FATHER AND SON AT THE CIRCUS.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 29, Issue 18, 6 March 1917, Page 3

FATHER AND SON AT THE CIRCUS.

Go igeous plumes nodded in the street, the elephant marched with awkward tread, and the painted young lady in airy costume rode in the lion’s den. The circus had come. The Rev. Mr. Mul kittle stood at the gate and looked at the “ grand aggregation,” and his son eagerly requested him to enter. Mr. Mulkittle promised him he would take him in the evening. When evening came he was in a perfect flutter of excitement, and when the “ mammoth steam piano ” began _to squeal he could no longer restrain himself but cried in impatience at his father’s seeming'unconcern, . When they entered the menagerie the boy was so bewildered by curiosities that he scarcely knew which way to turn. “This is a tiger,” said Mr Mulkittle. “ There is a sacred ox, am here we have a leopard. Here is a sea lion.” ' , “ What makes him cough so much r sisked the boy. . , , ‘He is not coughing. That’s his *v,*ural outcry.” “ I thought he’d stayed m the water till he caught cold. What is that ?” “ That is a rhinoceros.” “ That’s a tapir,” said a man with s red thirt, leaning on an iron rod. “ Are you sure ?’J asked Mr. Mulkittle, not enjoying the correction. “ Ought to know, podner; been fcrd i em for a long time.” “ I shall not discuss it with you.” “ That’s a lion.” The boy stood for a moment and gazed in fascination at the beast v - “ Is that the kinder lion that Samson killed “ Yes, that’s the kind.” “ Dojyou think Samson coulder killed this one?” —“Oh, yes.” “And if he waster kill him, would he rind honey in him F” —“ No.” « How came him to find honey m th< one he killed “ Because the Lord puf it there.” , . . . “ Well, couldn’t the Lord put it in this one?”—“Yes, He could.” “Why don’t he, then?’—“l don’t know.” , , , . Why?”— ü ßecause I don’t; that’s why. Now hush.” . “ Was the lion’s den that Daniel was thrown in like this ?”—“ I don’t know what kind of a den it was, but they are the same kind of lions.” “ I bet if Daniel waster go m there they’d chaw him ; don’t you?”—“Not if the Lord was with him.” . “The Lord could make’em tuck then tails and scoot, couldn’t He ?” Hush, sir, or I’ll take you home. Do you hear me ? Come op,” he continued, as the band with a loud burst began to play* They went into the circus pavilion, and secured seats. . “ Quit that,” he exclaime,d, turning to a boy who had pinched him. “ Don’t you pinch me again.” “ I will if I want to. Do you dare me?” and he pinched him again. Young Mulkittle reached around him, and caught the insulter by the hair, and an exciting scuffle ensued. A policeman rushed to •jhe scene, seized Mr. Mulkittle, who was trying to separate the boys, and exclaimed ; “ Come on here. Fine man, to get twc boys fighting. Had my eye on you fo* some time.” . . „ “ Turn me loose ! I’m a minister. “Fine minister! I’ve sized you up Come on,” and he hustled Mr. Mulkittle from his seat, shoved him through the crowd out into the open air, so quickly that the boy lost sight of his father, and would have cried oat in alarm, blit just then the clown began to sing about somebody in the “garden where the praties (rrow.”