Year: 1876

There was a circus giving perform
ances every afternoon and evening, says
Mark Twain, and my cousin Jack and l
wanted to 60 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 circus
performance. Jack was about my own
age, and quick at invention. He it was,
as rule, who planned the various little
schemes of deviltry which gave piquancy
to our youthful days, and 1 was general
ly the one to carry them out. Therefore,
if punishment was consequence OF de-
tention, 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 I hadn't been a
darned fool T wouldn't q got found out.
He wasn't a going to get blamed be-
cause I didn't know no better than to 60
and get caught"
Well, we we're Jogging along, pictur-
ing to ourselves the delightful things we
should see at the circus, and 1 was
thinking how 1 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 I 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 Mark, let's be
high toned and take fifty cent seats"


I 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:


"Say It's plaguey hot walking in
the sun. Let's 60 up in the STAGE"


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


"Ain't you got any ""


dove down into my pockets in reply
to this question, and brought up lump
of second hand chewing gum, two tops,
some dried apples, an old jackknife, a
vial with four lightning bugs in it, a
jewsharp, about fifteen marbles, Sec
ton of tallow candle done up in brown
paper and piece of shoemaker's wax
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
| T as he showed it to me.


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


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


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


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 |" with all
his might.


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


I rather thought he was, and I did
not feel entirely comfortable until we
had gone couple of blocks around the
corner. We stopped for a moment to
take brea.h. 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 money!"


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


Jerusalem |" he gasped.


"What's the matter" said 1. He
held the coin toward me. It was six
penny piece. =,


Blamed if amt given him the gold
dollar by mistake"


Words could not do justice to our
feelings. We did not speak, but gave
one longing look at the circus tent and
then sneaked away silentlytoward home.
It was a 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. IT was that Jack, with all his
brilliancy. lad made the blunder In
stead of me.