The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-06-19
And If says Nothing they would

Which they needn't Of been sus
picioning nothing like they pertended
| they did. fur ! never stole nothing
more'n wortermllions and mushmil'
+ lions and such truck and mebby now
and then a chicken us kids use to roast
in the woods on Sundays, and jest as
like as not it was one Of Hanks hens
then, which tigGered I'd earnt it,
, Fur Hank he had streaks when he'd
work me considera BILE hard. He never
give me any money fur 1t. He loafed a
lot, too, and when he'd loaf Id loaf
! But did pick up right smart Of handi'
ness with tools around that there shop
of his'n. and If he'd ever Of used me
right | might Of turned into a purity
trying to work fur Hank. When ] was
! about fifteen. times is right bad
around the house fur a spell. and Eel.
mira Is working purity hard, and |
thinks to myself:
"Well, these folks has kind o. ,brung
you up. and you amt never done
more'n Hank made you do. Mebbe
you orter stick to work a little more
when they's a job in the shop, even it
Hank don't"
Which | tried it fur about two or
three years, doing as much work
around the shop as Hank done and
mebby more But it wasn't no use
One day when I'm about eighteen
seen awful plain III have to light out
from there. They was circus come
to town that day. l says to Hank:
Hank, they is circus this after
noon and agin tonight"
so has hearn," says Hank.
Are you going to it," says |.
II mout." says Hank. land then
| agin [ moutn't. | don't see as it's no
consarns Of yourn nohow." | knowed
he was going. though. Hank be never
| missed circus.
WELL" l says. they wasn't no harm
| to asst. was they?"
well. you've asted, amt you:" says
Hank.
well. them" says l, I'D like to go
o that there circus myself"
"They amt no use in me saying fur
you not to CO." says Hank. fur you
would go anyhow. You always does
20 of when you is needed"
But | amt got no money" says.
land was going to asst you could you
spare me half dollar"
Great Jehosephat! says Hank.
But amt you getting stuck up
| What's the matter Of you crawling in
under the tent like you always done:
First thing know you'll be wanting
a pair Of these here yaller shoes and a
stovepipe hat"
No" says |. II amt no dude, Hank,
and YOU know it, But they Is always
things about a circus to spend money
on besides jest the circus herself.
They is the side show, fur instance,
and they is the grand concert after
ward. cakelated Id take 'em al! II
this year-the hull dern thing, jest fur
| oncet."
Hank he looks at me like I'd asted
fur house n lot or million dollars
or something like that. But he don't
say nothing. He jest shorts.
Hank" | says, II been doing right
smart work around the shop fur two.
three years now. If you wasn't loaf
ing 80 much you'd "a noticed it more.
And | amt never asst fur cent Of
pay fur it. nor
You amt wuth no pay" says Hank.
You amt with nothing but to eat
vittles and wear out clothes"
WELL" says. II dgger | earn my
vittles and a good 'eal more. And as
fur as clothes goes. never had none
but what Elmira made out'n yourn."
"Who brung you up?" asts Hank.
You done it," says 1, land by your
own say 80 you done dern poor job
at It,"
You 20 to that there circus" says
Hank. a-daring up. land III lambaste
you up to a inch Of your life So fur
as handing out money fur you to sling
it to the dogs. amt no bank. and II
| was | amt no ijut But you jest let
the hear Of you even going nigh that
circus lot and all the lammings you
has ever got. rolled into one. won't be
Il measy little circumstance to what
you will get. They amt no leather
faced young upstart with weepin' will
low hair going to throw up to me how
I brung him up. That's gratitood fur
you. that is" says Hank. IF it hadn't
of been fur me giving you a home
when found you first. where would
you of been now?"
"Well." | says. II might Of been
good 'eal better off. II you hadn't OK
took me in the Alexanderses would OF,
and then | wouldn't of been KEEP out
of school and growed up ignoramus
like you is ...
81 never had no trouble Keeping you
away from school, | notice. says Hank
with a snort This is the first | ever
hearn Of yol wanting to go there
Which was true in one way and
lie in another. hadn't never wanted
to go till lately. but he'd Of damned
me If / had of wanted to. He always
said he would And now was too big
\ opd Ennuod If -.'.....