Year: 1876

There was circus giving perform ances every afternoon and evening, says Mark Twain, and my cousin Jack and I wanted to go to it. Jacks father gave him the money, gold dollar, and we started off as happy as it is only possible for two boys to be who are possessed of the necessary capital to invest in a circus performance. Jack was about my own age, and quick at invention. He it was, as a rule, who planned the various little schemes of deviltry which gave piquancy to our youthful days, and was general ly the one to carry them out. Therefore, if punishment was consequence of de- tention, I was usually the only sufferer. Sometimes objected to this rather one- sided arrangement. but Jack would meet me with the argument that "the feller that spoilt the game ought to be the one to get the licking, and if hadn't been a darned fool wouldn't a got found out. He wasn't a going to get blamed be- cause I didn't know no better than to go and get caught"

 We'll, we were jogging along, pictur- ing to ourselves the delightful things we should see at the circus, and was thinking how I should laugh at the awfully funny clowns and be quite car ried away with wonder and admiration at the perilous feats of the acrobats and become so fascinated with the lovely young lady rider in the short skirts and pink tights that might even dash into the ring and carry her away by main force to desert island, where would marry her and live happily ever after ward, when Jack said 1" Mark, let's be high toned and take fifty cent seats."

 nodded assent, and went on thinking about the piebald horses and the trick mules and the man that caught the can non balls on the back of his neck, when Jack made another remark

 "Sayl It's plaguey hot walking in the sun. Let's go up in the stage"

 "Where's the money 2" I asked, with praiseworthy forethought.

 "Ain't you got any 2"

 dove down into my pockets ill reply to this question, and brought up a lump of second hand chewing gum, two tops, some dried apples, an old iackknife, a vial with four lightning bugs in it, 8 jswsharp, about fifteen marbles, sec tion of tallow candle done up in brown paper and piece of shoemaker's wax 1 but no money. Then Jack made an ex- ploration through his pockets, and found besides the gold dollar sixpenny piece.

 "That's only good for one fare, said I, as he showed it to me.

 "I'n tell you what we'll do," he re- marked, as he returned the money to his pocket after 8 moments reflection; | "weu ride up in stage and give that sixpence to the driver just as we are getting out. When hand it up to him | you open the door and run like thunder, and I'll come on after you. I'm going to hand it myself, because you'll be sure to drop it or make a mess of it in some way"

 We hailed 8 stage, jumped into it, and soon reached our destination.

 "Now," said Jack, after the stage had stopped. as he handed up his fare, "scoot r

 Away I went, with Jack close at my heels. We heard the driver shouting after us, and we gave a quick glance over our shoulders. He was standing up and yelling, "Hey, there l" with all his might.

 "Hil" said Jack, "ain't he mad though"

 I rather thought he was, and did not feel entirely comfortable until we had gone a couple of blocks around the corner. We stopped for moment to take breath. We were at the entrance to the circus, and could hear the band playing the preliminary music.

 "Hurry up," said I, "it's going to begin. Where's your money9"

 "Here it is," answered Jack, drawing his hand out of his pocket. He took 8 look at the coin and then turned ghastly pale.

 Je-rusalem l" he gasped.

 "What's the natter" said I. He hold the coin toward me. It was six penny piece.

 Blamed if ain't given him the gold dollar by mistake.'

 Words could not do justice to oul feelings. We did not speak, but gave one longing look at the circus tent and then sneaked away silently toward home. It was great while before either of us could hear the word "circus without thinking that life was hollow mockery, and that there was very little in it worth living for. I had one consolation, though. 1t was that Jack, with all his brillianoy. had made the blunder in. stead of me.

 A New PIa0ue i'm Epvnf