The Port Gibson reveille., 1914-03-26
A BUNCH OF CATNIP
Aunt Jennie Takes II to the Cir
GUS and Big Lion Starts
Panic.
BY EMMA BENNETT MAHoN.

6y EMMA BENNETT MA7ONs
There was to be circus In town.
the first circus of the season. Bob
had seen the posters on the biIIboards
and came home brimming with excite
ment and never left of talking about
the coming show all through dinner.
said thought it would be nice to
go. too, and finally Aunt Jennie looked
across the table at US and said:
well, I'll take you to 1t, children.
1t will be all right, will 1t. Henry?" she
added, turning to papa Papa had
been looking over the letters that had
come during the day and hadn't heard
a word, and had to have the whole
thing explained to him Then he as
tonished US by answering promptly:
II should think It rather awkward
for you to go alone with them. Jane,
but IL they have set their hearts upon
1t, why, I'll go along"
Aunt Jennie murmured something
about it being quite unnecessary. and
too bad to take him away from his
business, and then dinner was over
and Bob and I could hardly wait for
the next afternoon, when the show
was to come OF.
Aunt Jennie, you know, Is mammals
sister. She has always lived with US.
She is not pretty and gay like dear
mamma was. Dear, beautiful mamma!
1t is almost three years since she
went away from us. Oh, it was dread
| full at first Aunt Jennie had always
taken the care of US, but how proud
we were when mamma would come in
in her beautiful ball gown and kiss US
goodnight. It was something to dream
about. / remember one night papa
asked Aunt Jennie If she didn't wish
she was going along, and she said:,
Mercy, no, Henry. What would / do
at a ball?'
well, after mamma died papa grew
grave and cross and rarely spoke.
Only Aunt Jennie seemed the same,
and it did seem as If she played more
games with us and made little picnics
and took US out more even than she
did when mamma was alive. Papa
would sit through dinner and not say q
word. and at night when we would go
into the library to say good night, he
would murmur: Poor, motherless
children!" till Bob said one night, try
Ing to cheer him up: But we've got
Aunt Jennie, you know" and papa
never said it after that. But we were
surprised when, all of sudden, he up
and said he would go to the circus.
Well, the day got there at last, and
Just as we were ready to start, sure
enough, papa got home from the Office
and away we all went together. You
know how a circus is most always In
some out of the way place, particularly
IN a city where vacant lots aren't very
plenty. We had to walk quite a way
after leaying the ear, and as we were
crossing the end of a big field, In the
corner of an old stone wall. Aunt Jen-
ME discovered a bunch Of green cat
nip. "oh. must take 1t home to Sill
Eertoes." she exclaimed. SilVertoes L.
bur big Maltese cat, you know.
"0h, Aunt Jennie. are you going to
carry that old stufR all around with
us?" l asked.
TITS so hard TO get it nice and
fresh, DEAR" she said, "and don't
! mind carrying 1t a bit" And papa
actually smiled and said:
Always thinking Of some one Be
, sides yourself, Jane"
And Aunt Jennie just buried bel
. nose in the catnip and didn't look up
We finally got to the circus ground
and. after we had been all around and
, looked at the animals, we cane inte
the tent where the performance wal
10 be given, and papa got reservec
seats for US ala They were pretty
close dawn to the ground, for w
Eere q little late and all OF the reau.
best seats were taken.
e Well, 1t was a grand show! Bol
e and always say that, no matter wha
!. happened after. Oh, there was sucl
1plendfd riding. and beautiful lad,
all in white and gold, who jumps
I. through hoops, and an Indian juggfe
who swallowed swords and pulle
yards and yards of ribbon out of hi
UlOAkD4 anu q 1AcbA WAO ACOROA 49,
y loop" on bicycle and made you jus
! hold your breath. Oh, couldn't begt
to tell you all the wonderful thing
i there were.
], Finally, keeper brought q big he
j out into the ring and made it juna
over the horsea' backs and throug
hoops ana do all sorts Of tricks, whe
sl Of a sudden guess nobody eve
:, knew what happened-the lion g
suIky and wouldn't jump any NOR
and the keeper raised his whip
- strike it and 1t gave the most frigh
D. full roar and sprang at his throat II
10 man Jumped aside, but the hon kel
be straight on, out of the ring and rigl
or over the little strip of ground betwee
at us and it
We Oh, it was awful! For a momel
or you could hear pin drop. ETerybot
sat straight and rigid In his seat, al