my red coat and there were
always the strange faces, staring. star.
lng-but J was so littlol Sometimes
they would smile at me, but mother
had taught me never to speak to any.
one, but to wear n glazed look like
this"
How frlghtfully coId!" Abbott
shivcred. Then he laughed and 50 did
Fran They had entered Littloburg.
He added wickodly: And how dread.
fully near we are getting to your
| home"
Fran gurgled Wouldn't Grace Noir
! just die II she could SEQ us!"
That sobcrcd Abbott; considering
| his official position. 1t seemed high
| time for reflection
Fran resumed abruptly. but nev.
or really liked It because what | want
ed was home-to belong to some.
body. Then ! got to hating the bold
stare Of peoples eyes, and their fool.
ish gaping mouths. hated being al.
ways on exhibition with every gesture
watched as II I'd been one Of the
trained dogs | hated the public. /
wanted TO get away from the world
clear away from everybody
IKE ! am now with you. Isn't
II great"
Mammoth" Abbott declared. wa.
tering her words with liberal magma |
ton.
Il must talk fast. or the Gregory |
house Will be looming up at us. |
Mother taught me all she knew, though |
she hated books she made herself |
think she was only in the show life |
TIL she could make little morc-al.
ways just little more-she really
loved It, you see. But ! loved the
Notwithstanding that wasn't
the show. 1t was kind OF friendly
when began feeding Samson"
Poor little Nonpareil!" murmurcd
Abbott wistfully.
And often when the show wac be.
ing unloadcd, I'd be stretched out IN
our sleeper, with school book pressed
close to the cinder.specked window.
catching the first light. When the
mauls were pounding away at the tent.
pins. maybe I'd hunt seat on some
cage. II It had been drawn up under a
tree or maybe it'd be the ticket wag.
on, or even the stake pile-there you'd
see mo studying away for dear life,
dressed in plain little dress. trying
10 look like ordinary folks. Such n
queer little chap, | was--and always
trying to pretend that wasn't!
You'd have laughed to see me-"
Laughed at you" cried Abbott in. ,
lignantly. Indeed shouldn't"
mo-" exclaimed Fran, patting his ,
arm impulsively.
Dear little wonder!" he returned
,
Il must tell you about one time" she
continued gaily. We we're fn New
)rlepns at the Mardi Gras, and WAS
expected to come into the ring riding
'amson-not the vicious old lion, but
was long after my days OF
he drum and the red coat, bless you, I
was a lion-tamer. now, nearly thir.
cen years old. If you'll believe me. l.
Well! And what vas saying--you :
ieep looking so friendly, you make me n
orget myself Goodness, Abbott, It's 4
70 much fun talking to you q
We never mentioned all this TO one a
oui In this town WelI-oh. II
'es; was to have come into the ring, II
iding Samson. Everybody was wait.
ng for me. The band nearly blew II. u
ELF black in the face. And what do h
GU think was the matter?" q
Did Samson balk?" :,
No. II wasn't that. | was lying on n
he cage floor. with my head on Sam. Q,
on-Samson the Second made such n cl
orgeous and animated pillowi-and I b
'as learning geology. I'd Just found d,
ut that the world wasn't made In sew. OF
n United States days. and It was
ugh surprising news that I'd forgot. h,
IN all about cages and lions and tents u,
If you could have seen me lying al
,ere-if you just could" @
But ! cant" Abbott declared, III
-FOUR long black hair is mingled with or
Ia tawny name. and your cheeks are TO
nc
And my feet are crossed" cried sh
ran. fe
And your feet are crossed; and IN
INN IiilIa ha hEl