Year: 1868

You were boy once yourself-you remember
that, of course-but do you remember the hrst
time you went to the circus? Alb that was a
time The glitter of the gas lights, hung in q
circle round the tent pole, first caught your ex'
pectant eye; the pleasant hum OF voices that
gave pleasant sense of life the blast Of the Pc
culiar music-circus music-that stirred every
nerve in your little body, and fairly drove you
wild with excitement Then after waiting the
few minutes that seemed so long, the galy
caparisoned little pony was brskly led out o:
that magic door into the arena-led by that nice
looking fellow in tights and spangles, all glitter
ing with silver and gold, red sku!l-cap with
mass Of black hair floating from under it, very
fairy prince and this was your first gush of plea
sure, and you instinctively joined in the univer-
sal "Ah ~ that burst from the mighty audience.
But who is it-what is it that dashes the curtain
aside again, and leapng the bar, comes bound
ing into the ring with g here we are my mas
ters." The clown, as / am alive and what a
roar of merriment greets him Oh what
funny fellow See him now, go up TO the bench
of little girls, {" here she isl knew my sweet
heart would be here tonight" and whack
goes the lash OF the handsome ringmaster who
followed him in. You would think poor Grim
aldi had got awful cut frcm the start he gave
and the comic howl that made you roar with
laughter I" How dare you make free with my
little visitors?" I" Your little visitors, ha ha
ha why master, they came here to see the little
calves" ''Calves, you rascal there are no
calves here" why yes, master, there are
three of them "Where are they, sir? Tell
me that, or Ill" Well, sir, there are two
in your boots, aren't there-thats two" "And
where is the other, sir,'' and master Merryman
turns round to the little people and says, Pm
talking to the other calf, MASTER" aud crack
goes the lash again, and you fully up to the
very brm with, oh such fun Then comes the
grand cavacade of knights and ladies in bright
armor, and silk and gold, looking like the real
princes and princesses in the Arabian Nights
stories, and the music begins again, and steeds
prance and gay pennons fly, and the clown asks,
- Where is my horse ~ Your horse, sir
jackass you mean "All right, master'' ana
he makes believe to get on the masters back,
and catches it again. Then comes the splendid
man with the little child dressed off as an angel
with wings, and their horse flies round the ring,
the man holding the little thing high up in the
air, until you think it is little angel sure
enough away up there. Then the clown brings
out the little donkey and invites the boys to take
a ride. % Don't be afraid of him, my little
dears, with the whip in his hand, amt you,
master? ~ And amidst the roar of laughter one
stout boy comes up and tries to mount the dom
key, and they tumble down and roll over, and
the clown cries " whao-o-o-oa," and the donkey
runs off ard leaves the boy houndering in the
dust and all the people in fever of fun. The
ringmaster tells you this 60 magnificent etc.
ETC., " will be repeated tomorrow night and
horses, princes, clown, donkey and all vanish
and leave you in dreamy atmosphere of plea
sure and your head is full of that nights enter
tainment for many long day, aud you a
lucky dog if in all your life you have better
time than you had on your first night at the cir
Californian.


A New Story OF President LIxcoLx.-A New
York correspondent sends to the Hartford Cour-
ant the following story, which he vouches for as
genuine and to print 1t is characteristic,
and illustrates a trait of General Grants char
acter


In the early part of the year 1865, when Joe
Johnston had reached Raleigh with his army
you may remember fears were entertained lest
he might suddenly join Lee, and the two crush
Grant. The Congressman then representing the
Springfield Qllinois) district called upon the
President, when the following conversation en-
sued:


Congressman-Th They are becoming anxious,
some of them in the House, about the situation
Have you received anything later? Aren't you
afraid Grant is making mistake in not moving?


President-Do you remember that Baptist re-
vival in Springfield in such year?


Congressman-I do not recall it,


The President-Well, Bill, hardened sinner,
was converted. Upon an appointed day the min


lister baptized the converts in small stream
After Bill had been plunged under once he asked
the preacher to bapize him again, and the latter
replied that it was unnecessary. Bill, however,
urged the matter and he was accordingly put
under for the second time As he came up lie
again asked as il particular favor that he might
be baptized just once more. The minister, Il
little angered, answered that he had already
been under once more than the other converts
Still Bill pleaded and the preacher put him un-
der for the third time. AS Bill came up putting
and blowing, he shook the water from his hair
and exclaimed " There, I'll be blowed if the
devil can get hold Of me now" The President
continued, General Grant is very much like
Bill. He is determined on making sure of the
thing, and will not move until he has"