Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1913-07-09
Deacon
PunderSOn'S
Circus
Or How He Became a
Convert
n ~ snscca nArIftI.
BY QARlSSA MACklE

1eiia, his pale. pretty uAuEHteI. sAt III
the buggy gazing at the flaming circus
posters pasted on the sun bleached
boards of the old shop.
Jim Brayton cane out OF the shop.
wiplng his hands ON his leather apron,
"A quick glance flashed from his brown
eyes to Celia's appealing blue ones.
and each of them nodded brusquely to
the other
Hello. jim. Susie's cast shoe
You better shoe her all around |
reckoned on waiting another month be-
fore doing H."
at isn't any too soon" remarked
Jim dryiy as be deity unbuckied
straps and released the white mare
from the shafts ''AlI her shoes are
loose When she comes down the
street sounds like them Spanish cas-
tanets | heard at show In New
York"
Hum" said the deacon renectively
He was not I'm the least offended at
the remarks Of the young blacksmith.
Deacon Punderson was rich enough
not to mind gibes at his stinginess.
The possession OF his untouched mon
ey seemed to requite him for the con
tempt of his fellow men
Hum" he repeated. casting cold
gray eye up at the say posters. Il
been wondering. Jim. what yore pa
would have said to see them ungodiy
posters hanging up there on the shop"
VERY likely he would have said he
WIS glad the circus was coming" grin
ned Jim as be led Susie into the shed
and hitched her
tut. tut. Yore pa was a deacon. Jim.
lie didn't set no store by eircuses. It's
a blight on the community having all
them painted and betlzened men and
wimmen cavorting around"
Then you're not going deaconr'
"N@ ain'i. and. what's mere. none
Of my farniiy's goiug!"
'oh. pa" cried Celia with agitation.
Deacon Puuderson glanced severely
at his daughter aud then pointed bis
stump OF a whip up at the posters.
Daughter" he said soiemnly. do
Jon want 10 go and gaze on human be-
ings decked out with paint and feath-
ers riding around ring on foar horses !?
Do yea want to see clowns turning
tumblesaults? DO you want 10 go and
gaze en-gaze on the animiles shut up
In cages when God made 'em to roam
the world and eat and drink where they
would? Its a pitiful siSht-it isg-
The deacon sighed feelingly.
Celia hooked pale and red by turns.
and her eyes wayered between her ia
theirs fat face and the strong counte-
nance Of Jim Brayton at the anil
Jim smiled at her through shower Of
sparks as he hammered and shaped
Susie's shoes
If | kept circus" went on the
which his remarks were received. I'D
open all the cage doors and free all
them POOR prisoned aniniles. Co. I'd
say 70 'em. go. you poor creeters that
the Lord made. and enjoy yore free
done Then would 20 home and
sleep quiet and peaceful. knowing I
had did my duty" he ended pioasly.
While you was sleeping peaceful
those poor dumb animals would most
likely be proving around yoar hem
house and pigsties. don't suppose
you'd mind contributing a few fat hogs
and one or two caws SOS the circus
animals could go free" remarked Jim
blandly as he finished Snsie's left fone
foot
Hum said the deacon absently.
Hum" and he walked across the road
To talk with passing friend.
You heard vhat he said. Jim," she
called softly. There's 10 use In. my
trying to GO
Fiddle. dear" returned Jim. "In
fix II 80 that the deacon viii lee you
go with ms And. whats more. be-
iieve he win let us get married"
"Jinr'
Yes. ma'am." grinaed Jim. eaapping
a shoe on Susie's fsot. IF nay ideas
don't misearry the deacon II make up
his mind to let yoa get married"
oh. Jim" quavered traid Celia
"Yeu know. father says IL he didn't
have me to keep house for him that
Mrs Howell would marry him right
on, and she is $3.50 bossy. you know"
4 know it's just what your father
needs, Celia" Jim backed Susie into
the shafts. buckled the straps and
same back to pat Celia's hand
Trust me. Celia. dear. Don't forget
that ! said we would go to the circus,
all right
Hum" said the deacon. wheeling
suddenly and crossing the road toward
them. Going to the circus. hey?
Wen. the only circus Celia II get to
see this year win be home"
The next morning the circus crept
quietly into town and camped on the
baseball grounds near the railroad sta
ton In spite Of his bitter opposition
p amusements Of this character the
deacon went forth and personally az
amined the contents Of the various
rents and cages. only to return to q
MONDAY dinner and regaie Celia with