The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1916-03-02
STORIES
FOR LITTLE
FOLKS
JoHNNIE's CIRCUS, PART ONE.

Johnnie went 90 visit his grandpar
ents, who lived on big farm in the
country, and just before that visit he
had been to a circus, so when his Cou-
sin Frank and his Sister Ann came to
visit at the farm, Johnnie saw no rea-
son why they could not play circus
There is everything here to play
with" he told Frank, land the next
time grandfather goes to the village
we will play it. He is awfully fussy
about the cows and won't let you
chase them, but it won't hurt them a
mite"
Everything went smoothly for John
ME the next week, when his grand
father and both hired men went to the
village to attend town meeting and
grandmother went to the next farm.
Now, you children be good and do
not get into mischief" she told them,
Il shan't be gone long"
Away went Johnnie and Frank, fol-
lowed by Ann, to the barn.
First, we will fix the cages with the
animals" said Johnnie, who knew all
about the animal tent at a circus.
"Get the cat and her kittens for the
tiger cage and we will put Rover in
another for lion, and we can put the
buffalo robe on Carlo and have him
for a black bear"
Where will we get the cages ?" ask
ed Frank.
"Oh. we can bring the hen cOops in
the barn and use the empty stalls"
Johnnie told him.
The hen coops were brought and the
cat caught and put in her cage. The
kittens were put into another coop,
and cried frantically for their mother,
so Johnnie quoted them with a bowl
of cream, and they were soon asleep.
The dogs were tied in the empty
stalls, and Carlo was covered with the
robe, but it did not stay on him long,
so Johnnie thought of way to keep
it on. He cut four holes in the robe
and put Carlos feet through them;
then he brought the robe up over Car
los back and fastened it with big
blanket pins he found in the carriage
room.
1--WE ought to have more animals"
said Ann. 81 went to circus once
and they had a leopard and an ele-
plant. We can play the oxen are these
can't WEI"
Yes, we can make one of them a
leopard, but l don't know how we can
fix an elephant" said Johnnie.
You get that pot of white paint in
the shed" he told Frank.
Frank came running back in a min
ute with the pot of paint and Johnnie
took it and went to the stall where
one of the oxen stood.
The OK did not take kindly to the
dab of paint Johnnie put on his hind
leg, so Johnnie decided to go inc the
next stall, which was empty and try
his back.
This worked very well, and soon the
OK looked as though big flakes Of
snow had covered his back and part
way down his sides.
There, that is a fine leopard" said
Johnnie, as he surveyed his work, cit
is larger. of course. than any leopard
ever saw, but | expect they grow to
be as big as an OK where they live"
Cant we have an elephant" per-
sisted Ann.
IF we had a piece OF rubber hose
we could" said Johnnie; 1--WE could
tie it on old Dobbin, but there isn't
any hose here. And besides that. Dob
bin is the only horse we have left to
play Wild West with"
1--WE ought to have more cages, )"
said Frank. "Why can't we bring in
some of the hens or few ducks ?"
I'VE cam said Johnnie, and out
they ran for two more hencoops. In
one they put black duck and in the
other little white pig, which Johnnie
thought could be used for polar bear.
1--WE could put the green and red
rooster in the old parrot cage in the
attic" suggested Frank.
Frank brought the cage, but it did
not prove an easy thing to do; but
after putting liberal supply of corn
on the floor of the cage and removing
the top, the rooster hoped on the tin
floor and Johnnie clapped the cage
over him.
Il think we have a new animal tent
now" said Johnnie, as lie looked
around the barn. "Now we will play
Wild West and lasso the cows down
in the pasture"
Il think you might play circus a
little longer" said Ann, who knew
that the Wild West held no part for
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