A TALE OF THE CIRCUS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20477, 1 December 1934, Page 26 (Supplement)

A TALE OF THE CIRCUS.

Peter had been at the circus that j afternoon. It had been wonderful. He , had loved every moment of it —the j clowns, the acrobats, the performing dogs, the cowboys with their rope tricks, and the clever horses. He had envied the riders on horseback galloping round and round the ring. How splendid it would be to do that! Of course, Pat, his Irish terrier, had not been to the circus, but Peter had told him all about it, and he had cocked his ears wisely to show that he appreciated how wonderful it was, especially the feats of the performing dogs. Those did appeal to Pat. lie had lain in front of the nursery fire until bedtime, thinking of the clever things he could do if someone would let him perform in a circus. After lying awake a long time that night, Peter at last fell asleep, only to be awakened suddenly in what seemed like less than five minutes. Someone was shaking him by the shodlders and saying “Get up! Get up! Hurry up!” Peter sat up in bed rubbing his eyes, and when he saw who had been shaking him he nearly fell out of bed with surprise. It was the clown from the circus, and he was standing in a pool of bright light which had appeared magically from nowhere. He had a chalk-white face surmounted by a small gold pointed hat, and wore a beautiful suit of yellow satin. His painted eyebrows gave him a queer, surprised look. “Hurry up! Hurry up.!” he repeated: “we’ll be late.” And he pulled Peter quickly out of bed. " But—but I don’t understand,” stuttfcied Peter, very bewildered. “ Where are we going?” “ Why, to the circus, of course,” replied the clown. “ You and your dog Pat are the star performers, and it is the command performance to-night. The King and Queen of Fairyland will be there.” “Pat and I are to perform!” exclaimed Peter excitedly, suddenly realising what a tremendously wonderful adventure this would be. “Of course,” said the clown. “Here’s your suit. Quick now, and get it on.” . Jle held out a pair of bright blue tights, with soft blue silk shoes to m « tch . snd a beautiful silver tunic which glittered like a million diamonds. O-oo! ’ gasped Peter, flinging off his pyjamas, and in less than no time he was standing ready, resplendent in the beautiful suit. “ Come along, Pat,” said the clown, poking Pat in the ribs with his toe, for * at was still snoring loudly. " Wow—wow! ” yawned Pat, stretching himself. “ P»t! Pat! ” shouted Peter. “ we’re to perform at the circus before the King and Queen of Fairyland.” Great stuff!" said Pat, jumping up, that s the very thing I was longing to do.” “Why, Pat, you can speak!” exclaimed Peter. “Of course I can,” replied Pat; “it’s past midnight. I can always speak between midnight and dawn.” Now, then, Peter,” said the clown, “jump on my back; and you, Pat, take a tight grip of my suit with your teeth.” They did as they were told, and the next moment the clown leaped rignt through the window, as if it had never been there. Peter held his breath; he was sure they would be killed, for his bedroom was at the very top of the house. However, instead of crashing to the ground, the clown, with Peter on his back and Pat holding tightly to his suit, landed astride the back of a splendid white horse, which immediately set off down the road at a gallop. The clown whisked Peter from his back and placed him before him on the beautiful horse, whilst Pat stool on his hind legs with his forepaws resting on the clown’s shoulders. On, on, galloped the white horse, and the wind whistled past Peter’s ears. At last they came to a great building all brightly lit. and on the outside in letters of light was the word “ Circus.” At a little door at the side thev dismounted, and the clown led Peter and Pat into a large room. It was full of people—acrobats, clowns, riders and even horses—and, just as Peter and Pat came in, a great burst of clapping was heard coming from beyond a curtained doorway, and a troupe of performing dogs came in from the ring. “ Now, Peter.” said the clown, “ your turn with Pat is next. Come over here to this curtain and I’ll show you tha King and Queen of Fairyland in the Royal Box.” Peter went over to the curtain, and. sure enough, there sat the King and Queen in their robes of state, with their wonderful jewelled crowns on their heads. “ Now,” said the clown, “ in you go. Pat: and then you, Peter.” Pat ran into the ring and galloped round and round, just as Peter had told him one of the performing dogs had done. Then Peter ran quicklv through the curtained doorway, jumped into the ring and bowed low, first to the Royal box and then to left and right. The audience clapped loudly. Pat kept galloping round and round the ring, and now Peter leaped nimbly on to his back and stood poised on one foot. The King and Queen of Fairyland greeted this feat with smiles and gracious bows. Peter felt as if he had been a circus performer all his life, and he now proceeded to turn somersaults on Pat’s back as he went racing round. This was greeted with cheers from the audience. Next Peter jumped off and on Pat's back just as he had seen the riders do that afternoon and this won applause from the Royal Box. At last he and Pat finished their turn by Pat waltzing on his hind legs into the middle of the ring with Peter astride on his back, and there they

both bowed again and again to the cheering audience. Peter slipped off Pat’s back and said ter him, “ That was simply great, wasn’t it?" Pat, however, made no reply, and suddenly Peter realised that the ring and the audience were all fading away, lie rubbed his eyes hard and blinked three times, and you can imagine how surprised he was when he opened them wide to find he was back ip bed and Pat was sleeping peacefully on the hearthrug.