The Washington times., 1913-07-26
For The Times Children
Just Before It's Bedtime
sAMMY's CIRCUS DAY.

H
~ the wagon to deliver pies and
- other good things to the peoples
homes. But he did not like the
job a bit For he was fond Of marbles
and ball, and when there was a game In
town It seemed simply awful to have to
trot Ben around from door to door and
lug In stupid baskets of cabbages and
meat. But IL seemed as II there was
no help for it. Sam would read about
the boys who fought dragons and res
cued fair maids, then just as he was
expecting the knight to spur away and
leap over a chasm, the grocer would call
him. That was tough on Sam.
But he took out his disappointment in
a mean way. Every chance he got he
would worry Ben, and set the dog on
the cat. and when he got home he spent
his time teasing his sisters and baby
brother till the whole family were glad
when he was away -
In May the big circus came to town.
Sam stopped his wagon to see the GID
ed cage 20 by and the camels swing
along behind. When he got back to the
store and found he had to deliver some
pies at the cook tent at the show he
was wild with delight So putting old
Ben into gallop he sped out to the
grounds ? - ..~
1t was hot and dusty. and the. air
was full of every kind Of noise. the
smell Of sawdust and animals, pink
lemonade and peanuts, hot sausage ana
straw rose on the warm breeze. Sam
jerked the box Of pies into the cook
tent. then stole into the menagerie
where the beasts were eaating their din
ner. But he soon got tired OF watching
that, and began to tease them He
would poke a stick through the bars OF
the cages when the showmen were not
looking, tickle the ponies with wire,
null the hay from where the elephants
could reach It and dragged the pail
from which the giraffe drank so far
he could not get 1t at all. When he
had been about as disagreeable as
boy could be, he stole UP Bome straw
behind a cage, determined to stay there
and sneak into the big tent when the
performance began.
Hut when the band struck up he was
surprised to see a wonderful thing hap
pen, a thing that was not on the Dill
at ell. For every cage door opened ana
out solemnly walked the animals. AT
the front was a big Bengal tiger LASH
ing his tawny sides with his tail. After
him numbered an elephant, then came
a giraffe and several leooards.
Strange to say, they all stopped right
before where Sam sat. The Tiger open
cd his huge, red mouth in an ugly
snarl.
..This Is the boy that has been find
ing all his pleasure in making US mis-
cradle" he groWled. Here Mr..
Elephant, Just toss him up into my
cage for me-.
In a moment Sam was being whilred
around IN the air, for the elephant
thought he would have some fun, too.
He was swung from side to side of the
tent. then bounced up against the roof,
but every time he fell the elephant
caught him again just like player at
baseball.
The rest Of the animals showed their
pleasure at the sight by roaring, but
poor Sam was frightened to death. II
he should fall amongst them they would
tear him to bits in a moment. How
sorry he was that he had not consid-
cred their feelings when he had spent
an hour worrying them.
At last the elephane tossed him into a
cage and the tiger snapped the bolt.
How uncomfortable he felt in his box.
for his legs were so cramped he could
not stand and was obliged to crawl
around on his knees. Then he was
dying of thirst. but when he tried to
drink out of the pail in the corner the
leopard pushed 1t over and 1t spilled all
over the floor All the animals laughed
and roared again.
Tickle him, tickle him good" neighed
a pretty pony. II am all tired out from
the way that boy has fretted me this
hot afternoon"
So the tigers, the leopards, the ponies
and the giraffe got sticks and poked at
him and tickled him in his ribs and
threw dirt and straw and water all
over him till he was almost mad with
agony. But they would not let him rest
a moment. II he lay down, they pushed
him over with a pole. and then they
would roar and laugh some more.
Then the elephant came up with a big
tub full OF sand. This they poured over
the wet, suffering boy, and II almost
choked him to death.
Fine fun, isn't It, making miser-
abIe?" asked the tiger, with . sneer.