the circus boys in dixie land(迪克西的马戏团男孩)-第4部分
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knife and found it was nothing but wood；〃 grunted Teddy in a disgusted
tone。
〃What is that band wagon trying to do？〃 demanded Phil suddenly。
〃Guess they are going to turn around；〃 said Teddy。
The six white horses attached to the band wagon slowly drew out of
the line just before reaching the Cahill home； and pointed toward the
roadside fence。 The boys could not understand what the move meant。
An instant later the leaders straightened out and began moving along the
side of the road close to the fence。
They slowly drew up to the door yard； coming to a stop at the far end
of it。
〃Whawha〃 stammered Teddy。
〃They are going to serenade us；〃 cried Phil。 〃That's Mr。 Sparling all
over。 What do you think of that； Mrs。 Cahill？ You never were serenaded
by a circus band before； were you？〃
〃N…n…no；〃 answered the widow； a little tremulously。
The band wagon drew up a few feet further； coming to a stop again
just to the left of the dooryard gate； so as not to interfere with the party's
view of the parade。
〃There's Mr。 Sparling；〃 shouted Phil； as the owner in his handsome
carriage drawn by four black horses； came abreast of the yard。
Both boys sprang up and cheered him in their enthusiasm； to which the
showman responded by taking off his hat； while the band struck up
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
〃Yankee Doodle。〃
It was a glorious moment for the Circus Boys； and they were even
more surprised and gratified by what followed a few moments later。
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
CHAPTER III
THE CIRCUS MAKES A CALL
While the band played； the clown wagon came to a halt and the whole
body of funny men sang a song in front of Mrs。 Cahill's house； while the
widow and her two young guests applauded enthusiastically。
As the clown's wagon drew on； a horse ridden by a young woman was
seen dashing straight at the dooryard fence； which it took in a graceful
leap； causing the Widow Cahill to gasp her amazement。 The rider was
none other than Little Dimples； the star bareback rider of the Sparling
Shows； who had chosen this way to pay homage to her young associates
and to Mrs。 Cahill as well。
It was an unusual procedure in a circus parade； but though it had been
arranged by Mr。 Sparling out of the kindness of his heart； he shrewdly
reasoned that it would make good business for the show as well。 That
the people lined up along the street agreed with his reasoning was
evidenced by their shouts of applause。
〃Mrs。 Cahill； this is our very good friend； Mrs。 Robinson； otherwise
known as Little Dimples；〃 announced Phil proudly。
Mrs。 Cahill bowed and smiled； not the least bit embarrassed。
〃You haven't introduced my pony； Phil。 The pony is part of little me；
you know。〃
〃I beg pardon； Mrs。 Cahill； let me introduce to you Mrs。 Robinson's
pony； Cinders； who； though he cannot talk； comes pretty close to it；〃 said
Phil； with great dignity。 Cinders bowed and bowed； the bits rattling
against his teeth until it sounded to the little gathering as if he were trying
to chatter his pleasure at the introduction。
〃Now； shake hands with Mrs。 Cahill； Cinders；〃 directed Little
Dimples。
Cinders extended a hoof； which Mrs。 Cahill touched gingerly。 She was
not used to shaking hands with horses。 Teddy and Phil； however； each
grasped the pony's extended foot； giving it a good shake； after which Phil
thrust a lump of sugar into the waiting lips of Cinders。
〃Naughty boy！〃 chided Little Dimples； tapping the neck of her mount
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
with the little riding crop she carried。 〃You would spoil him in no time。
I must be going； now。 I hope we shall see you at the show this afternoon；
Mrs。 Cahill；〃 smiled Dimples； her face breaking out into dimples and
smiles。
The widow nodded。
〃This afternoon and tonight。 She is going to dine with us under the
cook tent this afternoon；〃 Phil informed the rider。
〃That will be fine。〃
Dimples nodded； tossed her whip in the air and clucking to Cinders；
went bounding over the fence。 A moment more and she had taken her
place in the line and was moving along with the procession； bowing and
smiling。
〃That's what I call right fine；〃 glowed Mrs。 Cahill。 〃Did you say that
little thing was Mrs。 Robinson？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Why； she looks like a young girl。〃
〃That's what I thought when I first saw her。 But she has a son as old
as I am。〃
〃Land sakes！〃 wondered Mrs。 Cahill。 〃You never can tell about these
circus folks； anyhow。〃
Phil laughed heartily； but Teddy was too much interested in what was
going on outside the fence to indulge in laughter。 The band was still
playing as if its very existence depended upon keeping up the noise； while
the white horses attached to the band wagon were frantically seeking to
get their heads down for a nibble of the fresh green grass at the side of the
road。
〃There come the bulls；〃 called Teddy。
〃Yes； I see them。〃
〃The bulls？〃 wondered Mrs。 Cahill。 〃I didn't know they had bulls in
the circus。〃
〃That's what the show people call the elephants；〃 laughed Phil。 〃Teddy
is talking show…talk now。 We have a language of our own。〃
〃I should say you do？〃 grumbled the widow。
〃What's the bull in front got on his trunk； Phil？〃
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
Phil shaded his eyes and gazed off down the street。
〃That's my friend Emperor。 I don't know what it is he is carrying。
That's queer。 I never saw him carrying anything in parade before； did
you？〃
〃No。〃
For a moment both lads directed their attention to making out what it
was that Emperor was carrying along。
〃It looks to me like a basket of flowers；〃 finally decided Phil。
〃Has somebody been handing him a bouquet；〃 grunted Teddy。
〃It certainly looks that way。〃
〃Why； I really believe he is coming in here。〃
〃Coming herean elephant coming into my front yard？ Mercy me！〃
exclaimed Mrs。 Cahill； starting up。
〃Why； Mrs。 Cahill； Emperor wouldn't hurt a little baby。 I hope he
does come in。 Sit still。 Don't be afraid。〃
〃He'll spoil my flower bedshe'll trample them all down and after I've
worked four weeks getting〃
〃Yes； here he comes；〃 exulted Phil。
At that moment Emperor； with his trainer； Mr。 Kennedy； swung out of
line and entered the garden gate。 Turning to the left they headed directly
across the lawn。 The precious flower beds lay right in his path。
〃Oh； my flowers！ They're ruined；〃 moaned the widow。
〃Watch him and you'll see；〃 answered Phil； his face wreathed in
smiles。
She did； and her eyes opened wider when Emperor cautiously raised
one ponderous foot after another until he had stepped clear of the first bed
of flowers。 The same thing happened when he got to the second bed。
Not even the imprint of his footfalls was left on the fresh green grass of
the lawn。
Mrs。 Cahill's eyes were large and wondering。 A sudden impulse
stirred her to spring up and flee into the house。
Phil； noting it； laid a restraining hand lightly； on her arm。
〃Don't be afraid；〃 he reassured。 〃Emperor will not harm you。 You see
how careful he is of your lawn and your flower beds。 I think he is coming
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
here for some purpose。〃
Emperor and his trainer came to a half right in front of the porch； the
elephant's little eyes fixed upon the slender form of Phil Forrest。
〃Good boy； Emperor！〃 breathed Phil。 〃Did somebody present a
basket of flowers to you？〃
It was a big basket； and such a handsome collection of flowers did it
contain as to cause Mrs。 Cahill to open her eyes in wonder。 A card was
tied to the handle of the basket with a big pink ribbon。 Phil began to
understand the meaning of the scene； and he felt sure the name on the card
was that of Mrs。 Cahill。
A low spoken command from the trainer； and Emperor cautiously got
down on his knees； keeping those small eyes on Phil Forrest all the time。
〃Mrs。 Cahill； Emperor has been commissioned by the Great Sparling
Combined Shows to present a basket of flowers to you in the name of Mr。
Sparling himself； and the show people； too。 He has carried it all the way
from the lot this morning；〃 declared Mr。 Kennedy。
