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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/7478-0.txt b/7478-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..729f412 --- /dev/null +++ b/7478-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5736 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Toby Tyler, by James Otis + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Toby Tyler + +Author: James Otis + +Release Date: February, 2005 [EBook #7478] +Posting Date: July 22, 2009 +Last Updated: March 16, 2018 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TOBY TYLER *** + + + + +Produced by Martin Robb + + + + + + +TOBY TYLER + +or + +TEN WEEKS WITH A CIRCUS + +By James Otis + + + + +I. TOBY'S INTRODUCTION TO THE CIRCUS + + +“Wouldn't you give more 'n six peanuts for a cent?” was a question asked +by a very small boy, with big, staring eyes, of a candy vender at a +circus booth. And as he spoke he looked wistfully at the quantity of +nuts piled high up on the basket, and then at the six, each of which now +looked so small as he held them in his hand. + +“Couldn't do it,” was the reply of the proprietor of the booth, as he +put the boy's penny carefully away in the drawer. + +The little fellow looked for another moment at his purchase, and then +carefully cracked the largest one. + +A shade--and a very deep shade it was--of disappointment passed over his +face, and then, looking up anxiously, he asked, “Don't you swap 'em when +they're bad?” + +The man's face looked as if a smile had been a stranger to it for a long +time; but one did pay it a visit just then, and he tossed the boy two +nuts, and asked him a question at the same time. “What is your name?” + +The big brown eyes looked up for an instant, as if to learn whether +the question was asked in good faith, and then their owner said, as he +carefully picked apart another nut, “Toby Tyler.” + +“Well, that's a queer name.” + +“Yes, I s'pose so, myself; but, you see, I don't expect that's the +name that belongs to me. But the fellers call me so, an' so does Uncle +Dan'l.” + +“Who is Uncle Daniel?” was the next question. In the absence of other +customers the man seemed disposed to get as much amusement out of the +boy as possible. + +“He hain't my uncle at all; I only call him so because all the boys do, +an' I live with him.” + +“Where's your father and mother?” + +“I don't know,” said Toby, rather carelessly. “I don't know much about +'em, an' Uncle Dan'l says they don't know much about me. Here's another +bad nut; goin' to give me two more?” + +The two nuts were given him, and he said, as he put them in his pocket +and turned over and over again those which he held in his hand: “I +shouldn't wonder if all of these was bad. S'posen you give me two for +each one of 'em before I crack 'em, an' then they won't be spoiled so +you can't sell 'em again.” + +As this offer of barter was made, the man looked amused, and he asked, +as he counted out the number which Toby desired, “If I give you these, +I suppose you'll want me to give you two more for each one, and you'll +keep that kind of a trade going until you get my whole stock?” + +“I won't open my head if every one of em's bad.” + +“All right; you can keep what you've got, and I'll give you these +besides; but I don't want you to buy any more, for I don't want to do +that kind of business.” + +Toby took the nuts offered, not in the least abashed, and seated himself +on a convenient stone to eat them, and at the same time to see all that +was going on around him. The coming of a circus to the little town of +Guilford was an event, and Toby had hardly thought of anything else +since the highly colored posters had first been put up. It was yet quite +early in the morning, and the tents were just being erected by the men. +Toby had followed, with eager eyes, everything that looked as if it +belonged to the circus, from the time the first wagon had entered the +town until the street parade had been made and everything was being +prepared for the afternoon's performance. + +The man who had made the losing trade in peanuts seemed disposed to +question the boy still further, probably owing to the fact that he had +nothing better to do. + +“Who is this Uncle Daniel you say you live with? Is he a farmer?” + +“No; he's a deacon, an' he raps me over the head with the hymn book +whenever I go to sleep in meetin', an' he says I eat four times as much +as I earn. I blame him for hittin' so hard when I go to sleep, but I +s'pose he's right about my eatin'. You see,” and here his tone grew both +confidential and mournful, “I am an awful eater, an' I can't seem to +help it. Somehow I'm hungry all the time. I don't seem ever to get +enough till carrot time comes, an' then I can get all I want without +troublin' anybody.” + +“Didn't you ever have enough to eat?” + +“I s'pose I did; but you see Uncle Dan'l he found me one mornin' on his +hay, an' he says I was cryin' for something to eat then, an' I've kept +it up ever since. I tried to get him to give me money enough to go into +the circus with; but he said a cent was all he could spare these hard +times, an' I'd better take that an' buy something to eat with it, for +the show wasn't very good, anyway. I wish peanuts wasn't but a cent a +bushel.” + +“Then you would make yourself sick eating them.” + +“Yes, I s'pose I should; Uncle Dan'l says I'd eat till I was sick, if I +got the chance; but I'd like to try it once.” + +He was a very small boy, with a round head covered with short red hair, +a face as speckled as any turkey's egg, but thoroughly good natured +looking; and as he sat there on the rather sharp point of the rock, +swaying his body to and fro as he hugged his knees with his hands, and +kept his eyes fastened on the tempting display of good things before +him, it would have been a very hard hearted man who would not have given +him something. + +But Mr. Job Lord, the proprietor of the booth, was a hard hearted man, +and he did not make the slightest advance toward offering the little +fellow anything. + +Toby rocked himself silently for a moment, and then he said, +hesitatingly, “I don't suppose you'd like to sell me some things, an' +let me pay you when I get older, would you?” + +Mr. Lord shook his head decidedly at this proposition. + +“I didn't s'pose you would,” said Toby, quickly; “but you didn't seem +to be selling anything, an' I thought I'd just see what you'd say +about it.” And then he appeared suddenly to see something wonderfully +interesting behind him, which served as an excuse to turn his reddening +face away. + +“I suppose your uncle Daniel makes you work for your living, don't he?” + asked Mr. Lord, after he had rearranged his stock of candy and had added +a couple of slices of lemon peel to what was popularly supposed to be +lemonade. + +“That's what I think; but he says that all the work I do wouldn't pay +for the meal that one chicken would eat, an' I s'pose it's so, for I +don't like to work as well as a feller without any father and mother +ought to. I don't know why it is, but I guess it's because I take up so +much time eatin' that it kinder tires me out. I s'pose you go into the +circus whenever you want to, don't you?” + +“Oh yes; I'm there at every performance, for I keep the stand under the +big canvas as well as this one out here.” + +There was a great big sigh from out Toby's little round stomach, as he +thought what bliss it must be to own all those good things and to see +the circus wherever it went. + +“It must be nice,” he said, as he faced the booth and its hard visaged +proprietor once more. + +“How would you like it?” asked Mr. Lord, patronizingly, as he looked +Toby over in a business way, very much as if he contemplated purchasing +him. + +“Like it!” echoed Toby. “Why, I'd grow fat on it!” + +“I don't know as that would be any advantage,” continued Mr. Lord, +reflectively, “for it strikes me that you're about as fat now as a boy +of your age ought to be. But I've a great mind to give you a chance.” + +“What!” cried Toby, in amazement, and his eyes opened to their widest +extent as this possible opportunity of leading a delightful life +presented itself. + +“Yes, I've a great mind to give you the chance. You see,” and now it +was Mr. Lord's turn to grow confidential, “I've had a boy with me +this season, but he cleared out at the last town, and I'm running the +business alone now.” + +Toby's face expressed all the contempt he felt for the boy who would run +away from such a glorious life as Mr. Lord's assistant must lead; but he +said not a word, waiting in breathless expectation for the offer which +he now felt certain would be made him. + +“Now I ain't hard on a boy,” continued Mr. Lord, still confidentially, +“and yet that one seemed to think that he was treated worse and made to +work harder than any boy in the world.” + +“He ought to live with Uncle Dan'l a week,” said Toby, eagerly. + +“Here I was just like a father to him,” said Mr. Lord, paying no +attention to the interruption, “and I gave him his board and lodging, +and a dollar a week besides.” + +“Could he do what he wanted to with the dollar?” + +“Of course he could. I never checked him, no matter how extravagant he +was, an' yet I've seen him spend his whole week's wages at this very +stand in one afternoon. And even after his money had all gone that way, +I've paid for peppermint and ginger out of my own pocket just to cure +his stomach ache.” + +Toby shook his head mournfully, as if deploring that depravity which +could cause a boy to run away from such a tender hearted employer and +from such a desirable position. But even as he shook his head so sadly +he looked wistfully at the peanuts, and Mr. Lord observed the look. + +It may have been that Mr. Job Lord was the tender hearted man he prided +himself upon being, or it may have been that he wished to purchase +Toby's sympathy; but, at all events, he gave him a large handful of +nuts, and Toby never bothered his little round head as to what motive +prompted the gift. Now he could listen to the story of the boy's +treachery and eat at the same time; therefore he was an attentive +listener. + +“All in the world that boy had to do,” continued Mr. Lord, in the same +injured tone he had previously used, “was to help me set things to +rights when we struck a town in the morning, and then tend to the +counter till we left the town at night, and all the rest of the time he +had to himself. Yet that boy was ungrateful enough to run away.” + +Mr. Lord paused, as if expecting some expression of sympathy from his +listener; but Toby was so busily engaged with his unexpected feast, and +his mouth was so full, that it did not seem even possible for him to +shake his head. + +“Now what should you say if I told you that you looked to me like a boy +that was made especially to help run a candy counter at a circus, and if +I offered the place to you?” + +Toby made one frantic effort to swallow the very large mouthful, and in +a choking voice he answered, quickly, “I should say I'd go with you, an' +be mighty glad of the chance.” + +“Then it's a bargain, my boy, and you shall leave town with me tonight.” + + + + +II. TOBY RUNS AWAY FROM HOME + + +Toby could scarcely restrain himself at the prospect of this golden +future that had so suddenly opened before him. He tried to express his +gratitude, but could only do so by evincing his willingness to commence +work at once. + +“No, no, that won't do,” said Mr. Lord, cautiously. “If your uncle +Daniel should see you working here, he might mistrust something, and +then you couldn't get away.” + +“I don't believe he'd try to stop me,” said Toby, confidently; “for he's +told me lots of times that it was a sorry day for him when he found me.” + +“We won't take any chances, my son,” was the reply, in a very benevolent +tone, as he patted Toby on the head and at the same time handed him +a piece of pasteboard. “There's a ticket for the circus, and you come +around to see me about ten o'clock tonight. I'll put you on one of the +wagons, and by' tomorrow morning your uncle Daniel will have hard work +to find you.” + +If Toby had followed his inclinations, the chances are that he would +have fallen on his knees and kissed Mr. Lord's hands in the excess of +his gratitude. But not knowing exactly how such a show of thankfulness +might be received, he contented himself by repeatedly promising that he +would be punctual to the time and place appointed. + +He would have loitered in the vicinity of the candy stand in order that +he might gain some insight into the business; but Mr. Lord advised him +to remain away, lest his uncle Daniel would see him, and suspect where +he had gone when he was missed in the morning. + +As Toby walked around the circus grounds, whereon was so much to attract +his attention, he could not prevent himself from assuming an air of +proprietorship. His interest in all that was going on was redoubled, +and in his anxiety that everything should be done correctly and in the +proper order he actually, and perhaps for the first time in his life, +forgot that he was hungry. He was really to travel with a circus, to +become a part, as it were, of the whole, and to be able to see its many +wonderful and beautiful attractions every day. + +Even the very tent ropes had acquired a new interest for him, and +the faces of the men at work seemed suddenly to have become those of +friends. How hard it was for him to walk around unconcernedly: and how +especially hard to prevent his feet from straying toward that tempting +display of dainties which he was to sell to those who came to see and +enjoy, and who would look at him with wonder and curiosity! It was very +hard not to be allowed to tell his playmates of his wonderfully good +fortune; but silence meant success, and he locked his secret in his +bosom, not even daring to talk with anyone he knew, lest he should +betray himself by some incautious word. + +He did not go home to dinner that day, and once or twice he felt +impelled to walk past the candy stand, giving a mysterious shake of the +head at the proprietor as he did so. The afternoon performance passed +off as usual to all of the spectators save Toby. He imagined that each +one of the performers knew that he was about to join them; and even +as he passed the cage containing the monkeys he fancied that one +particularly old one knew all about his intention of running away. + +Of course it was necessary for him to go home at the close of the +afternoon's performance, in order to get one or two valuable articles of +his own--such as a boat, a kite, and a pair of skates--and in order +that his actions might not seem suspicious. Before he left the grounds, +however, he stole slyly around to the candy stand, and informed Mr. Job +Lord, in a very hoarse whisper, that he would be on hand at the time +appointed. + +Mr. Lord patted him on the head, gave him two large sticks of candy, +and, what was more kind and surprising, considering the fact that he +wore glasses and was cross eyed, he winked at Toby. A wink from Mr. Lord +must have been intended to convey a great deal, because, owing to the +defect in his eyes, it required no little exertion, and even then could +not be considered as a really first class wink. + +That wink, distorted as it was, gladdened Toby's heart immensely and +took away nearly all the sting of the scolding with which Uncle Daniel +greeted him when he reached home. + +That night--despite the fact that he was going to travel with the +circus, despite the fact that his home was not a happy or cheerful +one--Toby was not in a pleasant frame of mind. He began to feel for the +first time that he was doing wrong; and as he gazed at Uncle Daniel's +stern, forbidding looking face, it seemed to have changed somewhat from +its severity, and caused a great lump of something to come up in his +throat as he thought that perhaps he should never see it again. Just +then one or two kind words would have prevented him from running away, +bright as the prospect of circus life appeared. + +It was almost impossible for him to eat anything, and this very +surprising state of affairs attracted the attention of Uncle Daniel. + +“Bless my heart! what ails the boy?” asked the old man, as he peered +over his glasses at Toby's well filled plate, which was usually emptied +so quickly. “Are ye sick, Toby, or what is the matter with ye?” + +“No, I hain't sick,” said Toby, with a sigh; “but I've been to the +circus, an' I got a good deal to eat.” + +“Oho! You spent that cent I give ye, eh, an' got so much that it made ye +sick?” + +Toby thought of the six peanuts which he had bought with the penny Uncle +Daniel had given him; and, amid all his homesickness, he could not help +wondering if Uncle Daniel ever made himself sick with only six peanuts +when he was a boy. + +As no one paid any further attention to Toby, he pushed back his plate, +arose from the table, and went with a heavy heart to attend to his +regular evening chores. The cow, the hens, and even the pigs came in for +a share of his unusually kind attention; and as he fed them all the +big tears rolled down his cheeks as he thought that perhaps never +again would he see any of them. These dumb animals had all been Toby's +confidants; he had poured out his griefs in their ears, and fancied, +when the world or Uncle Daniel had used him unusually hard, that they +sympathized with him. Now he was leaving them forever, and as he locked +the stable door he could hear the sounds of music coming from the +direction of the circus grounds, and he was angry at it, because it +represented that which was taking him away from his home, even though it +was not as pleasant as it might have been. + +Still, he had no thought of breaking the engagement which he had made. +He went to his room, made a bundle of his worldly possessions, and crept +out of the back door, down the road to the circus. + +Mr. Lord saw him as soon as he arrived on the grounds, and as he passed +another ticket to Toby he took his bundle from him, saying, as he did +so: “I'll pack up your bundle with my things, and then you'll be sure +not to lose it. Don't you want some candy?” + +Toby shook his head; he had just discovered that there was possibly some +connection between his heart and his stomach, for his grief at leaving +home had taken from him all desire for good things. It is also more than +possible that Mr. Lord had had experience enough with boys to know that +they might be homesick on the eve of starting to travel with a circus; +and in order to make sure that Toby would keep to his engagement he was +unusually kind. + +That evening was the longest Toby ever knew. He wandered from one cage +of animals to another; then to see the performance in the ring, and back +again to the animals, in the vain hope of passing the time pleasantly. + +But it was of no use; that lump in his throat would remain there, and +the thoughts of what he was about to do would trouble him severely. +The performance failed to interest him, and the animals did not attract +until he had visited the monkey cage for the third or fourth time. Then +he fancied that the same venerable monkey who had looked so knowing in +the afternoon was gazing at him with a sadness which could only have +come from a thorough knowledge of all the grief and doubt that was in +his heart. + +There was no one around the cages, and Toby got just as near to the iron +bars as possible. No sooner had he flattened his little pug nose against +the iron than the aged monkey came down from the ring in which he had +been swinging, and, seating himself directly in front of Toby's face, +looked at him most compassionately. + +It would not have surprised the boy just then if the animal had spoken; +but as he did not, Toby did the next best thing and spoke to him. + +“I s'pose you remember that you saw me this afternoon, an' somebody told +you that I was goin' to join the circus, didn't they?” + +The monkey made no reply, though Toby fancied that he winked an +affirmative answer; and he looked so sympathetic that he continued, +confidentially: + +“Well, I'm the same feller, an' I don't mind telling you that I'm +awfully sorry that I promised that candy man I'd go with him. Do you +know that I came near crying at the supper table tonight; an' Uncle +Dan'l looked real good an' nice, though I never thought so before. I +wish I wasn't goin', after all, 'cause it don't seem a bit like a good +time now; but I s'pose I must, 'cause I promised to, an' 'cause the +candy man has got all my things.” + +The big tears had begun to roll down Toby's cheeks, and as he ceased +speaking the monkey reached out one little paw, which Toby took as +earnestly as if it had been done purposely to console him. + +“You're real good, you are,” continued Toby; “an' I hope I shall see you +real often, for it seems to me now, when there hain't any folks around, +as if you was the only friend I've got in this great big world. It's +awful when a feller feels the way I do, an' when he don't seem to want +anything to eat. Now if you'll stick to me I'll stick to you, an' then +it won't be half so bad when we feel this way.” + +During this speech Toby had still clung to the little brown paw, which +the monkey now withdrew, and continued to gaze into the boy's face. + +“The fellers all say I don't amount to anything,” sobbed Toby, “an' +Uncle Dan'l says I don't, an' I s'pose they know; but I tell you I feel +just as bad, now that I'm goin' away from them all, as if I was as good +as any of them.” + +At this moment Toby saw Mr. Lord enter the tent, and he knew that the +summons to start was about to be given. + +“Goodby,” he said to the monkey, as he vainly tried to take him by the +hand again. “Remember what I've told you, an' don't forget that Toby +Tyler is feelin' worse tonight than if he was twice as big an' twice as +good.” + +Mr. Lord had come to summon him away, and he now told Toby that he would +show him with which man he was to ride that night. + +Toby looked another goodby at the venerable monkey, who was watching him +closely, and then followed his employer out of the tent, among the ropes +and poles and general confusion attendant upon the removal of a circus +from one place to another. + + + + +III. THE NIGHT RIDE + + +The wagon on which Mr. Lord was to send his new found employee was, +by the most singular chance, the one containing the monkeys, and Toby +accepted this as a good omen. He would be near his venerable friend all +night, and there was some consolation in that. The driver instructed +the boy to watch his movements, and when he saw him leading his horses +around, “to look lively and be on hand, for he never waited for anyone.” + +Toby not only promised to do as ordered, but he followed the driver +around so closely that, had he desired, he could not have rid himself of +his little companion. + +The scene which presented itself to Toby's view was strange and weird in +the extreme. Shortly after he had attached himself to the man with whom +he was to ride, the performance was over, and the work of putting the +show and its belongings into such a shape as could be conveyed from one +town to another was soon in active operation. Toby forgot his grief, +forgot that he was running away from the only home he had ever known--in +fact, forgot everything concerning himself--so interested was he in that +which was going on about him. + +As soon as the audience had got out of the tent and almost before the +work of taking down the canvas was begun. + +Torches were stuck in the earth at regular intervals, the lights that +had shone so brilliantly in and around the ring had been extinguished, +the canvas sides had been taken off, and the boards that had formed the +seats were being packed into one of the carts with a rattling sound that +seemed as if a regular fusillade of musketry was being indulged in. Men +were shouting; horses were being driven hither and thither, harnessed to +the wagons, or drawing the huge carts away as soon as they were loaded; +and everything seemed in the greatest state of confusion, while really +the work was being done in the most systematic manner possible. + +Toby had not long to wait before the driver informed him that the time +for starting had arrived, and assisted him to climb up to the narrow +seat whereon he was to ride that night. + +The scene was so exciting, and his efforts to stick to the narrow seat +so great, that he really had no time to attend to the homesick feeling +that had crept over him during the first part of the evening. + +The long procession of carts and wagons drove slowly out of the town, +and when the last familiar house had been passed the driver spoke to +Toby for the first time, since they started. + +“Pretty hard work to keep on--eh, sonny?” + +“Yes,” replied the boy, as the wagon jolted over a rock, bouncing him +high in air, and he, by strenuous efforts, barely succeeded in alighting +on the seat again, “it is pretty hard work; an' my name's Toby Tyler.” + +Toby heard a queer sound that seemed to come from the man's throat, and +for a few moments he feared that his companion was choking. But he soon +understood that this was simply an attempt to laugh, and he at once +decided that it was a very poor style of laughing. + +“So you object to being called sonny, do you?” + +“Well, I'd rather be called Toby, for, you see, that's my name.” + +“All right, my boy; we'll call you Toby. I suppose you thought it was a +mighty fine thing to run away an' jine a circus, didn't you?” + +Toby started in affright, looked around cautiously, and then tried to +peer down through the small square aperture, guarded by iron rods, that +opened into the cage just back of the seat they were sitting on. Then +he turned slowly around to the driver, and asked, in a voice sunk to a +whisper: “How did you know that I was runnin' away? Did he tell you?” + and Toby motioned with his thumb as if he were pointing out someone +behind him. + +It was the driver's turn now to look around in search of the “he” + referred to by Toby. + +“Who do you mean?” asked the man, impatiently. + +“Why, the old feller; the one in the cart there. I think he knew I was +runnin' away, though he didn't say anything about it; but he looked just +as if he did.” + +The driver looked at Toby in perfect amazement for a moment, and +then, as if suddenly understanding the boy, relapsed into one of those +convulsive efforts that caused the blood to rush up into his face and +gave him every appearance of having a fit. + +“You must mean one of the monkeys,” said the driver, after he had +recovered his breath, which had been almost shaken out of his body by +the silent laughter. “So you thought a monkey had told me what any fool +could have seen if he had watched you for five minutes.” + +“Well,” said Toby, slowly, as if he feared he might provoke one of those +terrible laughing spells again, “I saw him tonight, an' he looked as if +he knew what I was doin'; so I up an' told him, an' I didn't know but +he'd told you, though he didn't look to me like a feller that would be +mean.” + +There was another internal shaking on the part of the driver, which Toby +did not fear so much, since he was getting accustomed to it, and then +the man said, “Well, you are the queerest little cove I ever saw.” + +“I s'pose I am,” was the reply, accompanied by a long drawn sigh. “I +don't seem to amount to so much as the other fellers do, an' I guess +it's because I'm always hungry; you see, I eat awful, Uncle Dan'l says.” + +The only reply which the driver made to this plaintive confession was to +put his hand down into the deepest recesses of one of his deep pockets +and to draw therefrom a huge doughnut, which he handed to his companion. + +Toby was so much at his ease by this time that the appetite which had +failed him at supper had now returned in full force, and he devoured the +doughnut in a most ravenous manner. + +“You're too small to eat so fast,” said the man, in a warning tone, as +the last morsel of the greasy sweetness disappeared, and he fished up +another for the boy. “Some time you'll get hold of one of the India +rubber doughnuts that they feed to circus people, an' choke yourself to +death.” + +Toby shook his head, and devoured this second cake as quickly as he had +the first, craning his neck, and uttering a funny little squeak as the +last bit went down, just as a chicken does when he gets too large a +mouthful of dough. + +“I'll never choke,” he said, confidently. “I'm used to it; and Uncle +Dan'l says I could eat a pair of boots an' never wink at 'em; but I +don't just believe that.” + +As the driver made no reply to this remark Toby watched with no little +interest all that was passing on around him. Each of the wagons had a +lantern fastened to the hind axle, and these lights could be seen far +ahead on the road, as if a party of fireflies had started in single file +on an excursion. The trees by the side of the road stood out weird and +ghostly looking in the darkness, and the rumble of the carts ahead +and behind formed a musical accompaniment to the picture that sounded +strangely doleful. + +Mile after mile was passed over in perfect silence, save now and then +when the driver would whistle a few bars of some very dismal tune that +would fairly make Toby shiver with its mournfulness. Eighteen miles was +the distance from Guilford to the town where the next performance of the +circus was to be given, and as Toby thought of the ride before them it +seemed as if the time would be almost interminable. He curled himself up +on one corner of the seat, and tried very hard to go to sleep; but just +as his eyes began to grow heavy the wagon would jolt over some rock or +sink deep in some rut, till Toby, the breath very nearly shaken out +of his body, and his neck almost dislocated, would sit bolt upright, +clinging to the seat with both hands, as if he expected each moment to +be pitched out into the mud. + +The driver watched him closely, and each time that he saw him shaken +up and awakened so thoroughly he would indulge in one of his silent +laughing spells, until Toby would wonder whether he would ever recover +from it. Several times had Toby been awakened, and each time he had seen +the amusement his sufferings caused, until he finally resolved to put an +end to the sport by keeping awake. + +“What is your name?” he asked of the driver, thinking a conversation +would be the best way to rouse himself into wakefulness. + +“Waal,” said the driver, as he gathered the reins carefully in one hand, +and seemed to be debating in his mind how he should answer the question, +“I don't know as I know myself, it's been so long since I've heard it.” + +Toby was wide enough awake now, as this rather singular problem was +forced upon his mind. He revolved the matter silently for some moments, +and at last he asked, “What do folks call you when they want to speak to +you?” + +“They always call me Old Ben, an' I've got so used to the name that I +don't need any other.” + +Toby wanted very much to ask more questions, but he wisely concluded +that it would not be agreeable to his companion. + +“I'll ask the old man about it,” said Toby to himself, referring to the +aged monkey, whom he seemed to feel acquainted with; “he most likely +knows, if he'll say anything.” + +After this the conversation ceased, until Toby again ventured to +suggest, “It's a pretty long drive, hain't it?” + +“You want to wait till you've been in this business a year or two,” said +Ben, sagely, “an' then you won't think much of it. Why, I've known the +show towns to be thirty miles apart, an' them was the times when we had +lively work of it. Riding all night and working all day kind of wears on +a fellow.” + +“Yes, I s'pose so,” said Toby, with a sigh, as he wondered whether he +had got to work as hard as that; “but I s'pose you get all you want to +eat, don't you?” + +“Now you've struck it!” said Ben, with the air of one about to impart a +world of wisdom, as he crossed one leg over the other, that his position +might be as comfortable as possible while he was initiating his young +companion into the mysteries of the life. “I've had all the boys ride +with me since I've been with this show, an' I've tried to start them +right; but they didn't seem to profit by it, an' always got sick of the +show an' run away, just because they didn't look out for themselves as +they ought to. Now listen to me, Toby, an' remember what I say. You see +they put us all in a hotel together, an' some of these places where we +go don't have any too much stuff on the table. Whenever we strike a new +town you find out at the hotel what time they have the grub ready, an' +you be on hand, so's to get in with the first. Eat all you can, an' fill +your pockets.” + +“If that's all a feller has to do to travel with a circus,” said Toby, +“I'm just the one, 'cause I always used to do just that when I hadn't +any idea of bein' a circus man.” + +“Then you'll get along all right,” said Ben, as he checked the speed of +his horses and, looking carefully ahead, said, as he guided his team to +one side of the road, “This is as far as we're going tonight.” + +Toby learned that they were within a couple of miles of the town, and +that the entire procession would remain by the roadside until time to +make the grand entree into the village, when every wagon, horse, and man +would be decked out in the most gorgeous array, as they had been when +they entered Guilford. + +Under Ben's direction he wrapped himself in an old horse blanket, +and lay down on the top of the wagon; and he was so tired from the +excitement of the day and night that he had hardly stretched out at full +length before he was fast asleep. + + + + +IV. THE FIRST DAY WITH THE CIRCUS + + +When Toby awakened and looked around he could hardly realize where he +was or bow he came there. As far ahead and behind on the road as he +could see the carts were drawn up on one side; men were hurrying to and +fro, orders were being shouted, and everything showed that the entry +into the town was about to be made. Directly opposite the wagon on which +he had been sleeping were the four elephants and two camels, and close +behind, contentedly munching their breakfasts, were a number of tiny +ponies. Troops of horses were being groomed and attended to; the road +was littered with saddles, flags, and general decorations, until it +seemed to Toby that there must have been a smash up, and that he now +beheld ruins rather than systematic disorder. + +How different everything looked now, compared to the time when the +cavalcade marched into Guilford, dazzling everyone with the gorgeous +display! Then the horses pranced gayly under their gaudy decorations, +the wagons were bright with glass, gilt, and flags, the lumbering +elephants and awkward camels were covered with fancifully embroidered +velvets, and even the drivers of the wagons were resplendent in their +uniforms of scarlet and gold. Now, in the gray light of the early +morning, everything was changed. The horses were tired and muddy, and +wore old and dirty harness; the gilded chariots were covered with mud +bespattered canvas, which caused them to look like the most ordinary +of market wagons; the elephants and camels looked dingy, dirty, almost +repulsive; and the drivers were only a sleepy looking set of men, who, +in their shirt sleeves, were getting ready for the change which would +dazzle the eyes of the inhabitants of the town. + +Toby descended from his lofty bed, rubbed his eyes to thoroughly awaken +himself, and, under the guidance of Ben, went to a little brook near by +and washed his face. He had been with the circus not quite ten hours, +but now he could not realize that it had ever seemed bright and +beautiful. He missed his comfortable bed, the quiet and cleanliness, and +the well spread table; even although he had felt the lack of parents' +care, Uncle Daniel's home seemed the very abode of love and friendly +feeling compared with this condition, where no one appeared to care even +enough for him to scold at him. He was thoroughly homesick, and heartily +wished that he was back in his old native town. + +While he was washing his face in the brook he saw some of the boys who +had come out from the town to catch the first glimpse of the circus, and +he saw at once that he was the object of their admiring gaze. He heard +one of the boys say, when they first discovered him: + +“There's one of them, an' he's only a little feller; so I'm going to +talk to him.” + +The evident admiration which the boys had for Toby pleased him, and this +pleasure was the only drop of comfort he had had since he started. He +hoped they would come and talk with him; and, that they might have the +opportunity, he was purposely slow in making his toilet. + +The boys approached him shyly, as if they had their doubts whether he +was made of the same material as themselves, and when they got quite +near to him and satisfied themselves that he was only washing his face +in much the same way that any well regulated boy would do, the one who +had called attention to him said, half timidly, “Hello!” + +“Hello!” responded Toby, in a tone that was meant to invite confidence. + +“Do you belong to the circus?” + +“Yes,” said Toby, a little doubtfully. + +Then the boys stared at him again as if he were one of the strange +looking animals, and the one who had been the spokesman drew a long +breath of envy as he said, longingly, “My! what a nice time you must +have!” + +Toby remembered that only yesterday he himself had thought that boys +must have a nice time with a circus, and he now felt what a mistake +that thought was; but he concluded that he would not undeceive his new +acquaintance. + +“And do they give you frogs to eat, so's to make you limber?” + +This was the first time that Toby had thought of breakfast, and the very +mention of eating made him hungry. He was just at that moment so very +hungry that he did not think he was replying to the question when he +said, quickly: “Eat frogs! I could eat anything, if I only had the +chance.” + +The boys took this as an answer to their question, and felt perfectly +convinced that the agility of circus riders and tumblers depended upon +the quantity of frogs eaten, and they looked upon Toby with no little +degree of awe. + +Toby might have undeceived them as to the kind of food he ate, but just +at that moment the harsh voice of Mr. Job Lord was heard calling him, +and he hurried away to commence his first day's work. + +Toby's employer was not the same pleasant, kindly spoken man that he +had been during the time they were in Guilford and before the boy was +absolutely under his control. He looked cross, he acted cross, and it +did not take the boy very long to find out that he was very cross. + +He scolded Toby roundly, and launched more oaths at his defenseless head +than Toby had ever heard in his life. He was angry that the boy had not +been on hand to help him, and also that he had been obliged to hunt for +him. + +Toby tried to explain that he had no idea of what he was expected to +do, and that he had been on the wagon to which he had been sent, only +leaving it to wash his face; but the angry man grew still more furious. + +“Went to wash your face, did yer? Want to set yourself up for a dandy, I +suppose, and think that you must souse that speckled face of yours into +every brook you come to? I'll soon break you of that; and the sooner you +understand that I can't afford to have you wasting your time in washing +the better it will be for you.” + +Toby now grew angry, and, not realizing how wholly he was in the man's +power, he retorted: “If you think I'm going round with a dirty face, +even if it is speckled, for a dollar a week, you're mistaken, that's +all. How many folks would eat your candy if they knew you handled it +over before you washed your hands?” + +“Oho! I've picked up a preacher, have I? Now I want you to understand, +my bantam, that I do all the preaching as well as the practicing myself, +and this is about as quick a way as I know of to make you understand +it.” + +As the man spoke he grasped the boy by the coat collar with one hand and +with the other plied a thin rubber cane with no gentle force to every +portion of Toby's body that he could reach. + +Every blow caused the poor boy the most intense pain; but he determined +that his tormentor should not have the satisfaction of forcing an outcry +from him, and he closed his lips so tightly that not a single sound +could escape from them. + +This very silence enraged the man so much that he redoubled the force +and rapidity of his blows, and it is impossible to say what might have +been the consequences had not Ben come that way just then and changed +the aspect of affairs. + +“Up to your old tricks of whipping the boys, are you, Job?” he said, +as he wrested the cane from the man's hand and held him off at arm's +length, to prevent him from doing Toby more mischief. + +Mr. Lord struggled to release himself, and insisted that, since the boy +was in his employ, he should do with him just as he saw fit. + +“Now look here, Mr. Lord,” said Ben, as gravely as if he was delivering +some profound piece of wisdom, “I've never interfered with you before; +but now I'm going to stop your game of thrashing your boy every morning +before breakfast. You just tell this youngster what you want him to do, +and if he don't do it you can discharge him. If I hear of your flogging +him, I shall attend to your case at once. You hear me?” + +Ben shook the now terrified candy vender much as if he had been a child, +and then released him, saying to Toby as he did so, “Now, my boy, you +attend to your business as you ought to, and I'll settle his accounts if +he tries the flogging game again.” + +“You see, I don't know what there is for me to do,” sobbed Toby, for +the kindly interference of Ben had made him show more feeling than Mr. +Lord's blows had done. + +“Tell him what he must do,” said Ben, sternly. + +“I want him to go to work and wash the tumblers, and fix up the things +in that green box, so we can commence to sell as soon as we get into +town,” snarled Mr. Lord, as he motioned toward a large green chest that +had been taken out of one of the carts, and which Toby saw was filled +with dirty glasses, spoons, knives, and other utensils such as were +necessary to carry on the business. + +Toby got a pail of water from the brook, hunted around and found towels +and soap, and devoted himself to his work with such industry that Mr. +Lord could not repress a grunt of satisfaction as he passed him, however +angry he felt because he could not administer the whipping which would +have smoothed his ruffled temper. + +By the time the procession was ready to start for the town Toby had as +much of his work done as he could find that it was necessary to do, and +his master, in his surly way, half acknowledged that this last boy of +his was better than any he had had before. + +Although Toby had done his work so well he was far from feeling happy; +he was both angry and sad as he thought of the cruel blows that had been +inflicted, and he had plenty of leisure to repent of the rash step he +had taken, although he could not see very clearly how he was to get away +from it. He thought that he could not go back to Guilford, for Uncle +Daniel would not allow him to come to his house again; and the hot +scalding tears ran down his cheeks as he realized that he was homeless +and friendless in this great big world. + +It was while he was in this frame of mind that the procession, all gaudy +with flags, streamers, and banners, entered the town. Under different +circumstances this would have been a most delightful day for him, for +the entrance of a circus into Guilford had always been a source of one +day's solid enjoyment; but now he was the most disconsolate and unhappy +boy in all that crowd. + +He did not ride throughout the entire route of the procession, for Mr. +Lord was anxious to begin business, and the moment the tenting ground +was reached the wagon containing Mr. Lord's goods was driven into the +inclosure and Toby's day's work began. + +He was obliged to bring water, to cut up the lemons, fetch and carry +fruit from the booth in the big tent to the booth on the outside, +until he was ready to drop with fatigue, and, having had no time for +breakfast, was nearly famished. + +It was quite noon before he was permitted to go to the hotel for +something to eat, and then Ben's advice to be one of the first to get to +the tables was not needed. + +In the eating line that day he astonished the servants, the members of +the company, and even himself, and by the time he arose from the table, +with both pockets and his stomach full to bursting, the tables had been +set and cleared away twice while he was making one meal. + +“Well, I guess you didn't hurry yourself much,” said Mr. Lord, when Toby +returned to the circus ground. + +“Oh yes, I did,” was Toby's innocent reply: “I ate just as fast as I +could”; and a satisfied smile stole over the boy's face as he thought of +the amount of solid food he had consumed. + +The answer was not one which was calculated to make Mr. Lord feel any +more agreeably disposed toward his new clerk, and he showed his ill +temper very plainly as he said, “It must take a good deal to satisfy +you.” + +“I s'pose it does,” calmly replied Toby. “Sam Merrill used to say that +I took after Aunt Olive and Uncle Dan'l; one ate a good while, an' the +other ate awful fast.” + +Toby could not understand what it was that Mr. Lord said in reply, +but he could understand that his employer was angry at somebody or +something, and he tried unusually hard to please him. He talked to the +boys who had gathered around, to induce them to buy, washed the glasses +as fast as they were used, tried to keep off the flies, and in every way +he could think of endeavored to please his master. + + + + +V. THE COUNTERFEIT TEN CENT PIECE + + +When the doors of the big tent were opened, and the people began to +crowd in, just as Toby had seen them do at Guilford, Mr. Lord announced +to his young clerk that it was time for him to go into the tent to work. +Then it was that Toby learned for the first time that he had two masters +instead of one, and this knowledge caused him no little uneasiness. If +the other one was anything like Mr. Lord, his lot would be just twice +as bad, and he began to wonder whether he could even stand it one day +longer. + +As the boy passed through the tent on his way to the candy stand, where +he was really to enter upon the duties for which he had run away from +home, he wanted to stop for a moment and speak with the old monkey who +he thought had taken such an interest in him. But when he reached the +cage in which his friend was confined, there was such a crowd around it +that it was impossible for him to get near enough to speak without being +overheard. + +This was such a disappointment to the little fellow that the big tears +came into his eyes, and in another instant would have gone rolling down +his cheeks if his aged friend had not chanced to look toward him. Toby +fancied that the monkey looked at him in the most friendly way, and +then he was Certain that he winked one eye. Toby felt that there was no +mistake about that wink, and it seemed as if it was intended to convey +comfort to him in his troubles. He winked back at the monkey in the most +emphatic and grave manner possible, and then went on his way, feeling +wonderfully comforted. + +The work inside the tent was far different and much harder than it was +outside. He was obliged to carry around among the audience trays of +candy, nuts, and lemonade for sale, and he was expected to cry aloud the +description of that which he offered. The partner of Mr. Lord, who had +charge of the stand inside the tent, showed himself to be neither better +nor worse than Mr. Lord himself. When Toby first presented himself for +work he handed him a tray filled with glasses of lemonade, and told him +to go among the audience, crying, “Here's your nice cold lemonade, only +five cents a glass!” + +Toby started to do as he was bidden; but when he tried to repeat the +words in anything like a loud tone of voice they stuck in his throat, +and he found it next to impossible to utter a sound above a whisper. It +seemed to him that everyone in the audience was looking only at him, and +the very sound of his own voice made him afraid. + +He went entirely around the tent once without making a sale, and when he +returned to the stand he was at once convinced that one of his masters +was quite as bad as the other. This one--and he knew that his name was +Jacobs, for he heard someone call him so--very kindly told him that he +would break every bone in his body if he didn't sell something, and Toby +confidently believed that he would carry out his threat. + +It was with a very heavy heart that he started around again in obedience +to Mr. Jacobs's angry command; but this time he did manage to cry out, +in a very thin and very squeaky voice, the words which he had been told +to repeat. + +This time--perhaps owing to his pitiful and imploring look, certainly +not because of the noise he made--he met with very good luck, and +sold every glass of the mixture which Messrs. Lord and Jacobs called +lemonade, and went back to the stand for more. + +He certainly thought he had earned a word of praise, and fully expected +it as he put the empty glasses and money on the stand in front of Mr. +Jacobs. But, instead of the kind words, he was greeted with a volley of +curses; and the reason for it was that he had taken in payment for two +of the glasses a lead ten cent piece. Mr. Jacobs, after scolding poor +little Toby to his heart's content, vowed that the amount should be kept +from his first week's wages, and then handed back the coin, with orders +to give it to the first man who gave him money to change, under the +penalty of a severe flogging if he failed to do so. + +Poor Toby tried to explain matters by saying: “You see, I don't know +anything about money; I never had more 'n a cent at a time, an' you +mustn't expect me to get posted all at once.” + +“I'll post you with a stick if you do it again; an' it won't be well for +you if you bring that ten cent piece back here!” + +Now Toby was very well aware that to pass the coin, knowing it to be +bad, would be a crime, and be resolved to take the consequences of which +Mr. Jacobs had intimated, if he could not find the one who had given him +the counterfeit and persuade him to give him good money in its stead. He +remembered very plainly where he had sold each glass of lemonade, and +he retraced his steps, glancing at each face carefully as he passed. At +last he was confident that he saw the man who had gotten him into such +trouble, and he climbed up the board seats, saying, as he stood in front +of him and held out the coin: “Mister, this money that you gave me is +bad. Won't you give me another one for it?” + +The man was a rough looking party who had taken his girl to the circus, +and who did not seem at all disposed to pay any heed to Toby's request. +Therefore he repeated it, and this time more loudly. + +“Get out the way!” said the man, angrily. “How can you expect me to see +the show if you stand right in front of me?” + +“You'll like it better,” said Toby, earnestly, “if you give me another +ten cent piece.” + +“Get out an' don't bother me!” was the angry rejoinder; and the little +fellow began to think that perhaps he would be obliged to “get out” + without getting his money. + +It was becoming a desperate case, for the man was growing angry very +fast and if Toby did not succeed in getting good money for the bad, he +would have to take the consequences of which Mr. Jacobs had spoken. + +“Please, mister,” he said, imploringly--for his heart began to grow very +heavy, and he was fearing that he should not succeed--“won't you please +give me the money back? You know you gave it to me, an' I'll have to pay +it if you don't.” + +The boy's lip was quivering, and those around began to be interested in +the affair, while several in the immediate vicinity gave vent to their +indignation that a man should try to cheat a boy out of ten cents by +giving him counterfeit money. + +The man whom Toby was speaking to was about to dismiss him with an angry +reply, when he saw that those about him were not only interested in the +matter, but were evidently taking sides with the boy against him; and +knowing well that he had given the counterfeit money, he took another +coin from his pocket and, handing it to Toby, said, “I didn't give you +the lead piece; but you're making such a fuss about it that here's ten +cents to make you keep quiet.” + +“I'm sure you did give me the money,” said Toby, as he took the extended +coin, “an' I'm much obliged to you for takin' it back. I didn't want to +tell you before, 'cause you'd thought I was beggin'; but if you hadn't +given me this, I 'xpect I'd have got an awful whippin', for Mr. Jacobs +said he'd fix me if I didn't get the money for it.” + +The man looked sheepish enough as he put the bad money in his pocket, +and Toby's innocently told story caused such a feeling in his behalf +among those who sat near that he not only disposed of his entire stock +then and there, but received from one gentleman twenty-five cents for +himself. He was both proud and happy as he returned to Mr. Jacobs with +empty glasses, and with the money to refund the amount of loss which +would have been caused by the counterfeit. + +But the worthy partner of Mr. Lord's candy business had no words of +encouragement for the boy who was trying so hard to please. + +“Let that make you keep your eyes open,” he growled out, sulkily; “an' +if you get caught in that trap again, you won't be let off so easy.” + +Poor little Toby! his heart seemed ready to break; but his few hours' +previous experience had taught him that there was but one thing to do, +and that was to work just as hard as possible, trusting to some good +fortune to enable him to get out of the very disagreeable position in +which he had voluntarily placed himself. + +He took the basket of candy that Mr. Jacobs handed him, and trudged +around the circle of seats, selling far more because of the pitifulness +of his face than because of the excellence of his goods; and even this +worked to his disadvantage. Mr. Jacobs was keen enough to see why his +little clerk sold so many goods, and each time that he returned to the +stand he said something to him in an angry tone, which had the effect of +deepening the shadow on the boy's face and at the same time increasing +trade. + +By the time the performance was over Toby had in his pocket a dollar and +twenty-five cents which had been given him for himself by some of the +kind hearted in the audience, and he kept his hand almost constantly +upon it, for the money seemed to him like some kind friend who would +help him out of his present difficulties. + +After the audience had dispersed, Mr. Jacobs set Toby at work washing +the glasses and clearing up generally, and then the boy started toward +the other portion of the store--that watched over by Mr. Lord. Not a +person save the watchman was in the tent, and as Toby went toward the +door he saw his friend the monkey sitting in one corner of the cage, and +apparently watching his every movement. + +It was as if he had suddenly seen one of the boys from home, and Toby, +uttering an exclamation of delight, ran up to the cage and put his hand +through the wires. + +The monkey, in the gravest possible manner, took one of the fingers in +his paw, and Toby shook hands with him very earnestly. + +“I was sorry that I couldn't speak to you when I went in this noon,” + said Toby, as if making an apology; “but, you see, there were so many +around here to see you that I couldn't get the chance. Did you see me +wink at you?” + +The monkey made no reply, but he twisted his face into such a funny +little grimace that Toby was quite as well satisfied as if he had +spoken. + +“I wonder if you hain't some relation to Steve Stubbs?” Toby continued, +earnestly, “for you look just like him, only he don't have quite so many +whiskers. What I wanted to say was that I'm awful sorry I run away. I +used to think that Uncle Dan'l was bad enough; but he was just a perfect +good Samarathon to what Mr. Lord an' Mr. Jacobs are; an' when Mr. Lord +looks at me with that crooked eye of his I feel it 'way down in my +boots. Do you know”--and here Toby put his mouth nearer to the monkey's +head and whispered--“I'd run away from this circus if I could get the +chance. Wouldn't you?” + +Just at this point, as if in answer to the question, the monkey stood up +on his hind feet and reached out his paw to the boy, who seemed to think +this was his way of being more emphatic in saying “Yes.” + +Toby took the paw in his hand, shook it again earnestly, and said, as he +released it: “I was pretty sure you felt just about the same way I did, +Mr. Stubbs, when I passed you this noon. Look here”--and Toby took the +money from his pocket which had been given him--“I got all that this +afternoon, an' I'll try an' stick it out somehow till I get as much as +ten dollars, an' then we'll run away some night, an' go 'way off as far +as--as--as out West; an' we'll stay there, too.” + +The monkey, probably tired with remaining in one position so long; +started toward the top of the cage, chattering and screaming, joining +the other monkeys, who had gathered in a little group in one of the +swings. + +“Now see here, Mr. Stubbs,” said Toby, in alarm, “you mustn't go to +telling everybody about it, or Mr. Lord will know, an' then we'll be +dished, sure.” + +The monkey sat quietly in the swing, as if he felt reproved by what the +boy had said; and Toby, considerably relieved by his silence, said, +as he started toward the door, “That's right--mum's the word; you keep +quiet, an' so will I, an' pretty soon we'll get away from the whole +crowd.” + +All the monkeys chattered; and Toby, believing that everything which +he had said had been understood by the animals, went out of the door to +meet his other taskmaster. + + + + +VI. A TENDER HEARTED SKELETON + + +“Now, then, lazybones,” was Mr. Lord's warning cry as Toby came out of +the tent, “if you've fooled away enough of your time, you can come here +an' tend shop for me while I go to supper. You crammed yourself this +noon, an' it 'll teach you a good lesson to make you go without anything +to eat tonight; it 'll make you move round more lively in future.” + +Instead of becoming accustomed to such treatment as he was receiving +from his employers, Toby's heart grew more tender with each brutal word, +and this last punishment--that of losing his supper--caused the poor +boy more sorrow than blows would. Mr. Lord started for the hotel as +he concluded his cruel speech; and poor little Toby, going behind the +counter, leaned his head upon the rough boards and cried as if his heart +would break. + +All the fancied brightness and pleasure of a circus life had vanished, +and in its place was the bitterness of remorse that he had repaid Uncle +Daniel's kindness by the ingratitude of running away. Toby thought that +if he could only nestle his little red head on the pillows of his little +bed in that rough room at Uncle Daniel's, he would be the happiest and +best boy, in the future, in all the great wide world. + +While he was still sobbing away at a most furious rate he heard a voice +close at his elbow, and, looking up, saw the thinnest man he had +ever seen in all his life. The man had flesh colored tights on, and a +spangled red velvet garment--that was neither pants, because there were +no legs to it, nor a coat, because it did not come above his waist--made +up the remainder of his costume. + +Because he was so wonderfully thin, because of the costume which he +wore, and because of a highly colored painting which was hanging in +front of one of the small tents, Toby knew that the Living Skeleton was +before him, and his big brown eyes opened all the wider as he gazed at +him. + +“What is the matter, little fellow?” asked the man, in a kindly tone. +“What makes you cry so? Has Job been up to his old tricks again?” + +“I don't know what his old tricks are--” and Toby sobbed, the tears +coming again because of the sympathy which this man's voice expressed +for him--“but I know that he's a mean, ugly thing--that's what I know; +an' if I could only get back to Uncle Dan'l, there hain't elephants +enough in all the circuses in the world to pull me away again.” + +“Oh, you run away from home, did you?” + +“Yes, I did,” sobbed Toby, “an' there hain't any boy in any Sunday +School book that ever I read that was half so sorry he'd been bad as +I am. It's awful; an' now I can't have any supper, 'cause I stopped to +talk with Mr. Stubbs.” + +“Is Mr. Stubbs one of your friends?” asked the skeleton, as he seated +himself in Mr. Lord's own private chair. + +“Yes, he is, an' he's the only one in this whole circus who 'pears to +be sorry for me. You'd better not let Mr. Lord see you sittin' in that +chair or he'll raise a row.” + +“Job won't raise any row with me,” said the skeleton. “But who is this +Mr. Stubbs? I don't seem to know anybody by that name.” + +“I don't think that is his name. I only call him so, 'cause he looks so +much like a feller I know who is named Stubbs.” + +This satisfied the skeleton that this Mr. Stubbs must be someone +attached to the show, and he asked: + +“Has Job been whipping you?” + +“No; Ben, the driver on the wagon where I ride, told him not to do that +again; but he hain't going to let me have any supper, 'cause I was so +slow about my work--though I wasn't slow; I only talked to Mr. Stubbs +when there wasn't anybody round his cage.” + +“Sam! Sam! Sam-u-el!” + +This name, which was shouted twice in a quick, loud voice, and the third +time in a slow manner, ending almost in a screech, did not come from +either Toby or the skeleton, but from an enormously large woman, dressed +in a gaudy red and black dress, cut very short, and with low neck and +an apology for sleeves, who had just come out from the tent whereon the +picture of the Living Skeleton hung. + +“Samuel,” she screamed again, “come inside this minute, or you'll +catch your death o' cold, an' I shall have you wheezin' around with the +phthisic all night. Come in, Sam-u-el.” + +“That's her,” said the skeleton to Toby, as he pointed his thumb in the +direction of the fat woman, but paying no attention to the outcry she +was making--“that's my wife Lilly, an' she's the Fat Woman of the show. +She's always yellin' after me that way the minute I get out for a little +fresh air, an' she's always sayin' just the same thing. Bless you, I +never have the phthisic, but she does awful; an' I s'pose 'cause she's +so large she can't feel all over her, an' thinks it's me that has it.” + +“Is--is all that--is that your wife?” stammered Toby, in astonishment, +as he looked at the enormously fat woman who stood in the tent door, and +then at the wonderfully thin man who sat beside him. + +“Yes, that's her,” said the skeleton. “She weighs pretty nigh four +hundred, though of course the show cards says it's over six hundred, an' +she earns almost as much money as I do. Of course she can't get so much, +for skeletons is much scarcer than fat folks; but we make a pretty good +thing travelin' together.” + +“Sam-u-el!” again came the cry from the fat woman, “are you never coming +in?” + +“Not yet, my angel,” said the skeleton, placidly, as he crossed one thin +leg over the other and looked calmly at her. “Come here an' see Job's +new boy.” + +“Your imprudence is wearin' me away so that I sha'n't be worth five +dollars a week to any circus,” she said, impatiently, at the same time +coming toward the candy stand quite as rapidly as her very great size +would admit. + +“This is my wife Lilly--Mrs. Treat,” said the skeleton, with a proud +wave of his hand, as he rose from his seat and gazed admiringly at her. +“This is my flower--my queen, Mr. -- Mr. --” + +“Tyler,” said Toby, supplying the name which the skeleton--or Mr. Treat, +as Toby now learned his name was--did not know; “Tyler is my name--Toby +Tyler.” + +“Why, what a little chap you are!” said Mrs. Treat, paying no attention +to the awkward little bend of the head which Toby intended for a bow. +“How small he is, Samuel!” + +“Yes,” said the skeleton, reflectively, as he looked Toby over from head +to foot, as if he were mentally trying to calculate exactly how many +inches high he was, “he is small; but he's got all the world before +him to grow in, an' if he only eats enough--There, that reminds me. Job +isn't going to give him any supper, because he didn't work hard enough.” + +“He won't, won't he?” exclaimed the large lady, savagely. “Oh, he's a +precious one, he is! An' some day I shall just give him a good shakin' +up, that's what I'll do. I get all out of patience with that man's +ugliness.” + +“An' she'll do just what she says,” said the skeleton to Toby, with an +admiring shake of the head. “That woman hain't afraid of anybody, an' I +wouldn't be a bit surprised if she did give Job a pretty rough time.” + +Toby thought, as he looked at her, that she was large enough to give +'most anyone a pretty rough time, but he did not venture to say so. +While he was looking first at her, and then at her very thin husband, +the skeleton told his wife the little that he had learned regarding the +boy's history; and when he had concluded she waddled away toward her +tent. + +“Great woman that,” said the skeleton, as he saw her disappear within +the tent. + +“Yes,” said Toby, “she's the greatest I ever saw.” + +“I mean that she's got a great head. Now you'll see about how much she +cares for what Job says.” + +“If I was as big as her,” said Toby, with just a shade of envy in his +voice, “I wouldn't be afraid of anybody.” + +“It hain't so much the size,” said the skeleton, sagely--“it hain't so +much the size, my boy; for I can scare that woman almost to death when I +feel like it.” + +Toby looked for a moment at Mr. Treat's thin legs and arms, and then he +said, warningly, “I wouldn't feel like it very often if I was you, Mr. +Treat, 'cause she might break some of your bones if you didn't happen to +scare her enough.” + +“Don't fear for me, my boy--don't fear for me; you'll see how I manage +her if you stay with the circus long enough. Now I often--” + +If Mr. Treat was about to confide a family secret to Toby, it was fated +that he should not hear it then, for Mrs. Treat had just come out of +her tent, carrying in her hands a large tin plate piled high with a +miscellaneous assortment of pie, cake, bread, and meat. + +She placed this in front of Toby, and as she did so she handed him two +pictures. + +“There, little Toby Tyler,” she said--“there's something for you to eat, +if Mr. Job Lord and his precious partner Jacobs did say you shouldn't +have any supper; an' I've brought you a picture of Samuel an' me. +We sell 'em for ten cents apiece, but I'm going to give them to you, +because I like the looks of you.” + +Toby was quite overcome with the presents, and seemed at a loss how to +thank her for them. He attempted to speak, but could not get the words +out at first; and then he said, as he put the two photographs in the +same pocket with his money: “You're awful good to me, an' when I get to +be a man I'll give you lots of things. I wasn't so very hungry, if I am +such a big eater, but I did want something.” + +“Bless your dear little heart, and you shall have something to eat,” + said the Fat Woman, as she seized Toby, squeezed him close up to her, +and kissed his freckled face as kindly as if it had been as fair and +white as possible. “You shall eat all you want to; an' if you get the +stomachache, as Samuel does sometimes when he's been eatin' too much, +I'll give you some catnip tea out of the same dipper that I give +him his. He's a great eater, Samuel is,” she added, in a burst +of confidence, “an' it's a wonder to me what he does with it all +sometimes.” + +“Is he?” exclaimed Toby, quickly. “How funny that is! for I'm an awful +eater. Why, Uncle Dan'l used to say that I ate twice as much as I ought +to, an' it never made me any bigger. I wonder what's the reason?” + +“I declare I don't know,” said the Fat Woman, thoughtfully, “an' I've +wondered at it time an' time again. Some folks is made that way, an' +some folks is made different. Now I don't eat enough to keep a chicken +alive, an' yet I grow fatter an' fatter every day--don't I, Samuel?” + +“Indeed you do, my love,” said the skeleton, with a world of pride in +his voice; “but you mustn't feel bad about it, for every pound you gain +makes you worth just so much more to the show.” + +“Oh, I wasn't worryin', I was only wonderin'. But we must go, Samuel, +for the poor child won't eat a bit while we are here. After you've eaten +what there is there, bring the plate in to me,” she said to Toby, as +she took her lean husband by the arm and walked him off toward their own +tent. + +Toby gazed after them a moment, and then he commenced a vigorous attack +upon the eatables which had been so kindly given him. Of the food which +he had taken from the dinner table he had eaten some while he was in the +tent, and after that he had entirely forgotten that he had any in his +pocket; therefore, at the time that Mrs. Treat had brought him such a +liberal supply he was really very hungry. + +He succeeded in eating nearly all the food which had been brought to +him, and the very small quantity which remained he readily found room +for in his pockets. Then he washed the plate nicely; and seeing no one +in sight, he thought he could leave the booth long enough to return the +plate. + +He ran with it quickly into the tent occupied by the thin man and +fat woman, and handed it to her, with a profusion of thanks for her +kindness. + +“Did you eat it all?” she asked. + +“Well,” hesitated Toby, “there was two doughnuts an' a piece of pie left +over, an' I put them in my pocket. If you don't care, I'll eat them some +time tonight.” + +“You shall eat it whenever you want to; an' any time that you get hungry +again you come right to me.” + +“Thank you, marm. I must go now, for I left the store all alone.” + +“Run, then; an' if Job abuses you, just let me know it, an' I'll keep +him from cuttin' up any monkeyshines.” + +Toby hardly heard the end of her sentence, so great was his haste to get +back to the booth; and just as he emerged from the tent, on a quick run, +he received a blow on the ear which sent him sprawling in the dust, and +he heard Mr. Job Lord's angry voice as it said, + +“So, just the moment my back is turned you leave the stand to take care +of itself, do you, an' run around tryin' to plot some mischief against +me, eh?” And the brute kicked the prostrate boy twice with his heavy +boot. + +“Please don't kick me again!” pleaded Toby. “I wasn't gone but a minute, +an' I wasn't doing anything bad.” + +“You're lying now, an' you know it, you young cub!” exclaimed the angry +man as he advanced to kick the boy again. “I'll let you know who you've +got to deal with when you get hold of me!” + +“And I'll let you know who you've got to deal with when you get hold of +me!” said a woman's voice; and just as Mr. Lord raised his foot to kick +the boy again the fat woman seized him by the collar, jerked him back +over one of the tent ropes, and left him quite as prostrate as he had +left Toby. + +“Now, Job Lord,” said the angry woman, as she towered above the +thoroughly enraged but thoroughly frightened man, “I want you to +understand that you can't knock and beat this boy while I'm around. I've +seen enough of your capers, an' I'm going to put a stop to them. That +boy wasn't in this tent more than two minutes, an' he attends to his +work better than anyone you have ever had; so see that you treat him +decent. Get up,” she said to Toby, who had not dared to rise from the +ground; “and if he offers to strike you again, come to me.” + +Toby scrambled to his feet, and ran to the booth in time to attend to +one or two customers who had just come up. He could see from out the +corner of his eye that Mr. Lord had arisen to his feet also, and was +engaged in an angry conversation with Mrs. Treat, the result of which he +very much feared would be another and a worse whipping for him. + +But in this he was mistaken, for Mr. Lord, after the conversation +was ended, came toward the booth, and began to attend to his business +without speaking one word to Toby. When Mr. Jacobs returned from his +supper, Mr. Lord took him by the arm and walked him out toward the rear +of the tents; and Tony was very positive that he was to be the subject +of their conversation, which made him not a little uneasy. + +It was not until nearly time for the performance to begin that Mr. Lord +returned, and he had nothing to say to Toby save to tell him to go into +the tent and begin his work there. The boy was only too glad to escape +so easily, and he went to his work with as much alacrity as if he were +about entering upon some pleasure. + +When he met Mr. Jacobs that gentleman spoke to him very sharply about +being late, and seemed to think it no excuse at all that he had just +been relieved from the outside work by Mr. Lord. + + + + +VII. AN ACCIDENT AND ITS CONSEQUENCES + + +Toby's experience in the evening was very similar to that of the +afternoon, save that he was so fortunate as not to take any more +bad money in payment for his goods. Mr. Jacobs scolded and swore +alternately, and the boy really surprised him by his way of selling +goods, though he was very careful not to say anything about it, but made +Toby believe that he was doing only about half as much work as he ought +to do. Toby's private hoard of money was increased that evening, by +presents, ninety cents, and he began to look upon himself as almost a +rich man. + +When the performance was nearly over Mr. Jacobs called to him to help +in packing up; and by the time the last spectator had left the tent the +worldly possessions of Messrs. Lord and Jacobs were ready for removal, +and Toby allowed to do as he had a mind to, so long as he was careful to +be on hand when Old Ben was ready to start. + +Toby thought that he would have time to pay a visit to his friends the +skeleton and the Fat Woman, and to that end started toward the place +where their tent had been standing; but to his sorrow he found that it +was already being taken down, and he had only time to thank Mrs. Treat +and to press the fleshless hand of her shadowy husband as they entered +their wagon to drive away. + +He was disappointed, for he had hoped to be able to speak with his new +made friends a few moments before the weary night's ride commenced; but, +failing in that, he went hastily back to the monkeys' cage. Old Ben was +there, getting things ready for a start; but the wooden sides of the +cage had not been put up, and Toby had no difficulty in calling the aged +monkey up to the bars. He held one of the Fat Woman's doughnuts in his +hand, and said, as he passed it through to the animal: + +“I thought perhaps you might be hungry, Mr. Stubbs, and this is some of +what the skeleton's wife gave me. I hain't got very much time to talk +with you now; but the first chance I can get away tomorrow, an' when +there hain't anybody round, I want to tell you something.” + +The monkey had taken the doughnut in his handlike paws, and was tearing +it to pieces, eating small portions of it very rapidly. + +“Don't hurry yourself,” said Toby, warningly, “for Uncle Dan'l always +told me the worst thing a feller could do was to eat fast. If you want +any more, after we start, just put your hand through the little hole up +there near the seat, an' I'll give you all you want.” + +From the look on his face Toby confidently believed the monkey was about +to make some reply; but just then Ben shut up the sides, separating Toby +and Mr. Stubbs, and the order was given to start. + +Toby clambered up on to the high seat, Ben followed him, and in another +instant the team was moving along slowly down the dusty road, preceded +and followed by the many wagons, with their tiny swinging lights. + +“Well,” said Ben, when he had got his team well under way and felt +that he could indulge in a little conversation, “how did you get along +today?” + +Toby related all of his movements, and gave the driver a faithful +account of all that had happened to him, concluding his story by saying, +“That was one of Mrs. Treat's doughnuts that I just gave to Mr. Stubbs.” + +“To whom?” asked Ben, in surprise. + +“To Mr. Stubbs--the old fellow here in the cart, you know, that's been +so good to me.” + +Toby heard a sort of gurgling sound, saw the driver's body sway back and +forth in a trembling way, and was just becoming thoroughly alarmed, +when he thought of the previous night, and understood that Ben was only +laughing in his own peculiar way. + +“How did you know his name was Stubbs?” asked Ben, after he had +recovered his breath. + +“Oh, I don't know that that is his real name,” was the quick reply; “I +only call him that because he looks so much like a feller with that name +that I knew at home. He don't seem to mind because I call him Stubbs.” + +Ben looked at Toby earnestly for a moment, acting all the time as if +he wanted to laugh again, but didn't dare to, for fear he might burst a +blood vessel; and then he said, as he patted him on the shoulder: “Well, +you are the queerest little fish that I ever saw in all my travels. You +seem to think that that monkey knows all you say to him.” + +“I'm sure he does,” said Toby, positively. “He don't say anything right +out to me, but he knows everything I tell him. Do you suppose he could +talk if he tried to?” + +“Look here, Mr. Toby Tyler”--and Ben turned half around in his seat +and looked Toby full in the face, so as to give more emphasis to his +words--“are you heathen enough to think that that monkey could talk if +he wanted to?” + +“I know I hain't a heathen,” said Toby, thoughtfully, “for if I had been +some of the missionaries would have found me out a good while ago; but +I never saw anybody like this old Mr. Stubbs before, an' I thought he +could talk if he wanted to, just as the Living Skeleton does, or his +wife. Anyhow, Mr. Stubbs winked at me; an' how could he do that if he +didn't know what I've been sayin' to him?” + +“Look here, my son,” said Ben, in a most fatherly fashion, “monkeys +hain't anything but beasts, an' they don't know how to talk any more +than they know what you say to 'em.” + +“Didn't you ever hear any of them speak a word?” + +“Never. I've been in a circus, man an' boy, nigh on to forty years, an' +I never seen nothin' in a monkey more 'n any other beast, except their +awful mischiefness.” + +“Well,” said Toby, still unconvinced, “I believe Mr. Stubbs knows what I +say to him, anyway.” + +“Now don't be foolish, Toby,” pleaded Ben. “You can't show me one thing +that a monkey ever did because you told him to.” + +Just at this moment Toby felt someone pulling at the back of his coat, +and, looking round, he saw it was a little brown hand, reaching through +the bars of the air hole of the cage, that was tugging away at his coat. + +“There!” he said, triumphantly, to Ben. “Look there! I told Mr. Stubbs +if he wanted anything more to eat, to tell me an' I would give it to +him. Now you can see for yourself that he's come for it.” And Toby took +a doughnut from his pocket and put it into the tiny hand, which was +immediately withdrawn. + +“Now what do you think of Mr. Stubbs knowing what I say to him?” + +“They often stick their paws up through there,” said Ben, in a matter of +fact tone. “I've had 'em pull my coat in the night till they made me +as nervous as ever any old woman was. You see, Toby my boy, monkeys is +monkeys; an' you mustn't go to gettin' the idea that they're anything +else, for it's a mistake. You think this old monkey in here knows what +you say? Why, that's just the cuteness of the old fellow--he watches you +to see if he can't do just as you do, an' that's all there is about it.” + +Toby was more than half convinced that Ben was putting the matter in its +proper light, and he would have believed all that had been said if, just +at that moment, he had not seen that brown hand reaching through the +hole to clutch him again by the coat. + +The action seemed so natural, so like a hungry boy who gropes in +the dark pantry for something to eat, that it would have taken more +arguments than Ben had at his disposal to persuade Toby that his Mr. +Stubbs could not understand all that was said to him. Toby put another +doughnut in the outstretched hand, and then sat silently, as if in a +brown study over some difficult problem. + +For some time the ride was continued in silence. Ben was going through +all the motions of whistling without uttering a sound--a favorite +amusement of his--and Toby's thoughts were far away in the humble home +he had scorned, with Uncle Daniel, whose virtues had increased in his +esteem with every mile of distance which had been put between them, and +whose faults had decreased in a corresponding ratio. + +Toby's thoughtfulness had made him sleepy, and his eyes were almost +closed in slumber, when he was startled by a crashing sound, was +conscious of a feeling of being hurled from his seat by some great +force, and then he lay senseless by the side of the road, while the +wagon became a perfect wreck, from out of which a small army of monkeys +was escaping. + +Ben's experienced ear had told him at the first crash that his wagon was +breaking down, and, without having time to warn Toby of his peril, he +had leaped clear of the wreck, keeping his horses under perfect control +and thus averting more trouble. It was the breaking of one of the axles +which Toby had heard just before he was thrown from his seat and when +the body of the wagon came down upon the hard road. + +The monkeys, thus suddenly released from confinement, had scampered off +in every direction, and by a singular chance Toby's aged friend started +for the woods in such a direction as to bring him directly before the +boy's insensible form. The monkey, on coming up to Toby, stopped, urged +by the well known curiosity of its race, and began to examine the boy's +person carefully, prying into pockets and trying to open the boy's half +closed eyelids. Fortunately for Toby, he had fallen upon a mud bank and +was only stunned for the moment, having received no serious bruises. +The attentions bestowed upon him by the monkey served the purpose of +bringing him to his senses; and, after he had looked around him in the +gray light of the coming morning, it would have taken far more of a +philosopher than Old Ben was to persuade the boy that monkeys did not +possess reasoning faculties. + +The monkey was busy at Toby's ears, nose, and mouth, as monkeys will +do when they get an opportunity, and the expression of its face was as +grave as possible. Toby firmly believed that the monkey's face showed +sorrow at his fall, and he imagined that the attentions which were +bestowed upon him were for the purpose of learning whether he had been +injured or not. + +“Don't worry, Mr. Stubbs,” said Toby, anxious to reassure his friend, as +he sat upright and looked about him. “I didn't get hurt any; but I would +like to know how I got way over here.” + +It really seemed as if the monkey was pleased to know that his little +friend was not hurt, for he seated himself on his haunches, and his face +expressed the liveliest pleasure that Toby was well again--or at least +that was how the boy interpreted the look. + +By this time the news of the accident had been shouted ahead from one +team to the other, and all hands were hurrying to the scene for the +purpose of rendering aid. As Toby saw them coming he also saw a number +of small forms, looking something like diminutive men, hurrying past +him, and for the first time he understood how it was that the aged +monkey was at liberty, and knew that those little dusky forms were the +other occupants of the cage escaping to the woods. + +“See there, Mr. Stubbs! see there!” he exclaimed, pointing toward the +fugitives; “they're all going off into the woods! What shall we do?” + +The sight of the runaways seemed to excite the old monkey quite as much +as it did the boy. He sprang to his feet, chattering in the most excited +way, screamed two or three times, as if he were calling them back, and +then started off in vigorous pursuit. + +“Now he's gone too!” said Toby, disconsolately, believing the old fellow +had run away from him. “I didn't think Mr. Stubbs would treat me this +way!” + + + + +VIII. CAPTURE OF THE MONKEYS + + +The boy tried to rise to his feet, but his head whirled so, and he felt +so dizzy and sick from the effects of his fall, that he was obliged to +sit down again until he should feel able to stand. Meanwhile the crowd +around the wagon paid no attention to him, and he lay there quietly +enough, until he heard the hateful voice of Mr. Lord asking if his boy +were hurt. + +The sound of his voice affected Toby very much as the chills and fever +affect a sufferer, and he shook so with fear, and his heart beat so +loudly, that he thought Mr. Lord must know where he was by the sound. +Seeing, however, that his employer did not come directly toward him, +the thought flashed upon his mind that now would be a good chance to run +away, and he acted upon it at once. He rolled himself over in the mud +until he reached a low growth of fir trees that skirted the road, and +when beneath their friendly shade he rose to his feet and walked swiftly +toward the woods, following the direction the monkeys had taken. + +He no longer felt dizzy and sick; the fear of Mr. Lord had dispelled all +that, and he felt strong and active again. + +He had walked rapidly for some distance, and was nearly beyond the +sound of the voices in the road, when he was startled by seeing quite +a procession of figures emerge from the trees and come directly toward +him. + +He could not understand the meaning of this strange company, and it so +frightened him that he attempted to hide behind a tree, in the hope +that they might pass without seeing him. But no sooner had he secreted +himself than a strange, shrill chattering came from the foremost of the +group, and in an instant Toby emerged from his place of concealment. + +He had recognized the peculiar sound as that of the old monkey who had +left him a few moments before, and he knew now what he did not know +then, owing to the darkness. The newcomers were the monkeys that had +escaped from the cage, and had been overtaken and compelled to come +back by the old monkey, who seemed to have the most perfect control over +them. + +The old fellow was leading the band, and all were linked “hand in hand” + with each other, which gave the whole crowd a most comical appearance +as they came up to Toby, half hopping, half walking upright, and all +chattering and screaming, like a crowd of children out for a holiday. + +Toby stepped toward the noisy crowd, held out his hand gravely to the +old monkey, and said, in tones of heartfelt sorrow: + +“I felt awful bad because I thought you had gone off an' left me, when +you went off to find the other fellows. You're awful good, Mr. Stubbs; +an' now, instead of runnin' away, as I was goin' to do, we'll all go +back together.” + +The old monkey grasped Toby's extended hand with his disengaged paw, +and, clinging firmly to it, the whole crowd followed in unbroken line, +chattering and scolding at the most furious rate, while every now and +then Mr. Stubbs would look back and scream out something, which would +cause the confusion to cease for an instant. + +It was really a comical sight, but Toby seemed to think it the most +natural thing in the world that they should follow him in this manner, +and he chattered to the old monkey quite as fast as any of the others +were doing. He told him very gravely all that he knew about the +accident, explained why it was that he conceived the idea of running +away, and really believed that Mr. Stubbs understood every word he was +saying. + +Very shortly after Toby had started to run away the proprietor of the +circus drove up to the scene of disaster, and, after seeing that the +wagon was being rapidly fixed up so that it could be hauled to the next +town, he ordered that search should be made for the monkeys. It was very +important that they should be captured at once, and he appeared to think +more of the loss of the animals than of the damage done to the wagon. + +While the men were forming a plan for a search for the truants, so that +in case of a capture they could let one another know, the noise made by +Toby and his party was heard, and the men stood still to learn what it +meant. + +The entire party burst into shouts of laughter as Toby and his +companions walked into the circle of light formed by the glare of the +lanterns, and the merriment was by no means abated at Toby's serious +demeanor. The wagon was now standing upright, with the door open, and +Toby therefore led his companions directly to it, gravely motioning them +to enter. + +The old monkey, instead of obeying, stepped back to Toby's side, and +screamed to the others in such a manner that they all entered the cage, +leaving him on the outside with the boy. + +Toby motioned him to get in, too, but he clung to his hand, and scolded +so furiously that it was apparent he had no idea of leaving his boy +companion. One of the men stepped up and was about to force him into the +wagon, when the proprietor ordered him to stop. + +“What boy is that?” he asked. + +“Job Lord's new boy,” said someone in the crowd. + +The man asked Toby how it was that he had succeeded in capturing all the +runaways; and he answered, gravely: + +“Mr. Stubbs an' I are good friends, an' when he saw the others runnin' +away he just stopped 'em an' brought 'em back to me. I wish you'd let +Mr. Stubbs ride with me; we like each other a good deal.” + +“You can do just what you please with Mr. Stubbs, as you call him. I +expected to lose half the monkeys in that cage, and you have brought +back every one. That monkey shall be yours, and you may put him in the +cage whenever you want to, or take him with you, just as you choose, for +he belongs entirely to you.” + +Toby's joy knew no bounds; he put his arm around the monkey's neck, and +the monkey clung firmly to him, until even Job Lord was touched at the +evidence of affection between the two. + +While the wagon was being repaired Toby and the monkey stood hand in +hand watching the work go on, while those in the cage scolded and raved +because they had been induced to return to captivity. After a while the +old monkey seated himself on Toby's arm and cuddled close up to him, +uttering now and then a contented sort of a little squeak as the boy +talked to him. + +That night Mr. Stubbs slept in Toby's arms, in the band wagon, and both +boy and monkey appeared very well contented with their lot, which a +short time previous had seemed so hard. + +When Toby awakened to his second day's work with the circus his monkey +friend was seated by his side, gravely exploring his pockets, and all +the boy's treasures were being spread out on the floor of the wagon by +his side. Toby remonstrated with him on this breach of confidence, but +Mr. Stubbs was more in the mood for sport than for grave conversation, +and the more Toby talked the more mischievous did he become, until +at length the boy gathered up his little store of treasures, took the +monkey by the paw, and walked him toward the cage from which he had +escaped on the previous night. + +“Now, Mr. Stubbs,” said Toby, speaking in an injured tone, “you must go +in here and stay till I have got more time to fool with you.” + +He opened the door of the cage, but the monkey struggled as well as he +was able, and Toby was obliged to exert all his strength to put him in. + +When once the door was fastened upon him Toby tried to impress upon his +monkey friend's mind the importance of being more sedate, and he was +convinced that the words had sunk deep into Mr. Stubbs's heart, for, by +the time he had concluded, the old monkey was seated in the corner +of the cage, looking up from under his shaggy eyebrows in the most +reproachful manner possible. + +Toby felt sorry that he had spoken so harshly, and was about to make +amends for his severity, when Mr. Lord's gruff voice recalled him to the +fact that his time was not his own, and he therefore commenced his day's +work, but with a lighter heart than he had had since he stole away from +Uncle Daniel and Guilford. + +This day was not very much different from the preceding one so far as +the manner of Mr. Lord and his partner toward the boy was concerned; +they seemed to have an idea that he was doing only about half as much +work as he ought to, and both united in swearing at and abusing him as +much as possible. + +So far as his relations with other members of the company were +concerned, Toby now stood in a much better position than before. Those +who had witnessed the scene told the others how Toby had led in the +monkeys on the night previous, and nearly every member of the company +had a kind word for the little fellow whose head could hardly be seen +above the counter of Messrs. Lord and Jacobs's booth. + + + + +IX. THE DINNER PARTY + + +At noon Toby was thoroughly tired out, for whenever anyone spoke kindly +to him Mr. Lord seemed to take a malicious pleasure in giving him extra +tasks to do, until Toby began to hope that no one else would pay any +attention to him. On this day he was permitted to go to dinner first, +and after he returned he was left in charge of the booth. Trade being +dull--as it usually was during the dinner hour--he had very little +work to do after he had cleaned the glasses and set things to rights +generally. + +When, therefore, he saw the gaunt form of the skeleton emerge from his +tent and come toward him he was particularly pleased, for he had begun +to think very kindly of the thin man and his fleshy wife. + +“Well, Toby,” said the skeleton, as he came up to the booth, carefully +dusted Mr. Lord's private chair, and sat down very cautiously in it, as +if he expected that it would break down under his weight, “I hear you've +been making quite a hero of yourself by capturing the monkeys last +night.” + +Toby's freckled face reddened with pleasure as he heard these words, and +he stammered out, with considerable difficulty, “I didn't do anything; +it was Mr. Stubbs that brought 'em back.” + +“Mr. Stubbs!” And the skeleton laughed so heartily that Toby was afraid +he would dislocate some of his thinly covered joints. “When you was +tellin' about Mr. Stubbs yesterday I thought you meant someone belonging +to the company. You ought to have seen my wife Lilly shake with laughing +when I told her who Mr. Stubbs was!” + +“Yes,” said Toby, at a loss to know just what to say, “I should think +she would shake when she laughs.” + +“She does,” replied the skeleton. “If you could see her when something +funny strikes her you'd think she was one of those big plates of jelly +that they have in the bakeshop windows.” And Mr. Treat looked proudly at +the gaudy picture which represented his wife in all her monstrosity of +flesh. “She's a great woman, Toby, an' she's got a great head.” + +Toby nodded his head in assent. He would have liked to say something +nice regarding Mrs. Treat, but he really did not know what to say, so he +simply contented himself and the fond husband by nodding. + +“She thinks a good deal of you, Toby,” continued the skeleton, as he +moved his chair to a position more favorable for him to elevate his feet +on the edge of the counter, and placed his handkerchief under him as a +cushion; “she's talking of you all the time, and if you wasn't such a +little fellow I should begin to be jealous of you--I should, upon my +word.” + +“You're--both--very--good,” stammered Toby, so weighted down by a sense +of the honor heaped upon him as to be at a loss for words. + +“An' she wants to see more of you. She made me come out here now, when +she knew Mr. Lord would be away, to tell you that we're goin' to have a +little kind of a friendly dinner in our tent tomorrow--she's cooked it +all herself, or she's going to--and we want you to come in an' have some +with us.” + +Toby's eyes glistened at the thought of the unexpected pleasure, and +then his face grew sad as he replied, “I'd like to come first rate, Mr. +Treat, but I don't s'pose Mr. Lord would let me stay away from the shop +long enough.” + +“Why, you won't have any work to do tomorrow, Toby--it's Sunday.” + +“So it is!” said the boy, with a pleased smile, as he thought of the +day of rest which was so near. And then he added, quickly: “An' this is +Saturday afternoon. What fun the boys at home are havin'! You see, there +hain't any school Saturday afternoon, an all the fellers go out in the +woods.” + +“And you wish you were there to go with them, don't you?” asked the +skeleton, sympathetically. + +“Indeed I do!” exclaimed Toby, quickly. “It's twice as good as any +circus that ever was.” + +“But you didn't think so before you came with us, did you?” + +“I didn't know so much about circuses then as I do now,” replied the +boy, sadly. + +Mr. Treat saw that he was touching on a sore subject, and one which was +arousing sad thoughts in his little companion's mind, and he hastened to +change it at once. + +“Then I can tell Lilly that you'll come, can I?” + +“Oh yes, I'll be sure to be there; an' I want you to know just how good +I think you both are to me.” + +“That's all right, Toby,” said Mr. Treat, with a pleased expression on +his face; “an' you may bring Mr. Stubbs with you, if you want.” + +“Thank you,” said Toby. “I'm sure Mr. Stubbs will be just as glad to +come as I shall. But where will we be tomorrow?” + +“Right here. We always stay over Sunday at the place where we show +Saturday. But I must be going, or Lilly will worry her life out of her +for fear I'm somewhere getting cold. She's awful careful of me, that +woman is. You'll be on hand tomorrow at one o'clock, won't you?” + +“Indeed I will,” said Toby, emphatically, “an' I'll bring Mr. Stubbs +with me, too.” + +With a friendly nod of his head, the skeleton hurried away to reassure +his wife that he was safe and well; and before he had hardly disappeared +within the tent Toby had another caller, who was none other than his old +friend Old Ben, the driver. + +“Well, my boy,” shouted Ben, in his cheery, hearty tones, “I haven't +seen you since you left the wagon so sudden last night. Did you get +shook up much?” + +“Oh no,” replied Toby. “You see I hain't very big; an' then I struck in +the mud; so I got off pretty easy.” + +“That's a fact; an' you can thank your lucky stars for it, too, for I've +seen grown up men get pitched off a wagon in that way an break their +necks doin' it. But has Job told you where you was going to sleep +tonight? You know we stay over here till tomorrow.” + +“I didn't think anything about that; but I s'pose I'll sleep in the +wagon, won't I?” + +“You can sleep at the hotel, if you want to; but the beds will likely be +dirty; an' if you take my advice you'll crawl into some of the wagons in +the tent.” + +Ben then explained to him that, after his work was done that night, he +would not be expected to report for duty until the time for starting on +Sunday night, and concluded his remarks by saying: + +“Now you know what your rights are, an don't you let Job impose on you +in any way. I'll be round here after you get through work, an' we'll +bunk in somewhere together.” + +The arrival of Messrs. Lord and Jacobs put a stop to the conversation, +and was the signal for Toby's time of trial. It seemed to him, and with +good reason, that the chief delight these men had in life was to torment +him, for neither ever spoke a pleasant word to him; and when one was not +giving him some difficult work to do, or finding fault in some way, the +other would be sure to do so; and Toby had very little comfort from the +time he began work in the morning until he stopped at night. + +It was not until after the evening performance was over that Toby had a +chance to speak with Mr. Stubbs, and then he was so tired that he simply +took the old monkey from the cage, nestled him under his jacket, and lay +down with him to sleep in the place which Old Ben had selected. + +When the morning came Mr. Stubbs aroused his young master at a much +'earlier hour than he would have awakened had he been left to himself, +and the two went out for a short walk before breakfast. They went +instinctively toward the woods; and when the shade of the trees was once +reached, how the two reveled in their freedom! Mr. Stubbs climbed into +the trees, swung himself from one to the other by means of his tail, +gathered half ripe nuts, which he threw at his master, tried to catch +the birds, and had a good time generally. + +Toby, stretched at full length on the mossy bank, watched the antics of +his pet, laughing boisterously at times as Mr. Stubbs would do some one +thing more comical than usual, and forgot there was in this world such +a thing as a circus or such a man as Job Lord. It was to Toby a morning +without a flaw, and he took no heed of the time, until the sound of the +church bells warned him of the lateness of the hour, reminding him at +the same time of where he should be--where he would be, if he were at +home with Uncle Daniel. + +In the mean time the old monkey had been trying to attract his young +master's attention, and, failing in his efforts, he came down from the +tree, crept softly up to Toby, and nestled his head under the boy's arm. + +This little act of devotion seemed to cause Toby's grief to burst forth +afresh, and, clasping the monkey around the neck, hugging him close to +his bosom, he sobbed: + +“Oh, Mr. Stubbs, Mr. Stubbs, how lonesome we are! If we was only at +Uncle Dan'l's we'd be the two happiest people in all this world. We +could play on the hay, or go up to the pasture, or go down to the +village; an' I'd work my fingers off if I could only be there just once +more. It was wicked for me to run away, an' now I'm gettin' paid for +it.” + +He hugged the monkey closely, swaying his body to and fro, and +presenting a perfect picture of grief. The monkey, not knowing what to +make of this changed mood, cowered whimperingly in his arms, looking +up into his face, and licking the boy's hands whenever he had the +opportunity. + +It was some time before Toby's grief exhausted itself; and then, still +clasping the monkey, he hurried out of the woods toward the town and the +now thoroughly hated circus tents. + +The clocks were just striking one as Toby entered the inclosure used by +the show as a place of performance, and, remembering his engagement +with the skeleton and his wife, he went directly to their tent. From the +odors which assailed him as he entered, it was very evident that a feast +of no mean proportions was in course of preparation, and Toby's keen +appetite returned in full vigor. Even the monkey seemed affected by the +odor, for he danced about on his master's shoulder, and chattered so +that Toby was obliged to choke him a little in order to make him present +a respectable appearance. + +When Toby reached the interior of the tent he was astonished at the +extent of the preparations that were being made, and gazed around him in +surprise. The platform on which the lean man and fat woman were in +the habit of exhibiting themselves now bore a long table, loaded with +eatables; and, from the fact that eight or ten chairs were ranged around +it, Toby understood that he was not the only guest invited to the feast. +Some little attempt had also been made at decoration by festooning that +end of the tent where the platform was placed with two or three flags +and some streamers, and the tent poles also were fringed with tissue +paper of the brightest colors. + +Toby had only time enough to notice this when the skeleton advanced +toward him, and, with the liveliest appearance of pleasure, said, as he +took him by the hands with a grip that made him wince: + +“It gives me great joy, Mr. Tyler, to welcome you at one of our little +home reunions, if one can call a tent, that is moved every day in the +week, home.” + +Toby hardly knew whom Mr. Treat referred to when he said “Mr. Tyler”; +but by the time his hands were released from the bony grasp he +understood that it was himself who was spoken to. + +The skeleton then formally introduced him to the other guests present, +who were sitting at one end of the tent, and evidently anxiously +awaiting the coming feast. + +“These,” said Mr. Treat, as he waved his hand toward two white haired, +pink eyed young ladies who sat with their arms twined around each +other's waist, and had been eying the monkey with some appearance of +fear, “are the Miss Cushings, known to the world as the Albino Children; +they command a large salary and form a very attractive feature of our +exhibition.” + +The young ladies arose at the same time, as if they had been the Siamese +Twins and could not act independently of each other, and bowed. + +Toby made the best bow he was capable of; and the monkey made frantic +efforts to escape, as if he would enjoy twisting his paws in their +perpendicular hair. + +“And this,” continued Mr. Treat, pointing to a sickly, sour looking +individual who was sitting apart from the others, with his arms folded, +and looking as if he was counting the very seconds before the dinner +should begin, “is the wonderful Signor Castro, whose sword swallowing +feats you have doubtless heard of.” + +Toby stepped back just one step, as if overwhelmed by awe at beholding +the signor in the guise of a humble individual; and the gentleman who +gained his livelihood by swallowing swords unbent his dignity so far +as to unfold his arms and present a very dirty looking hand for Toby +to shake. The boy took hold of the outstretched hand, wondering why the +signor never used soap and water; and Mr. Stubbs, apparently afraid +of the sour looking man, retreated to Toby's shoulder, where he sat +chattering and scolding about the introduction. + +Again the skeleton waved his hand, and this time he introduced +“Mademoiselle Spelletti, the wonderful snake charmer, whose exploits +in this country, and before the crowned heads of Europe had caused the +whole world to stand aghast at her daring.” + +Mademoiselle Spelletti was a very ordinary looking young lady of about +twenty-five years of age, who looked very much as if her name might +originally have been Murphy, and she, too, extended a hand for Toby to +grasp--only her hand was clean, and she appeared to be a very much more +pleasant acquaintance than the gentleman who swallowed swords. + +This ended the introductions; and Toby was just looking around for a +seat, when Mrs. Treat, the fat lady and the giver of the feast which +was about to come, and which already smelled so invitingly, entered from +behind a curtain of canvas, where the cooking stove was supposed to be +located. + +She had every appearance of being the cook for the occasion. Her sleeves +were rolled up, her hair tumbled and frowzy, and there were several +unmistakable marks of grease on the front of her calico dress. + +She waited for no ceremony, but rushed up to Toby and, taking him in her +arms, gave him such a squeeze that there seemed to be every possibility +that she would break all the bones in his body; and she kept him so long +in this bearlike embrace that Mr. Stubbs reached his little brown paws +over and got such a hold of her hair that all present, save Signor +Castro, rushed forward to release her from the monkey's grasp. + +“You dear little thing!” said Mrs. Treat, paying but slight attention +to the hair pulling she had just undergone, and holding Toby at arm's +length so that she could look into his face, “you were so late that I +was afraid you wasn't coming; and my dinner wouldn't have tasted half so +good if you hadn't been here to eat some.” + +Toby hardly knew what to say for this hearty welcome, and he managed to +tell the large and kind hearted lady that he had had no idea of missing +the dinner, and that he was very glad she wanted him to come. + +“Want you to come, you dear little thing!” she exclaimed, as she gave +him another hug, but careful not to give Mr. Stubbs a chance of grasping +her hair again. “Of course I wanted you to come, for this dinner has +been got up so that you could meet these people here, and so that they +could see you.” + +Toby was entirely at a loss to know what to say to this overwhelming +compliment, and for that reason did not say anything, only submitting +patiently to the third hug, which was all Mrs. Treat had time to give +him, as she was obliged to rush behind the canvas screen again, as there +were unmistakable sounds of something boiling over on the stove. + +“You'll excuse me,” said the skeleton, with an air of dignity, waving +his hand once more toward the assembled company, “but while introducing +you to Mr. Tyler I had almost forgotten to introduce him to you. This, +ladies and gentlemen”--and here he touched Toby on the shoulder, as if +he were some living curiosity whose habits and mode of capture he was +about to explain to a party of spectators--“is Mr. Toby Tyler, of whom +you heard on the night when the monkey cage was smashed, and who now +carries with him the identical monkey which was presented to him by +the manager of this great show as a token of esteem for his skill and +bravery in capturing the entire lot of monkeys without a single blow.” + +By the time that Mr. Treat got through with his long speech Toby felt +very much as if he were some wonderful creature whom the skeleton was +exhibiting; but he managed to rise to his feet and duck his little red +head in his best imitation of a bow. Then he sat down and hugged Mr. +Stubbs to cover his confusion. + +One of the Albino Children now came forward, and, while stroking Mr. +Stubbs's hair, looked so intently at Toby that for the life of him he +couldn't say which she regarded as the curiosity, himself or the monkey; +therefore he hastened to say, modestly: + +“I didn't do much toward catchin' the monkeys; Mr. Stubbs here did +almost all of it, an' I only led 'em in. + +“There, there, my boy,” said the skeleton, in a fatherly tone, “I've +heard the whole story from Old Ben, an' I sha'n't let you get out of it +like that. We all know what you did, an' it's no use for you to deny any +part of it.” + + + + +X. MR. STUBBS AT A PARTY + + +Toby was about to say that he did not intend to represent the matter +other than it really was, when a voice from behind the canvas screen +arrested further conversation. + +“Sam-u-el, come an' help me carry these things in.” + +Something very like a smile of satisfaction passed over Signor Castro's +face as he heard this, which told him that the time for the feast was +near at hand; and the snake charmer, as well as the Albino Children, +seemed quite as much pleased as did the sword swallower. + +“You will excuse me, ladies and gentlemen,” said the skeleton, in an +important tone; “I must help Lilly, and then I shall have the pleasure +of helping you to some of her cooking, which, if I do say it, that +oughtn't, is as good as can be found in this entire country.” + +Then he, too, disappeared behind the canvas screen. + +Left alone, Toby looked at the ladies, and the ladies looked at him, +in perfect silence, while the sword swallower grimly regarded them all, +until Mr. Treat reappeared, bearing on a platter an immense turkey, as +nicely browned as any Thanksgiving turkey Toby ever saw. Behind him +came his fat wife, carrying several dishes, each of which emitted a most +fragrant odor; and as these were placed upon the table the spirits of +the sword swallower seemed to revive, and he smiled pleasantly; while +even the ladies appeared animated by the sight and odor of the good +things which they were to be called upon so soon to pass judgment. + +Several times did Mr. and Mrs. Treat bustle in and out from behind the +screen, and each time they made some addition to that which was upon the +table, until Toby began to fear that they would never finish, and the +sword swallower seemed unable to restrain his impatience. + +At last the finishing touch had been put to the table, the last dish +placed in position, and then, with a certain kind of grace, which no one +but a man as thin as Mr. Treat could assume, he advanced to the edge of +the platform and said: + +“Ladies and gentlemen, nothing gives me greater pleasure than to invite +you all, including Mr. Tyler's friend Stubbs, to the bountiful repast +which my Lilly has prepared for--” + +At this point Mr. Treat's speech--for it certainly seemed as if he had +commenced to make one--was broken off in a most summary manner. His wife +had come up behind him and, with as much ease as if he had been a child, +lifted him from off the floor and placed him gently in the chair at the +head of the table. + +“Come right up and get dinner,” she said to her guests. “If you had +waited until Samuel had finished his speech everything on the table +would have been stone cold.” + +The guests proceeded to obey her kindly command; and it is to be +regretted that the sword swallower had no better manners than to jump +on to the platform with one bound and seat himself at the table with the +most unseemly haste. The others, and more especially Toby, proceeded in +a leisurely and more dignified manner. + +A seat had been placed by the side of the one intended for Toby for the +accommodation of Mr. Stubbs, who suffered a napkin to be tied under his +chin, and behaved generally in a manner that gladdened the heart of his +young master. + +Mr. Treat cut generous slices from the turkey for each guest, and Mrs. +Treat piled their plates high with all sorts of vegetables, complaining, +after the manner of housewives generally, that the food was not cooked +as she would like to have had it, and declaring that she had had poor +luck with everything that morning, when she firmly believed in her heart +that her table had never looked better. + +After the company had had the edge taken off their appetites--which +effect was produced on the sword swallower only after he had been helped +three different times, the conversation began by the fat woman asking +Toby how he got along with Mr. Lord. + +Toby could not give a very good account of his employer, but he had the +good sense not to cast a damper on a party of pleasure by reciting his +own troubles; so he said, evasively: + +“I guess I shall get along pretty well, now that I have got so many +friends.” + +Just as he had commenced to speak the skeleton had put into his mouth +a very large piece of turkey--very much larger in proportion than +himself--and when Toby had finished speaking he started to say something +evidently not very complimentary to Mr. Lord. But what it was the +company never knew; for just as he opened his mouth to speak, the food +went down the wrong way, his face became a bright purple, and it was +quite evident that he was choking. + +Toby was alarmed, and sprang from his chair to assist his friend, +upsetting Mr. Stubbs from his seat, causing him to scamper up the tent +pole, with the napkin still tied around his neck, and to scold in his +most vehement manner. Before Toby could reach the skeleton, however, the +fat woman had darted toward her lean husband, caught him by the arm, and +was pounding his back, by the time Toby got there, so vigorously that +the boy was afraid her enormous hand would go through his tissue paper +like frame. + +“I wouldn't,” said Toby, in alarm; “you may break him.” + +“Don't you get frightened,” said Mrs. Treat, turning her husband +completely over, and still continuing the drumming process. “He's often +taken this way; he's such a glutton that he'd try to swallow the turkey +whole if he could get it in his mouth, an' he's so thin that 'most +anything sticks in his throat.” + +“I should think you'd break him all up,” said Toby, apologetically, as +he resumed his seat at the table; “he don't look as if he could stand +very much of that sort of thing.” + +But apparently Mr. Treat could stand very much more than Toby gave him +credit for, because at this juncture he stopped coughing, and his face +fast assumed its natural hue. + +His attentive wife, seeing that he had ceased struggling, lifted him in +her arms and sat him down in his chair with a force that threatened to +snap his head off. + +“There!” she said, as he wheezed a little from the effects of the shock, +“now see if you can behave yourself an' chew your meat as you ought to! +One of these days when you're alone you'll try that game, and that 'll +be the last of you.” + +“If he'd try to do one of my tricks long enough he'd get so that there +wouldn't hardly anything choke him,” the sword swallower ventured to +suggest, mildly, as he wiped a small stream of cranberry sauce from his +chin and laid a well polished turkey bone by the side of his plate. + +“I'd like to see him try it!” said the fat lady, with just a shade +of anger in her voice. Then turning toward her husband, she said, +emphatically, “Samuel, don't you ever let me catch you swallowing a +sword!” + +“I won't, my love, I won't; and I will try to chew my meat more,” + replied the very thin glutton, in a feeble tone. Toby thought that +perhaps the skeleton might keep the first part of that promise, but he +was not quite sure about the last. + +It required no little coaxing on the part of both Toby and Mrs. Treat +to induce Mr. Stubbs to come down from his lofty perch; but the task was +accomplished at last, and by the gift of a very large doughnut he was +induced to resume his seat at the table. + +The time had now come when the duties of a host, in his own peculiar way +of viewing them, devolved upon Mr. Treat, and he said, as he pushed his +chair back a short distance from the table and tried to polish the front +of his vest with his napkin: + +“I don't want this fact lost sight of, because it is an important one: +everyone must remember that we have gathered here to meet and become +better acquainted with the latest and best addition to this circus, Mr. +Toby Tyler.” + +Poor Toby! As the company all looked directly at him, and Mrs. Treat +nodded her enormous head energetically, as if to say that she agreed +exactly with her husband, the poor boy's face grew very red and the +squash pie lost its flavor. + +“Although Mr. Tyler may not be exactly one of us, owing to the fact that +he does not belong to the profession, but is only one of the adjuncts +to it, so to speak,” continued the skeleton, in a voice which was fast +being raised to its highest pitch, “we feel proud, after his exploits +at the time of the accident, to have him with us, and gladly welcome him +now, through the medium of this little feast prepared by my Lilly.” + +Here the Albino Children nodded their heads in approval, and the sword +swallower gave a grunt of assent; and, thus encouraged, the skeleton +proceeded: + +“I feel, when I say that we like and admire Mr. Tyler, all present will +agree with me and all would like to hear him say a word for himself.” + +The skeleton seemed to have expressed the views of those present +remarkably well, judging from their expressions of pleasure and assent, +and all waited for the honored guest to speak. + +Toby knew that he must say something, but he couldn't think of a single +thing; he tried over and over again to call to his mind something which +he had read as to how people acted and what they said when they were +expected to speak at a dinner table, but his thoughts refused to go back +for him, and the silence was actually becoming painful. Finally, and +with the greatest effort, he managed to say, with a very perceptible +stammer, and while his face was growing very red: + +“I know I ought to say something to pay for this big dinner that you +said was gotten up for me, but I don't know what to say, unless to thank +you for it. You see, I hain't big enough to say much, an', as Uncle +Dan'l says, I don't amount to very much, 'cept for eatin', an' I guess +he's right. You're all real good to me, an' when I get to be a man I'll +try to do as much for you.” + +Toby had risen to his feet when he began to make his speech, and while +he was speaking Mr. Stubbs had crawled over into his chair. When he +finished he sat down again without looking behind him, and of course sat +plump on the monkey. There was a loud outcry from Mr. Stubbs, a little +frightened noise from Toby, an instant's scrambling, and then boy, +monkey, and chair tumbled off the platform, landing on the ground in +an indescribable mass, from which the monkey extricated himself more +quickly than Toby could, and again took refuge on the top of the tent +pole. + +Of course all the guests ran to Toby's assistance; and while the fat +woman poked him all over to see that none of his bones were broken, the +skeleton brushed the dirt from his clothes. + +All this time the monkey screamed, yelled, and danced around on the tent +pole and ropes, as if his feelings had received a shock from which he +could never recover. + +“I didn't mean to end it up that way, but it was Mr. Stubbs's fault,” + said Toby, as soon as quiet had been restored and the guests, with the +exception of the monkey, were seated at the table once more. + +“Of course you didn't,” said Mrs. Treat, in a kindly tone. “But don't +you feel bad about it one bit, for you ought to thank your lucky stars +that you didn't break any of your bones.” + +“I s'pose I had,” said Toby, soberly, as he looked back at the scene of +his disaster, and then up at the chattering monkey that had caused all +the trouble. + +Shortly after this, Mr. Stubbs having again been coaxed down from his +lofty position, Toby took his departure, promising to call as often +during the week as he could get away from his exacting employers. + +Just outside the tent he met Old Ben, who said, as he showed signs of +indulging in another of his internal laughing spells: + +“Hello! has the skeleton an' his lily of a wife been givin' a blowout to +you, too?” + +“They invited me in there to dinner,” said Toby, modestly. + +“Of course they did--of course they did,” replied Ben, with a chuckle; +“they carries a cookin' stove along with 'em, so's they can give these +little spreads whenever we stay over a day in a place. Oh, I've been +there!” + +“And did they ask you to make a speech?” + +“Of course. Did they try it on you?” + +“Yes,” said Toby, mournfully, “an' I tumbled off the platform when I got +through.” + +“I didn't do exactly that,” replied Ben, thoughtfully; “but I s'pose you +got too much steam on, seein' 's how it was likely your first speech. +Now you'd better go into the tent an try to get a little sleep, 'cause +we've got a long ride tonight over a rough road, an' you won't get more +'n a cat nap all night.” + +“But where are you going?” asked Toby, as he shifted Mr. Stubbs over to +his other shoulder, preparatory to following his friend's advice. + +“I'm goin' to church,” said Ben, and then Toby noticed for the first +time that the old driver had made some attempt at dressing up. “I've +been with the circus, man an boy, for nigh to forty years, an' I allus +go to meetin' once on Sunday. It's somethin' I promised my old mother I +would do, an' I hain't broke my promise yet.” + +“Why don't you take me with you?” asked Toby, wistfully, as he +thought of the little church on the hill at home, and wished--oh, so +earnestly!--that he was there then, even at the risk of being thumped on +the head with Uncle Daniel's book. + +“If I'd seen you this mornin' I would,” said Ben; “but now you must try +to bottle up some sleep ag'in' tonight, an' next Sunday I'll take you.” + +With these words Old Ben started off, and Toby proceeded to carry out +his wishes, although he rather doubted the possibility of “bottling up” + any sleep that afternoon. + +He lay down on the top of the wagon, after having put Mr. Stubbs inside, +with the others of his tribe, and in a very few moments the boy was +sound asleep, dreaming of a dinner party at which Mr. Stubbs made a +speech and he himself scampered up and down the tent pole. + + + + +XI. A STORMY NIGHT + + +When Toby awoke it was nearly dark, and the bustle around him told very +plainly that the time for departure was near at hand. He rubbed his eyes +just enough to make sure that he was thoroughly awake, and then jumped +down from his rather lofty bed, and ran around to the door of the cage +to assure himself that Mr. Stubbs was safe. This done, his preparations +for the journey were made. + +Now Toby noticed that each one of the drivers was clad in rubber +clothing, and, after listening for a moment, he learned the cause of +their waterproof garments. It was raining very hard, and Toby thought +with dismay of the long ride that he would have to take on the top of +the monkeys' cage, with no protection whatever save that afforded by his +ordinary clothing. + +While he was standing by the side of his wagon, wondering how he should +get along, Old Ben came in. The water was pouring from his clothes in +little rivulets, and he afforded most unmistakable evidence of the damp +state of the weather. + +“It's a nasty night, my boy,” said the old driver, in much the same +cheery tone that he would have used had he been informing Toby that it +was a beautiful moonlight evening. + +“I guess I'll get wet,” said Toby, ruefully, as he looked up at the +lofty seat which he was to occupy. + +“Bless me!” said Ben, as if the thought had just come to him, “it won't +do for you to ride outside on a night like this. You wait here, an' I'll +see what I can do for you.” + +The old man hurried off to the other end of the tent, and almost before +Toby thought he had time to go as far as the ring he returned. + +“It's all right,” he said, and this time in a gruff voice, as if he were +announcing some misfortune; “you 're to ride in the women's wagon. Come +with me.” + +Toby followed without a question, though he was wholly at a loss to +understand what the “women's wagon” was, for he had never seen anything +which looked like one. + +He soon learned, however, when Old Ben stopped in front--or, rather, at +the end--of a long, covered wagon that looked like an omnibus, except +that it was considerably longer, and the seats inside were divided by +arms, padded, to make them comfortable to lean against. + +“Here's the boy,” said Ben, as he lifted Toby up on the step, gave him a +gentle push to intimate that he was to get inside, and then left him. + +As Toby stepped inside he saw that the wagon was nearly full of women +and children; and fearing lest he should take a seat that belonged to +someone else, he stood in the middle of the wagon, not knowing what to +do. + +“Why don't you sit down, little boy?” asked one of the ladies, after +Toby had remained standing nearly five minutes and the wagon was about +to start. + +“Well,” said Toby, with some hesitation, as he looked around at the two +or three empty seats that remained, “I didn't want to get in anybody +else's place an' I didn't know where to sit.” + +“Come right here,” said the lady, as she pointed to a seat by the side +of a little girl who did not look any older than Toby; “the lady who +usually occupies that seat will not be here tonight, and you can have +it.” + +“Thank you, ma'am,” said Toby, as he sat timidly down on the edge of the +seat, hardly daring to sit back comfortably, and feeling very awkward +meanwhile, but congratulating himself on being thus protected from the +pouring rain. + +The wagon started, and as each one talked with her neighbor, Toby felt a +most dismal sense of loneliness, and almost wished that he was riding on +the monkey cart with Ben, where he could have someone to talk with. He +gradually pushed himself back into a more comfortable position, and had +then an opportunity of seeing more plainly the young girl who rode by +his side. + +She was quite as young as Toby, and small of her age; but there was an +old look about her face that made the boy think of her as being an old +woman cut down to fit children's clothes. Toby had looked at her so +earnestly that she observed him, and asked, “What is your name?” + +“Toby Tyler.” + +“What do you do in the circus?” + +“Sell candy for Mr. Lord.” + +“Oh! I thought you was a new member of the company.” + +Toby knew by the tone of her voice that he had fallen considerably +in her estimation by not being one of the performers, and it was some +little time before he ventured to speak; and then he asked, timidly, +“What do you do?” + +“I ride one of the horses with mother.” + +“Are you the little girl that comes out with the lady an' four horses?” + asked Toby, in awe that he should be conversing with so famous a person. + +“Yes, I am. Don't I do it nicely?” + +“Why, you're a perfect little--little--fairy!” exclaimed Toby, after +hesitating a moment to find some word which would exactly express his +idea. + +This praise seemed to please the young lady, and in a short time the +two became very good friends, even if Toby did not occupy a more exalted +position than that of candy seller. She had learned from him all about +the accident to the monkey cage, and about Mr. Stubbs, and in return +had told him that her name was Ella Mason, though on the bills she was +called “Mademoiselle Jeannette.” + +For a long time the two children sat talking together, and then +Mademoiselle Jeannette curled herself up on the seat, with her head in +her mother's lap, and went to sleep. + +Toby had resolved to keep awake and watch her, for he was struck with +admiration at her face; but sleep got the better of him in less than +five minutes after he had made the resolution, and he sat bolt upright, +with his little round head nodding and bobbing until it seemed almost +certain that he would shake it off. + +When Toby awoke the wagon was drawn up by the side of the road, the sun +was shining brightly, preparations were being made for the entree into +town, and the harsh voice of Mr. Job Lord was shouting his name in +a tone that boded no good for poor Toby when he should make his +appearance. + +Toby would have hesitated before meeting his angry employer but that he +knew it would only make matters worse for him when he did show himself, +and he mentally braced himself for the trouble which he knew was coming. +The little girl whose acquaintance he had made the night previous was +still sleeping; and, wishing to say goodby to her in some way without +awakening her, he stooped down and gently kissed the skirt of her dress. +Then he went out to meet his master. + +Mr. Lord was thoroughly enraged when Toby left the wagon, and saw the +boy just as he stepped to the ground. The angry man gave a quick glance +around, to make sure that none of Toby's friends were in sight, and then +caught him by the coat collar and commenced to whip him severely with +the small rubber cane that he usually carried. + +Mr. Job Lord lifted the poor boy entirely clear of the ground, and +each blow that he struck could be heard almost the entire length of the +circus train. + +“You've been makin' so many acquaintances here that you hain't willin' +to do any work,” he said, savagely, as he redoubled the force of his +blows. + +“Oh, please stop! please stop!” shrieked the poor boy in his agony. +“I'll do everything you tell me to, if you won't strike me again!” + +This piteous appeal seemed to have no effect upon the cruel man, and he +continued to whip the boy, despite his cries and entreaties, until +his arm fairly ached from the exertion and Toby's body was crossed and +recrossed with the livid marks of the cane. + +“Now let's see whether you'll 'tend to your work or not!” said the +man as he flung Toby from him with such force that the boy staggered, +reeled, and nearly fell into the little brook that flowed by the +roadside. “I'll make you understand that all the friends you've whined +around in this show can't save you from a lickin' when I get ready to +give you one! Now go an' do your work that ought to have been done an +hour ago!” + +Mr. Lord walked away with the proud consciousness of a man who has +achieved a great victory, and Toby was limping painfully along toward +the cart that was used in conveying Mr. Lord's stock in trade, when he +felt a tiny hand slip into his and heard a childish voice say: + +“Don't cry, Toby. Sometime, when I get big enough, I'll make Mr. Lord +sorry that he whipped you as he did; and I'm big enough now to tell him +just what kind of a man I think he is.” + +Looking around, Toby saw his little acquaintance of the evening +previous, and he tried to force back the big tears that were rolling +down his cheeks as he said, in a voice choked with grief: “You're awful +good, an' I don't mind the lickin' when you say you're sorry for me. I +s'pose I deserve it for runnin' away from Uncle Dan'l.” + +“Did it hurt you much?” she asked, feelingly. + +“It did when he was doin' it,” replied Toby, manfully, “but it don't a +bit, now that you've come.” + +“Then I'll go and talk to that Mr. Lord, and I'll come and see you again +after we get into town,” said the little miss, as she hurried away to +tell the candy vender what she thought of him. + +That day, as on all others since he had been with the circus, Toby went +to his work with a heavy heart, and time and time again did he count the +money which had been given him by kind hearted strangers, to see whether +he had enough to warrant his attempting to run away. Three dollars and +twenty-five cents was the total amount of his treasure, and, large +as that sum appeared to him, he could not satisfy himself that he +had sufficient to enable him to get back to the home which he had so +wickedly left. Whenever he thought of this home, of the Uncle Daniel +who had in charity cared for him--a motherless, fatherless boy--and of +returning to it, with not even as much right as the Prodigal Son, of +whom he had heard Uncle Daniel tell, his heart sank within him and he +doubted whether he would be allowed to remain even if he should be so +fortunate as ever to reach Guilford again. + +This day passed, so far as Toby was concerned, very much as had the +others: he could not satisfy either of his employers, try as hard as he +might; but, as usual, he met with two or three kindly disposed people, +who added to the fund that he was accumulating for his second venture of +running away by little gifts of money, each one of which gladdened his +heart and made his trouble a trifle less hard to bear. + +During the entire week he was thus equally fortunate. Each day added +something to his fund, and each night it seemed to Toby that he was one +day nearer the freedom for which he so ardently longed. + +The skeleton, the fat lady, Old Ben, the Albino Children, little Ella, +and even the sword swallower, all gave him a kindly word as they passed +him while he was at his work, or saw him as the preparations for the +grand entree were being made. + +The time had passed slowly to Toby, and yet Sunday came again--as +Sundays always come; and on this day Old Ben hunted him up, made him +wash his face and hands until they fairly shone from very cleanliness, +and then took him to church. Toby was surprised to find that it was +really a pleasant thing to be able to go to church after being deprived +of it, and was more light hearted than he had yet been since he left +Guilford when he returned to the tent at noon. + +The skeleton had invited him to another dinner party, but Toby had +declined the invitation, agreeing to present himself in time for supper +instead. He hardly cared to go through the ordeal of another state +dinner; and besides, he wanted to go off to the woods with the old +monkey, where he could enjoy the silence of the forest, which seemed +like a friend to him, because it reminded him of home. + +Taking the monkey with him as usual, he inquired the nearest way to a +grove, and, without waiting for dinner, started off for an afternoon's +quiet enjoyment. + + + + +XII. TOBY'S GREAT MISFORTUNE + + +The town in which the circus remained over Sunday was a small one, and a +brisk walk of ten minutes sufficed to take Toby into a secluded portion +of a very thickly grown wood, where he could lie upon the mossy ground +and fairly revel in freedom. + +As he lay upon his back, his hands under his head, and his eyes directed +to the branches of the trees above, where the birds twittered and sung, +and the squirrels played in fearless sport, the monkey enjoyed himself +in his way, by playing all the monkey antics he knew of. + +He scrambled from tree to tree, swung himself from one branch to the +other by the aid of his tail, and amused both himself and his master, +until, tired by his exertions, he crept down by Toby's side and lay +there in quiet, restful content. + +One of Toby's reasons for wishing to be by himself that afternoon was +that he wanted to think over some plan of escape, for he believed that +he had nearly money enough to enable him to make a bold stroke for +freedom and Uncle Daniel's. Therefore, when the monkey nestled down +by his side he was all ready to confide in him that which had been +occupying his busy little brain for the past three days. + +“Mr. Stubbs,” he said to the monkey, in a solemn tone, “we're goin' to +run away in a day or two.” + +Mr. Stubbs did not seem to be moved in the least at this very startling +piece of intelligence, but winked his bright eyes in unconcern; and +Toby, seeming to think that everything which he said had been understood +by the monkey, continued: “I've got a good deal of money now, an' I +guess there's enough for us to start out on. We'll get away some night, +an' stay in the woods till they get through hunting for us, an' then +we'll go back to Guilford an' tell Uncle Dan'l if he'll only take us +back we'll never go to sleep in meetin' any more, an' we'll be just as +good as we know how. Now let's see how much money we've got.” + +Toby drew from a pocket, which he had been at a great deal of trouble to +make in his shirt, a small bag of silver, and spread it upon the ground, +where he could count it at his leisure. + +The glittering coin instantly attracted the monkey's attention, and he +tried by every means to thrust his little black paw into the pile; +but Toby would allow nothing of that sort, and pushed him away quite +roughly. Then he grew excited, and danced and scolded around Toby's +treasure until the boy had hard work to count it. + +He did succeed, however, and as he carefully replaced it in the bag he +said to the monkey: “There's seven dollars an' thirty cents in that bag, +an' every cent of it is mine. That ought to take care of us for a good +while, Mr. Stubbs; an' by the time we get home we shall be rich men.” + +The monkey showed his pleasure at this intelligence by putting his +hand inside Toby's clothes to find the bag of treasure that he had seen +secreted there, and two or three times, to the great delight of both +himself and the boy, he drew forth the bag, which was immediately taken +away from him. + +The shadows were beginning to lengthen in the woods, and, heeding this +warning of the coming night, Toby took the monkey on his arm and started +for home, or for the tent, which was the only place he could call home. + +As he walked along he tried to talk to his pet in a serious manner, but +the monkey, remembering where he had seen the bright coins secreted, +tried so hard to get at them that finally Toby lost all patience and +gave him quite a hard cuff on the ear, which had the effect of keeping +him quiet for a time. + +That night Toby took supper with the skeleton and his wife, and he +enjoyed the meal, even though it was made from what had been left of +the turkey that served as the noonday feast, more than he did the state +dinner, where he was obliged to pay for what he ate by the torture of +making a speech. + +There were no guests but Toby present; and Mr. and Mrs. Treat were not +only very kind, but so attentive that he was actually afraid he should +eat so much as to stand in need of some of the catnip tea which Mrs. +Treat had said she gave to her husband when he had been equally foolish. +The skeleton would pile his plate high with turkey bones from one side, +and the fat lady would heap it up, whenever she could find a chance, +with all sorts of food from the other, until Toby pushed back his chair, +his appetite completely satisfied, if it never had been so before. + +Toby had discussed the temper of his employer with his host and +hostess, and, after some considerable conversation, confided in them his +determination to run away. + +“I'd hate awfully to have you go,” said Mrs. Treat, reflectively; “but +it's a good deal better for you to get away from that Job Lord if you +can. It wouldn't do to let him know that you had any idea of goin', for +he'd watch you as a cat watches a mouse, an never let you go so long as +he saw a chance to keep you. I heard him tellin' one of the drivers the +other day that you sold more goods than any other boy he ever had, an' +he was going to keep you with him all summer.” + +“Be careful in what you do, my boy,” said the skeleton, sagely, as he +arranged a large cushion in an armchair, and proceeded to make ready for +his after dinner nap; “be sure that you're all ready before you start, +an', when you do go, get a good ways ahead of him; for if he should ever +catch you the trouncin' you'd get would be awful.” + +Toby assured his friends that he would use every endeavor to make his +escape successful when he did start; and Mrs. Treat, with an eye to the +boy's comfort, said, “Let me know the night you're goin', an' I'll fix +you up something to eat, so's you won't be hungry before you come to a +place where you can buy something.” + +As these kind hearted people talked with him, and were ready thus to aid +him in every way that lay in their power, Toby thought that he had been +very fortunate in thus having made so many kind friends in a place where +he was having so much trouble. + +It was not until he heard the sounds of preparation for departure that +he left the skeleton's tent, and then, with Mr. Stubbs clasped tightly +to his breast, he hurried over to the wagon where Old Ben was nearly +ready to start. + +“All right, Toby,” said the old driver, as the boy came in sight. “I was +afraid you was goin' to keep me waitin' for the first time. Jump right +up on the box, for there hain't no time to lose, an' I guess you'll have +to carry the monkey in your arms, for I don't want to stop to open the +cage now.” + +“I'd just as soon carry him, an' a little rather,” said Toby, as he +clambered up on the high seat and arranged a comfortable place in his +lap for his pet to sit. + +In another moment the heavy team had started, and nearly the entire +circus was on the move. “Now tell me what you've been doin' since I left +you,” said Old Ben, after they were well clear of the town and he could +trust his horses to follow the team ahead. “I s'pose you've been to see +the skeleton an' his mountain of a wife?” + +Toby gave a clear account of where he had been and what he had done, and +when he concluded he told Old Ben of his determination to run away, and +asked his advice on the matter. + +“My advice,” said Ben, after he had waited some time, to give due weight +to his words, “is that you clear out from this show just as soon as you +can. This hain't no fit place for a boy of your age to be in, an' +the sooner you get back where you started from, an get to school, the +better. But Job Lord will do all he can to keep you from goin', if he +thinks you have any idea of leavin' him.” + +Toby assured Ben, as he had assured the skeleton and his wife, that he +would be very careful in all he did, and lay his plans with the utmost +secrecy; and then he asked whether Ben thought the amount of money which +he had would be sufficient to carry him home. + +“Waal, that depends,” said the driver, slowly. “If you go to spreadin' +yourself all over creation, as boys are very apt to do, your money won't +go very far; but if you look at your money two or three times afore you +spend it, you ought to get back and have a dollar or two left.” + +The two talked, and Old Ben offered advice, until Toby could hardly keep +his eyes open, and almost before the driver concluded his sage remarks +the boy had stretched himself on the top of the wagon, where he had +learned to sleep without being shaken off, and was soon in dreamland. + +The monkey, nestled down snug in Toby's bosom, did not appear to be as +sleepy as was his master, but popped his head in and out from under the +coat, as if watching whether the boy was asleep or not. + +Toby was awakened by a scratching on his face, as if the monkey was +dancing a hornpipe on that portion of his body, and by a shrill, quick +chattering, which caused him to assume an upright position instantly. + +He was frightened, although he knew not at what, and looked around +quickly to discover the cause of the monkey's excitement. + +Old Ben was asleep on his box, while the horses jogged along behind the +other teams, and Toby failed to see anything whatever which should have +caused his pet to become so excited. + +“Lie down an' behave yourself,” said Toby, as sternly as possible, and +as he spoke he took his pet by the collar, to oblige him to obey his +command. + +The moment that he did this he saw the monkey throw something out +into the road, and the next instant he also saw that he held something +tightly clutched in his other paw. + +It required some little exertion and active movement on Toby's part to +enable him to get hold of that paw, in order to discover what it was +which Mr. Stubbs had captured; but the instant he did succeed, there +went up from his heart such a cry of sorrow as caused Old Ben to start +up in alarm and the monkey to cower and whimper like a whipped dog. + +“What is it, Toby? What's the matter?” asked the old driver, as +he peered out into the darkness ahead, as if he feared some danger +threatened them from that quarter. “I don't see anything. What is it?” + +“Mr. Stubbs has thrown all my money away,” cried Toby, holding up the +almost empty bag, which a short time previous had been so well filled +with silver. + +“Stubbs--thrown--the--money--away?” repeated Ben, with a pause between +each word, as if he could not understand that which he himself was +saying. + +“Yes,” sobbed Toby, as he shook out the remaining contents of the bag, +“there's only half a dollar, an' all the rest is gone.” + +“The rest gone!” again repeated Ben. “But how come the monkey to have +the money?” + +“He tried to get at it out in the woods, an' I s'pose the moment I got +asleep he felt for it in my pockets. This is all there is left, an' he +threw away some just as I woke up.” + +Again Toby held the bag up where Ben could see it, and again his grief +broke out anew. + +Ben could say nothing; he realized the whole situation--that the monkey +had got the moneybag while Toby was sleeping; that in his play he had +thrown it away piece by piece; and he knew that that small amount of +silver represented liberty in the boy's eyes. He felt that there was +nothing he could say which would assuage Toby's grief, and he remained +silent. + +“Don't you s'pose we could go back an' get it?” asked the boy, after the +intensity of his grief had somewhat subsided. + +“No, Toby, it's gone,” replied Ben, sorrowfully. “You couldn't find it +if it was daylight, an' you don't stand a ghost of a chance now in the +dark. Don't take on so, my boy. I'll see if we can't make it up to you +in some way.” + +Toby gave no heed to this last remark of Ben's. He hugged the monkey +convulsively to his breast, as if he would seek consolation from the +very one who had wrought the ruin, and, rocking himself to and fro, he +said, in a voice full of tears and sorrow: + +“Oh, Mr. Stubbs, why did you do it?--why did you do it? That money would +have got us away from this hateful place, an' we'd have gone back to +Uncle Dan'l's, where we'd have been so happy, you an' me. An' now it's +all gone--all gone. What made you, Mr. Stubbs--what made you do such a +bad, cruel thing? Oh, what made you?” + +“Don't, Toby--don't take on so,” said Ben, soothingly. “There wasn't so +very much money there, after all, an' you'll soon get as much more.” + +“But it won't be for a good while, an' we could have been in the good +old home long before I can get so much again.” + +“That's true, my boy; but you must kinder brace up an' not give way so +about it. Perhaps I can fix it so the fellers will make it up to you. +Give Stubbs a good poundin', an' perhaps that 'll make you feel better.” + +“That won't bring back my money an' I don't want to whip him,” cried +Toby, hugging his pet the closer because of this suggestion. “I know +what it is to get a whippin', an' I wouldn't whip a dog, much less Mr. +Stubbs, who didn't know any better.” + +“Then you must try to take it like a man,” said Ben, who could think +of no other plan by which the boy might soothe his feelings. “It hain't +half so bad as it might be, an' you must try to keep a stiff upper lip, +even if it does seem hard at first.” + +This keeping a stiff upper lip in the face of all the trouble he was +having was all very well to talk about, but Toby could not reduce it to +practice, or, at least, not so soon after he knew of his loss, and he +continued to rock the monkey back and forth, to whisper in his ear now +and then, and to cry as if his heart was breaking, for nearly an hour. + +Ben tried, in his rough, honest way, to comfort him, but without +success; and it was not until the boy's grief had spent itself that he +would listen to any reasoning. + +All this time the monkey had remained perfectly quiet, submitting to +Toby's squeezing without making any effort to get away, and behaving as +if he knew he had done wrong, and was trying to atone for it. He +looked up into the boy's face every now and then with such a penitent +expression that Toby finally assured him of forgiveness and begged him +not to feel so badly. + + + + +XIII. TOBY ATTEMPTS TO RESIGN HIS SITUATION + + +At last it was possible for Toby to speak of his loss with some degree +of calmness, and then he immediately began to reckon up what he could +have done with the money if he had not lost it. + +“Now see here, Toby,” said Ben, earnestly, “don't go to doin' anything +of that kind. The money's lost, an' you can't get it back by talkin'; so +the very best thing for you is to stop thinkin' what you could do if you +had it, an' just to look at it as a goner.” + +“But--” persisted Toby. + +“I tell you there's no buts about it,” said Ben, rather sharply. “Stop +talkin' about what's gone, an' just go to thinkin' how you'll get more. +Do what you've a mind to the monkey, but don't keep broodin' over what +you can't help.” + +Toby knew that the advice was good and he struggled manfully to carry it +into execution, but it was very hard work. At all events, there was no +sleep for his eyes that night; and when, just about daylight, the train +halted to wait a more seasonable hour in which to enter the town, the +thought of what he might have done with his lost money was still in +Toby's mind. + +Only once did he speak crossly to the monkey, and that was when he put +him into the cage preparatory to commencing his morning's work. Then he +said: + +“You wouldn't had to go into this place many times more if you hadn't +been so wicked, for by tomorrow night we'd been away from this circus +an' on the way to home an' Uncle Dan'l. Now you've spoiled my chance +an' your own for a good while to come, an' I hope before the day is over +you'll feel as bad about it as I do.” + +It seemed to Toby as if the monkey understood just what he said to him, +for he sneaked over into one corner, away from the other monkeys, and +sat there looking very penitent and very dejected. + +Then, with a heavy heart, Toby began his day's work. + +Hard as had been Toby's lot previous to losing his money, and difficult +as it had been to bear the cruelty of Mr. Job Lord and his precious +partner, Mr. Jacobs, it was doubly hard now while this sorrow was fresh +upon him. + +Previous to this, when he had been kicked or cursed by one or the other +of the partners, Toby thought exultantly that the time was not very far +distant when he should be beyond the reach of his brutal taskmasters, +and that thought had given him strength to bear all that had been put +upon him. + +Now the time of his deliverance from this bondage seemed very far off, +and each cruel word or blow caused him the greater sorrow, because of +the thought that but for the monkey's wickedness he would have been +nearly free from that which made his life so very miserable. + +If he had looked sad and mournful before, he looked doubly so now, as he +went his dreary round of the tent, crying, “Here's your cold lemonade,” + or “Fresh baked peanuts, ten cents a quart”; and each day there were +some in the audience who pitied the boy because of the misery which +showed so plainly in his face, and they gave him a few cents more than +his price for what he was selling, or gave him money without buying +anything at all, thereby aiding him to lay up something again toward +making his escape. + +Those few belonging to the circus who knew of Toby's intention to escape +tried their best to console him for the loss of his money, and that kind +hearted couple, the skeleton and his fat wife, tried to force him to +take a portion of their scanty earnings in the place of that which the +monkey had thrown away. But this Toby positively refused to do; and to +the arguments which they advanced as reasons why they should help him +along he only replied that until he could get the money by his own +exertions he would remain with Messrs. Lord and Jacobs and get along as +best he could. + +Every hour in the day the thought of what might have been if he had not +lost his money so haunted his mind that finally he resolved to make one +bold stroke and tell Mr. Job Lord that he did not want to travel with +the circus any longer. + +As yet he had not received the two dollars which had been promised him +for his two weeks' work, and another one was nearly due. If he could get +this money it might, with what he had saved again, suffice to pay his +railroad fare to Guilford; and if it would not, he resolved to accept +from the skeleton sufficient to make up the amount needed. + +He naturally shrank from the task; but the hope that he might possibly +succeed gave him the necessary amount of courage, and when he had gotten +his work done, on the third morning after he had lost his money, and Mr. +Lord appeared to be in an unusually good temper, he resolved to try the +plan. + +It was just before the dinner hour. Trade had been exceptionally good, +and Mr. Lord had even spoken in a pleasant tone to Toby when he told him +to fill up the lemonade pail with water, so that the stock might not be +disposed of too quickly and with too little profit. + +Toby poured in quite as much water as he thought the already weak +mixture could receive and retain any flavor of lemon; and then, as his +employer motioned him to add more, he mixed another quart in, secretly +wondering what it would taste like. + +“When you're mixin' lemonade for circus trade,” said Mr. Lord, in such a +benign, fatherly tone that one would have found it difficult to believe +that he ever spoke harshly, “don't be afraid of water, for there's where +the profit comes in. Always have a piece of lemon peel floatin' on the +top of every glass, an' it tastes just as good to people as if it cost +twice as much.” + +Toby could not agree exactly with that opinion, neither did he think +it wise to disagree, more especially since he was going to ask the very +great favor of being discharged; therefore he nodded his head gravely, +and began to stir up what it pleased Mr. Lord to call lemonade, so that +the last addition might be more thoroughly mixed with the others. + +Two or three times he attempted to ask the favor which seemed such a +great one, and each time the words stuck in his throat, until it seemed +to him that he should never succeed in getting them out. + +Finally, in his despair, he stammered out: “Don't you think you could +find another boy in this town, Mr. Lord?” + +Mr. Lord moved round sideways, in order to bring his crooked eye to bear +squarely on Toby, and then there was a long interval of silence, during +which time the boy's color rapidly came and went and his heart beat very +fast with suspense and fear. + +“Well, what if I could?” he said, at length. “Do you think that trade +is so good I could afford to keep two boys, when there isn't half work +enough for one?” + +Toby stirred the lemonade with renewed activity, as if by this process +he was making both it and his courage stronger, and said, in a low +voice, which Mr. Lord could scarcely hear: + +“I didn't think that; but you see I ought to go home, for Uncle Dan'l +will worry about me; an', besides, I don't like a circus very well.” + +Again there was silence on Mr. Lord's part, and again the crooked eye +glowered down on Toby. + +“So,” he said--and Toby could see that his anger was rising very +fast--“you don't like a circus very well, an' you begin to think +that your uncle Daniel will worry about you, eh? Well, I want you to +understand that it don't make any difference to me whether you like a +circus or not, and I don't care how much your uncle Daniel worries. +You mean that you want to get away from me, after I've been to all the +trouble and expense of teaching you the business?” + +Toby bent his head over the pail and stirred away as if for dear life. + +“If you think you're going to get away from here until you've paid me +for all you've eat, an' all the time I've spent on you, you're mistaken, +that's all. You've had an easy time with me--too easy, in fact--and +that's what ails you. Now you just let me hear two words more out of +your head about going away--only two more--an' I'll show you what a +whipping is. I've only been playing with you before when you thought you +were getting a whipping; but you'll find out what it means if I so much +as see a thought in your eyes about goin' away. An' don't you dare to +try to give me the slip in the night an run away; for if you do I'll +follow you an' have you arrested. Now you mind your eye in the future.” + +It is impossible to say how much longer Mr. Lord might have continued +this tirade had not a member of the company--one of the principal +riders--called him to one side to speak with him. + +Poor Toby was so much confused by the angry words which had followed his +very natural and certainly very reasonable suggestion that he paid no +attention to anything around him until he heard his own name mentioned; +and then, fearing lest some new misfortune was about to befall him, he +listened intently. + +“I'm afraid you couldn't do much of anything with him,” he heard Mr. +Lord say. “He's had enough of this kind of life already, so he says, an' +I expect the next thing he does will be to try and run away.” + +“I'll risk his getting away from you, Job,” he heard the other say; “but +of course I've got to take my chances. I'll take him in hand from eleven +to twelve each day--just your slack time of trade--and I'll not only +give you half of what he can earn in the next two years, but I'll pay +you for his time, if he gives you the slip before the season is out.” + +Toby knew that they were speaking of him, but what it all meant he could +not imagine. + +“What are you going to do with him first?” Job asked. + +“Just put him right in the ring and teach him what riding is. I tell +you, Job, the boy's smart enough, and before the season's over I'll have +him so that he can do some of the bareback acts, and perhaps we'll get +some money out of him before we go into winter quarters.” + +Toby understood the meaning of their conversation only too well, and he +knew that his lot, which before seemed harder than he could bear, +was about to be intensified through this Mr. Castle, of whom he had +frequently heard, and who was said to be a rival of Mr. Lord's so far as +brutality went. The two men now walked toward the large tent, and Toby +was left alone with his thoughts and two or three little boy customers, +who looked at him wonderingly and envied him because he belonged to the +circus. + +During the ride that night he told Old Ben what he had heard, +confidently expecting that that friend at least would console him; but +Ben was not the champion which he had expected. The old man, who had +been with a circus, “man and boy, nigh to forty years,” did not seem to +think it any calamity that he was to be taught to ride. + +“That Mr. Castle is a little rough on boys,” Old Ben said, thoughtfully; +“but it'll be a good thing for you, Toby. Just so long as you stay with +Job you won't be nothin' more 'n a candy boy; but after you know how to +ride it 'll be another thing, an' you can earn a good deal of money an' +be your own boss.” + +“But I don't want to stay with the circus,” whined Toby; “I don't want +to learn to ride, an' I do want to get back to Uncle Dan'l.” + +“That may all be true, an' I don't dispute it,” said Ben; “but you see +you didn't stay with your uncle Daniel when you had the chance, an' you +did come with the circus. You've told Job you wanted to leave, an' he +'ll be watchin' you all the time to see that you don't give him the +slip. Now what's the consequence? Why, you can't get away for a while, +anyhow, an' you'd better try to amount to something while you are here. +Perhaps after you've got so you can ride you may want to stay; an' I'll +see to it that you get all of your wages, except enough to pay Castle +for learnin' of you.” + +“I sha'n't want to stay,” said Toby. “I wouldn't stay if I could ride +all the horses at once an' was gettin' a hundred dollars a day.” + +“But you can't ride one horse, an' you hain't gettin' but a dollar a +week, an' still I don't see any chance of your gettin' away yet awhile,” + said Ben, in a matter of fact tone, as he devoted his attention again +to his horses, leaving Toby to his own sad reflections and the positive +conviction that boys who run away from home do not have a good time, +except in stories. + +The next forenoon, while Toby was deep in the excitement of selling to +a boy no larger than himself, and with just as red hair, three cents' +worth of peanuts and two sticks of candy, and while the boy was trying +to induce him to “throw in” a piece of gum, because of the quantity +purchased, Job Lord called him aside, and Toby knew that his troubles +had begun. + +“I want you to go in an' see Mr. Castle; he's goin' to show you how to +ride,” said Mr. Lord, in as kindly a tone as if he were conferring some +favor on the boy. + +If Toby had dared to, he would have rebelled then and there and refused +to go; but, as he hadn't the courage for such proceeding, he walked +meekly into the tent and toward the ring. + + + + +XIV. MR. CASTLE TEACHES TOBY TO RIDE + + +When Toby got within sight of the ring he was astonished at what he saw. +A horse, with a broad wooden saddle, was being led slowly around the +ring; Mr. Castle was standing on one side, with a long whip in his hand; +and on the tent pole, which stood in the center of the ring, was a long +arm, from which dangled a leathern belt attached to a long rope that was +carried through the end of the arm and run down to the base of the pole. + +Toby knew well enough why the horse, the whip, and the man were there, +but the wooden projection from the tent pole, which looked so much like +a gallows, he could not understand at all. + +“Come, now,” said Mr. Castle, cracking his whip ominously as Toby came +in sight, “why weren't you here before?” + +“Mr. Lord just sent me in,” said Toby, not expecting that his excuse +would be received, for they never had been since he had arrived at the +height of his ambition by joining the circus. + +“Then I'll make Mr. Job understand that I am to have my full hour of +your time; and if I don't get it there 'll be trouble between us.” + +It would have pleased Toby very well to have had Mr. Castle go out with +his long whip just then and make trouble for Mr. Lord; but Mr. Castle +had not the time to spare, because of the trouble which he was about to +make for Toby, and that he commenced on at once. + +“Well, get in here and don't waste any more time,” he said, sharply. + +Toby looked around curiously for a moment, and, not understanding +exactly what he was expected to get in and do, asked, “What shall I do?” + +“Pull off your boots, coat, and vest.” + +Since there was no other course than to learn to ride, Toby wisely +concluded that the best thing he could do would be to obey his new +master without question; so he began to take off his clothes with as +much alacrity as if learning to ride was the one thing upon which he had +long set his heart. + +Mr. Castle was evidently accustomed to prompt obedience, for he not only +took it as a matter of course, but endeavored to hurry Toby in the work +of undressing. + +With his desire to please, and urged by Mr. Castle's words and the +ominous shaking of his whip, Toby's preparations were soon made, and +he stood before his instructor clad only in his shirt, trousers, and +stockings. + +The horse was led around to where he stood, and when Mr. Castle held +out his hand to help him to mount Toby jumped up quickly without aid, +thereby making a good impression at the start as a willing lad. + +“Now,” said the instructor, as he pulled down the leathern belt which +hung from the rope and fastened it around Toby's waist, “stand up in +the saddle, and try to keep there. You can't fall, because the rope will +hold you up, even if the horse goes out from under you; but it isn't +hard work to keep on if you mind what you are about; and if you don't +this whip will help you. Now stand up.” + +Toby did as he was bid; and as the horse was led at a walk, and as +he had the long bridle to aid him in keeping his footing, he had no +difficulty in standing during the time that the horse went once around +the ring; but that was all. + +Mr. Castle seemed to think that this was preparation enough for the boy +to be able to understand how to ride, and he started the horse into a +canter. As might have been expected, Toby lost his balance, the horse +went on ahead, and he was left dangling at the end of the rope, very +much like a crab that has just been caught by the means of a pole and +line. + +Toby kicked, waved his hands, and floundered about generally, but all to +no purpose, until the horse came round again, and then he made frantic +efforts to regain his footing, which efforts were aided--or perhaps it +would be more proper to say retarded--by the long lash of Mr. Castle's +whip, that played around his legs with merciless severity. + +“Stand up! stand up!” cried his instructor, as Toby reeled first to one +side and then to the other, now standing erect in the saddle and now +dangling at the end of the rope, with the horse almost out from under +him. + +This command seemed needless, as it was exactly what Toby was trying to +do; but as it was given he struggled all the harder, until it seemed to +him that the more he tried the less did he succeed. + +And this first lesson progressed in about the same way until the hour +was over, save that now and then Mr. Castle would give him some good +advice, but oftener he would twist the long lash of the whip around the +boy's legs with such force that Toby believed the skin had been taken +entirely off. + +It may have been a relief to Mr. Castle when this first lesson was +concluded, and it certainly was to Toby, for he had had all the teaching +in horsemanship that he wanted, and he thought, with deepest sorrow, +that this would be of daily occurrence during all the time that he +remained with the circus. + +As he went out of the tent he stopped to speak with his friend the old +monkey, and his troubles seemed to have increased when he stood in front +of the cage calling, “Mr. Stubbs! Mr. Stubbs!” and the old fellow would +not even come down from off the lofty perch where he was engaged in +monkey gymnastics with several younger companions. It seemed to him, as +he afterward told Ben, “as if Mr. Stubbs had gone back on him because he +knew that he was in trouble.” + +When he went toward the booth Mr. Lord looked at him around the corner +of the canvas--for it seemed to Toby that his employer could look +around a square corner with much greater ease than he could straight +ahead--with a disagreeable leer in his eye, as though he enjoyed the +misery which he knew his little clerk had just undergone. + +“Can you ride yet?” he asked, mockingly, as Toby stepped behind the +counter to attend to his regular line of business. + +Toby made no reply, for he knew that the question was only asked +sarcastically and not through any desire for information. In a few +moments Mr. Lord left him to attend to the booth alone and went into the +tent, where Toby rightly conjectured he had gone to question Mr. Castle +upon the result of the lesson just given. + +That night Old Ben asked him how he had got on while under the teaching +of Mr. Castle; and Toby, knowing that the question was asked because of +the real interest which Ben had in his welfare, replied: + +“If I was tryin' to learn how to swing round the ring, strapped to a +rope, I should say that I got along first rate; but I don't know much +about the horse, for I was only on his back a little while at a time.” + +“You'll get over that soon,” said Old Ben, patronizingly, as he patted +him on the back. “You remember my words, now: I say that you've got it +in you, an' if you've a mind to take hold an' try to learn you'll +come out on the top of the heap yet, an' be one of the smartest riders +they've got in this show.” + +“I don't want to be a rider,” said Toby, sadly; “I only want to get back +home once more, an' then you'll see how much it 'll take to get me away +again.” + +“Well,” said Ben, quietly, “be that as it may, while you're here the +best thing you can do is to take hold an' get ahead just as fast as you +can; it 'll make it a mighty sight easier for you while you're with the +show, an' it won't spoil any of your chances for runnin' away whenever +the time comes.” + +Toby fully appreciated the truth of this remark, and he assured Ben that +he should do all in his power to profit by the instruction given, and to +please this new master who had been placed over him. + +And with this promise he lay back on the seat and went to sleep, not to +awaken until the preparations were being made for the entree into the +next town, and Mr. Lord's harsh voice had cried out his name, with no +gentle tone, several times. + +Toby's first lesson with Mr. Castle was the most pleasant one he had; +for after the boy had once been into the ring his master seemed to +expect that he could do everything which he was told to do, and when +he failed in any little particular the long lash of the whip would go +curling around his legs or arms, until the little fellow's body and +limbs were nearly covered with the blue and black stripes. + +For three lessons only was the wooden upright used to keep him from +falling; after that he was forced to ride standing erect on the broad +wooden saddle, or pad, as it is properly called; and whenever he lost +his balance and fell there was no question asked as to whether or not he +had hurt himself, but he was mercilessly cut with the whip. + +Messrs. Lord and Jacobs gained very much by comparison with Mr. Castle +in Toby's mind. He had thought that his lot could not be harder than it +was with them; but when he had experienced the pains of two or three of +Mr. Castle's lessons in horsemanship he thought that he would stay with +the candy venders all the season cheerfully rather than take six more +lessons of Mr. Castle. + +Night after night he fell asleep from the sheer exhaustion of crying, as +he had been pouring out his woes in the old monkey's ears and laying his +plans to run away. Now more than ever was he anxious to get away, +and yet each day was taking him farther from home and consequently +necessitating a larger amount of money with which to start. As Old Ben +did not give him as much sympathy as Toby thought he ought to give--for +the old man, while he would not allow Mr. Job Lord to strike the boy +if he was near, thought it a necessary portion of the education for Mr. +Castle to lash him all he had a mind to--he poured out all his troubles +in the old monkey's ears, and kept him with him from the time he ceased +work at night until he was obliged to commence again in the morning. + +The skeleton and his wife thought Toby's lot a hard one, and tried by +every means in their power to cheer the poor boy. Neither one of them +could say to Mr. Castle what they had said to Mr. Lord, for the rider +was a far different sort of a person and one whom they would not be +allowed to interfere with in any way. Therefore poor Toby was obliged +to bear his troubles and his whippings as best he might, with only the +thought to cheer him of the time when he could leave them all by running +away. + +But, despite all his troubles, Toby learned to ride faster than his +teacher had expected he would, and in three weeks he found little or no +difficulty in standing erect while his horse went around the ring at +his fastest gait. After that had been accomplished his progress was more +rapid, and he gave promise of be--coming a very good rider--a fact which +pleased both Mr. Castle and Mr. Lord very much, as they fancied that in +another year Toby would be the source of a very good income to them. + +The proprietor of the circus took considerable interest in Toby's +instruction, and promised Mr. Castle that Mademoiselle Jeannette and +Toby should do an act together in the performance just as soon as the +latter was sufficiently advanced. The boy's costume had been changed +after he could ride without falling off, and now while he was in the +ring he wore the same as that used by the regular performers. + +The little girl had, after it was announced that she and Toby were to +perform together, been an attentive observer during the hour that Toby +was under Mr. Castle's direction, and she gave him many suggestions that +were far more valuable, and quicker to be acted upon, than those given +by the teacher himself. + +“Tomorrow you two will go through the exercise together,” said Mr. +Castle to Toby and Ella, at the close of one of Toby's lessons, after +he had become so skillful that he could stand with ease on the pad, and +even advanced so far that he could jump through a hoop without falling +more than twice out of three times. + +The little girl appeared highly delighted by this information, and +expressed her joy. + +“It will be real nice,” she said to Toby, after Mr. Castle had left them +alone. “I can help you lots, and it won't be very long before we can do +an act all by ourselves in the performance, and then won't the people +clap their hands when we come in!” + +“It 'll be better for you tomorrow than it will for me,” said Toby, +rubbing his legs sorrowfully, still feeling the sting of the whip. “You +see, Mr. Castle won't dare to whip you, an' he 'll make it all count on +me, 'cause he knows Mr. Lord likes to have him whip me.” + +“But I sha'n't make any mistake,” said Ella, confidently, “and so you +won't have to be whipped on my account; and while I am on the horse you +can't be whipped, for he couldn't do it without whipping me, so you see +you won't get only half as much.” + +Toby brightened up a little under the influence of this argument; but +his countenance fell again as he thought that his chances for getting +away from the circus were growing less each day. + +“You see I want to get back to Uncle Dan'l an' Guilford,” he said, +confidentially; “I don't want to stay here a single minute.” + +Ella opened her eyes in wide astonishment as she cried: “Don't want to +stay here? Why don't you go home, then?” + +“'Cause Job Lord won't let me,” said Toby, wondering if it was possible +that his little companion did not know exactly what sort of a man his +master was. + +Then he told her--after making her give him all kinds of promises, +including the ceremony of crossing her throat, that she would never tell +a single soul--that he had had many thoughts, and had formed all kinds +of plans for running away. He told her about losing his money, about his +friendship for the skeleton and the fat lady, and at last he confided in +her that he was intending to take the old monkey with him when he should +make the attempt. + +She listened with the closest attention, and when he told her that +his little hoard had now reached the sum of seven dollars and ten +cents--almost as much as he had before--she said, eagerly: “I've got +three little gold dollars in my trunk, an' you shall have them all; +they're my very own, for mamma gave them to me to do just what I wanted +to with them. But I don't see how you can take Mr. Stubbs with you, for +that would be stealing.” + +“No, it wouldn't, neither,” said Toby, stoutly. “Wasn't he give to me to +do just as I wanted to with? An' didn't the boss say he was all mine?” + +“Oh, I'd forgotten that,” said Ella, thoughtfully. “I suppose you can +take him; but he'll be awfully in the way, won't he?” + +“No,” said Toby, anxious to say a good word for his pet; “he always does +just what I want him to, an' when I tell him what I'm tryin' to do he'll +be as good as anything. But I can't take your dollars.” + +“Why not?” + +“'Cause that wouldn't be right for a boy to let a girl littler than +himself help him: I'll wait till I get money enough of my own, an' then +I'll go.” + +“But I want you to take my money, too; I want you to have it.” + +“No, I can't take it,” said Toby, shaking his head resolutely as he put +the golden temptation from him; and then, as a happy thought occurred +to him, he said, quickly: “I tell you what to do with your dollars: you +keep them till you grow up to be a woman, an' when I'm a man I'll come, +an' then we'll buy a circus of our own. I think perhaps I'd like to be +with a circus if I owned one myself. We'll have lots of money then, an' +can do just what we want to.” + +This idea seemed to please the little girl, and the two began to lay +all sorts of plans for that time when they should be man and woman, have +lots of money, and be able to do just what they wanted to. + +They had been sitting on the edge of the newly made ring while they were +talking, and before they had half finished making plans for the future +one of the attendants came in to put things to order, and they were +obliged to leave their seats, she going to the hotel to get ready for +the afternoon's performance, and Toby to try to do such work as Mr. Job +had laid out for him. + +Just ten weeks from the time Toby had first joined the circus Mr. +Castle informed him and Ella that they were to appear in public on the +following day. They had been practicing daily, and Toby had become so +skillful that both Mr. Castle and Mr. Lord saw that the time had come +when he could be made to earn some money for them. + + + + +XV. TOBY'S FRIENDS PRESENT HIM WITH A COSTUME + + +During this time Toby's funds had accumulated rather slower than on the +first few days he was in the business, but he had saved eleven dollars, +and Mr. Lord had paid him five dollars of his salary, so that he had +the to him enormous sum of sixteen dollars; and he had about made up his +mind to make one effort for liberty when the news came that he was to +ride in public. + +He had, in fact, been ready to run away any time within the past week; +but, as if they had divined his intentions, both Mr. Castle and Mr. Lord +had kept a very strict watch over him, one or the other keeping him in +sight from the time he got through with his labors at night until they +saw him on the cart with Old Ben. + +“I was just gettin' ready to run away,” said Toby to Ella on the day Mr. +Castle gave his decision as to their taking part in the performance, and +while they were walking out of the tent, “an' I shouldn't wonder now if +I got away tonight.” + +“Oh, Toby!” exclaimed the girl, as she looked reproachfully at him, +“after all the work we've had to get ready, you won't go off and leave +me before we've had a chance to see what the folks will say when they +see us together?” + +It was impossible for Toby to feel any delight at the idea of riding in +public, and he would have been willing to have taken one of Mr. Lord's +most severe whippings if he could have escaped from it; but he and +Ella had become such firm friends, and he had conceived such a boyish +admiration for her, that he felt as if he were willing to bear almost +anything for the sake of giving her pleasure. Therefore he said, after +a few moments' reflection: “Well, I won't go tonight, anyway, even if I +have the best chance that ever was. I'll stay one day more, anyhow, an' +perhaps I'll have to stay a good many.” + +“That's a nice boy,” said Ella, positively, as Toby thus gave his +decision, “and I'll kiss you for it.” + +Before Toby fully realized what she was about, almost before he had +understood what she said, she had put her arms around his neck and given +him a good sound kiss right on his freckled face. + +Toby was surprised, astonished, and just a little bit ashamed. He had +never been kissed by a girl before--very seldom by anyone, save the fat +lady--and he hardly knew what to do or say. He blushed until his face +was almost as red as his hair, and this color had the effect of making +his freckles stand out with startling distinctness. Then he looked +carefully around to see if anyone had seen them. + +“I never had a girl kiss me before,” said Toby, hesitatingly, “an' +you see it made me feel kinder queer to have you do it out here, where +everybody could see.” + +“Well, I kissed you because I like you very much and because you are +going to stay and ride with me tomorrow,” she said, positively; and then +she added, slyly, “I may kiss you again, if you don't get a chance to +run away very soon.” + +“I wish it wasn't for Uncle Dan'l an' the rest of the folks at home, an' +there wasn't any such men as Mr. Lord an' Mr. Castle, an' then I don't +know but I might want to stay with the circus, 'cause I like you awful +much.” + +And as he spoke Toby's heart grew very tender toward the only girl +friend he had ever known. + +By this time they had reached the door of the tent, and as they stepped +outside one of the drivers told them that Mr. Treat and his wife were +very anxious to see both of them in their tent. + +“I don't believe I can go,” said Toby, doubtfully, as he glanced toward +the booth, where Mr. Lord was busy in attending to customers, and +evidently waiting for Toby to relieve him, so that he could go to his +dinner; “I don't believe Mr. Lord will let me.” + +“Go and ask him,” said Ella, eagerly. “We won't be gone but a minute.” + +Toby approached his employer with fear and trembling. He had never +before asked leave to be away from his work, even for a moment, and he +had no doubt but that his request would be refused with blows. + +“Mr. Treat wants me to come in his tent for a minute. Can I go?” he +asked, in a timid voice, and in such a low tone as to render it almost +inaudible. + +Mr. Lord looked at him for an instant, and Toby was sure that he was +making up his mind whether to kick him or catch him by the collar and +use the rubber cane on him. But he had no such intention, evidently, for +he said, in a voice unusually mild, “Yes, an' you needn't come to work +again until it's time to go into the tent.” + +Toby was almost alarmed at this unusual kindness, and it puzzled him so +much that he would have forgotten he had permission to go away if Ella +had not pulled him gently by the coat. + +If he had heard a conversation between Mr. Lord and Mr. Castle that +very morning he would have understood why it was that Mr. Lord had so +suddenly become kind. Mr. Castle had told Job that the boy had really +shown himself to be a good rider, and that in order to make him more +contented with his lot, and to keep him from running away, he must +be used more kindly, and perhaps be taken from the candy business +altogether, which latter advice Mr. Lord did not look upon with favor, +because of the large sales which the boy made. + +When they reached the skeleton's tent they found, to their surprise, +that no exhibition was being given at that hour, and Ella said, with +some concern: “How queer it is that the doors are not open! I do hope +that they are not sick.” + +Toby felt a strange sinking at his heart as the possibility suggested +itself that one or both of his kind friends might be ill; for they had +both been so kind and attentive to him that he had learned to love them +very dearly. + +But the fears of both the children were dispelled when they tried to get +in at the door and were met with the smiling skeleton himself, who said, +as he threw the canvas aside as far as if he were admitting his own +enormous Lilly: + +“Come in, my friends, come in. I have had the exhibition closed for +one hour, in order that I might show my appreciation of my friend Mr. +Tyler.” + +Toby looked around in some alarm, fearing that Mr. Treat's friendship +was about to be displayed in one of his state dinners, which he had +learned to fear rather than enjoy. But as he saw no preparations for +dinner he breathed more freely and wondered what all this ceremony could +possibly mean. + +Neither he nor Ella was long left in doubt, for as soon as they had +entered, Mrs. Treat waddled from behind the screen which served them +as a dressing room, with a bundle in her arms, which she handed to her +husband. + +He took it and, quickly mounting the platform, leaving Ella and Toby +below, he commenced to speak, with very many flourishes of his thin +arms. + +“My friends,” he began, as he looked down upon his audience of three, +who were listening in the following attitudes: Ella and Toby were +standing upon the ground at the foot of the platform, looking up with +wide open, staring eyes; and his fleshy wife was seated on a bench which +had evidently been placed in such a position below the speaker's stand +that she could hear and see all that was going on without the fatigue of +standing up, which, for one of her size, was really very hard work--“My +friends,” repeated the skeleton, as he held his bundle in front of him +with one hand and gesticulated with the other, “we all of us know that +tomorrow our esteemed and worthy friend Mr. Toby Tyler makes his first +appearance in any ring, and we all of us believe that he will soon +become a bright and shining light in the profession which he is so soon +to enter.” + +The speaker was here interrupted by loud applause from his wife, and he +profited by the opportunity to wipe a stray drop of perspiration +from his fleshless face. Then, as the fat lady ceased the exertion of +clapping her hands, he continued: + +“Knowing that our friend Mr. Tyler was being instructed, preparatory to +dazzling the public with his talents, my wife and I began to prepare for +him some slight testimonial of our esteem; and, being informed by +Mr. Castle some days ago of the day on which he was to make his first +appearance before the public, we were enabled to complete our little +gift in time for the great and important event.” + +Here the skeleton paused to take a breath, and Toby began to grow more +uncomfortably red in the face. Such praise made him feel very awkward. + +“I hold in this bundle,” continued Mr. Treat as he waved the package on +high, “a costume for our bold and worthy equestrian, and a sash to match +for his beautiful and accomplished companion. In presenting these little +tokens my wife (who has embroidered every inch of the velvet herself) +and I feel proud to know that, when the great and auspicious occasion +occurs tomorrow, the worthy Mr. Tyler will step into the ring in a +costume which we have prepared expressly for him; and thus, when he +does himself honor by his performance and earns the applause of the +multitude, he will be doing honor and doing applause for the work of our +hands--my wife Lilly and myself. Take them, my boy; and when you +array yourself in them tomorrow you will remember that the only living +skeleton, and the wonder of the nineteenth century in the shape of the +mammoth lady, are present in their works if not in their persons.” + +As he finished speaking Mr. Treat handed the bundle to Toby, and then +joined in the applause which was being given by Mrs. Treat and Ella. + +Toby unrolled the package, and found that it contained a circus rider's +costume of pink tights and blue velvet trunks, collar and cuffs, +embroidered in white and plentifully spangled with silver. In addition +was a wide blue sash for Ella, embroidered to correspond with Toby's +costume. + +The little fellow was both delighted with the gift and at a loss to know +what to say in response. He looked at the costume over and over again, +and the tears of gratitude that these friends should have been so good +to him came into his eyes. He saw, however, that they were expecting him +to say something in reply, and, laying the gift on the platform, he said +to the skeleton and his wife: + +“You've been so good to me ever since I've been with the circus that I +wish I was big enough to say somethin' more than that I'm much obliged, +but I can't. One of these days, when I'm a man, I'll show you how much +I like you, an' then you won't be sorry that you was good to such a poor +little runaway boy as I am.” + +Here the skeleton broke in with such loud applause and so many cries of +“Hear! hear!” that Toby grew still more confused, and forgot entirely +what he was intending to say next. + +“I want you to know how much obliged I am,” he said, after much +hesitation, “an' when I wear 'em I'll ride just the best I know how, +even if I don't want to, an' you sha'n't be sorry that you gave them to +me.” + +As Toby concluded he made a funny little awkward bow, and then seemed +to be trying to hide himself behind a chair from the applause which was +given so generously. + +“Bless your dear little heart!” said the fat lady, after the confusion +had somewhat subsided. “I know you will do your best, anyway, and +I'm glad to know that you're going to make your first appearance in +something that Samuel and I made for you.” + +Ella was quite as well pleased with her sash as Toby was with his +costume, and thanked Mr. and Mrs. Treat in a pretty little way that made +Toby wish he could say anything half so nicely. + +The hour which the skeleton had devoted for the purpose of the +presentation and accompanying speeches having elapsed, it was necessary +that Ella and Toby should go and that the doors of the exhibition be +opened at once, in order to give any of the public an opportunity of +seeing what the placards announced as two of the greatest curiosities on +the face of the globe. + +That day, while Toby performed his arduous labors, his heart was very +light, for the evidences which the skeleton and his wife had given of +their regard for him were very gratifying. He determined that he would +do his very best to please so long as he was with the circus, and then, +when he got a chance to run away, he would do so, but not until he +had said goodby to Mr. and Mrs. Treat and thanked them again for their +interest in him. + +When he had finished his work in the tent that night Mr. Lord said to +him, as he patted him on the back in the most fatherly fashion, and as +if he had never spoken a harsh word to him, “You can't come in here to +sell candy now that you are one of the performers, my boy; an' if I +can find another boy tomorrow you won't have to work in the booth any +longer, an' your salary of a dollar a week will go on just the same, +even if you don't have anything to do but to ride.” + +This was a bit of news that was as welcome to Toby as it was unexpected, +and he felt more happy then than he had for the ten weeks that he had +been traveling under Mr. Lord's cruel mastership. + +But there was one thing that night that rather damped his joy, and that +was that he noticed that Mr. Lord was unusually careful to watch him, +not even allowing him to go outside the tent without following. He +saw at once that, if he was to have a more easy time, his chances +for running away were greatly diminished, and no number of beautiful +costumes would have made him content to stay with the circus one moment +longer than was absolutely necessary. + +That night he told Old Ben the events of the day, and expressed the +hope that he might acquit himself creditably when he made his first +appearance on the following day. + +Ben sat thoughtfully for some time, and then, making all the +preparations which Toby knew so well signified a long bit of advice, he +said: “Toby, my boy, I've been with a circus, man an' boy, nigh to forty +years, an' I've seen lots of youngsters start in just as you re goin' to +start in tomorrow; but the most of them petered out, because they got to +knowin' more 'n them that learned 'em did. Now, you remember what I say, +an' you'll find it good advice: whatever business you get into, don't +think you know all about it before you've begun. Remember that you can +always learn somethin', no matter how old you are, an' keep your eyes +an' ears open, an' your tongue between your teeth, an' you'll amount to +somethin', or my name hain't Ben.” + + + + +XVI. TOBY'S FIRST APPEARANCE IN THE RING + + +When the circus entered the town which had been selected as the place +where Toby was to make his debut as a circus rider the boy noticed a new +poster among the many glaring and gaudy bills which set forth the varied +and numerous attractions that were to be found under one canvas for a +trifling admission fee, and he noticed it with some degree of interest, +not thinking for a moment that it had any reference to him. + +It was printed very much as follows: + +MADEMOISELLE JEANNETTE AND MONSIEUR AJAX, + +two of the youngest equestrians in the world, will perform their +graceful, dashing, and daring act entitled + +THE TRIUMPH OF THE INNOCENTS! + +This is the first appearance of these daring young riders together since +their separation in Europe last season, and their performance in this +town will have a new and novel interest. + +See MADEMOISELLE JEANNETTE AND MONSIEUR AJAX + +“Look there!” said Toby to Ben, as he pointed out the poster, which was +printed in very large letters, with gorgeous coloring, and surmounted +by a picture of two very small people performing all kinds of impossible +feats on horseback. “They've got someone else to ride with Ella today. I +wonder who it can be?” + +Ben looked at Toby for a moment, as if to assure himself that the boy +was in earnest in asking the question, and then he relapsed into the +worst fit of silent laughing that Toby had ever seen. After he had quite +recovered he asked: “Don't you know who Monsieur Ajax is? Hain't you +never seen him?” + +“No,” replied Toby, at a loss to understand what there was so very funny +in his very natural question. “I thought that I was goin' to ride with +Ella.” + +“Why, that's you!” almost screamed Ben, in delight. “Monsieur Ajax means +you--didn't you know it? You don't suppose they would go to put 'Toby +Tyler' on the bills, do you? How it would look!--'Mademoiselle Jeannette +an' Monsieur Toby Tyler'!” + +Ben was off in one of his laughing spells again; and Toby sat there, +stiff and straight, hardly knowing whether to join in the mirth or to +get angry at the sport which had been made of his name. + +“I don't care,” he said, at length. “I'm sure I think Toby Tyler sounds +just as well as Monsieur Ajax, an' I'm sure it fits me a good deal +better.” + +“That may be,” said Ben, soothingly; “but you see it wouldn't go down so +well with the public. They want furrin riders, an' they must have 'em, +even if it does spoil your name.” + +Despite the fact that he did not like the new name that had been given +him, Toby could not but feel pleased at the glowing terms in which his +performance was set off; but he did not at all relish the lie that was +told about his having been with Ella in Europe, and he would have been +very much better pleased if that portion of it had been left off. + +During the forenoon he did not go near Mr. Lord nor his candy stand, for +Mr. Castle kept him and Ella busily engaged in practicing the feat which +they were to perform in the afternoon, and it was almost time for +the performance to begin before they were allowed even to go to their +dinner. + +Ella, who had performed several years, was very much more excited over +the coming debut than Toby was, and the reason why he did not show more +interest was, probably, because of his great desire to leave the circus +as soon as possible, and during that forenoon he thought very much more +of how he should get back to Guilford and Uncle Daniel than he did of +how he should get along when he stood before the audience. + +Mr. Castle assisted his pupil to dress, and when that was done to his +entire satisfaction he said, in a stern voice, “Now you can do this act +all right, and if you slip up on it and don't do it as you ought to, +I'll give you such a whipping when you come out of the ring that you'll +think Job was only fooling with you when he tried to whip you.” + +Toby had been feeling reasonably cheerful before this, but these +words dispelled all his cheerful thoughts, and he was looking more +disconsolate when Old Ben came into the dressing tent. + +“All ready are you, my boy?” said the old man, in his cheeriest voice. +“Well, that's good, an' you look as nice as possible. Now remember what +I told you last night, Toby, an' go in there to do your level best an' +make a name for yourself. Come out here with me and wait for the young +lady.” + +These cheering words of Ben's did Toby as much good as Mr. Castle's had +the reverse, and as he stepped out of the dressing room to the place +where the horses were being saddled Toby resolved that he would do his +very best that afternoon, if for no other reason than to please his old +friend. + +Toby was not naturally what might be called a pretty boy, for his short +red hair and his freckled face prevented any great display of beauty; +but he was a good, honest looking boy, and in his tasteful costume +looked very nice indeed--so nice that, could Mrs. Treat have seen him +just then, she would have been very proud of her handiwork and hugged +him harder than ever. + +He had been waiting but a few moments when Ella came from her dressing +room, and Toby was much pleased when he saw by the expression of her +face that she was perfectly satisfied with his appearance. + +“We'll both do just as well as we can,” she whispered to him, “and I +know the people will like us and make us come back after we get through. +And if they do mamma says she'll give each one of us a gold dollar.” + +She had taken hold of Toby's hand as she spoke, and her manner was so +earnest and anxious that Toby was more excited than he ever had been +about his debut; and, had he gone into the ring just at that moment, the +chances are that he would have surprised even his teacher by his riding. + +“I'll do just as well as I can,” said Toby, in reply to his little +companion, “an' if we earn the dollars I'll have a hole bored in mine, +an' you shall wear it around your neck to remember me by.” + +“I'll remember you without that,” she whispered; “and I'll give you +mine, so that you shall have so much the more when you go to your home.” + +There was no time for further conversation, for Mr. Castle entered just +then to tell them that they must go in in another moment. The horses +were all ready--a black one for Toby, and a white one for Ella--and they +stood champing their bits and pawing the earth in their impatience until +the silver bells with which they were decorated rang out quick, nervous +little chimes that accorded very well with Toby's feelings. + +Ella squeezed Toby's hand as they stood waiting for the curtain to be +raised that they might enter, and he had just time to return it when +the signal was given, and almost before he was aware of it they were +standing in the ring, kissing their hands to the crowds that packed the +enormous tent to its utmost capacity. + +Thanks to the false announcement about the separation of the children in +Europe and their reunion in this particular town, the applause was long +and loud, and before it had died away Toby had time to recover a little +from the queer feeling which this sea of heads gave him. + +He had never seen such a crowd before, except as he had seen them as he +walked around at the foot of the seats, and then they had simply looked +like so many human beings; but as he saw them now from the ring they +appeared like strange rows of heads without bodies, and he had hard work +to keep from running back behind the curtain whence he had come. + +Mr. Castle acted as the ringmaster this time, and after he had +introduced them--very much after the fashion of the posters--and the +clown had repeated some funny joke, the horses were led in and they were +assisted to mount. + +“Don't mind the people at all,” said Mr. Castle, in a low voice, “but +ride just as if you were alone here with me.” + +The music struck up, the horses cantered around the ring, and Toby had +really started as a circus rider. + +“Remember,” said Ella to him, in a low tone, just as the horses started, +“you told me that you would ride just as well as you could, and we must +earn the dollars mamma promised.” + +It seemed to Toby at first as if he could not stand up, but by the time +they had ridden around the ring once, and Ella had again cautioned him +against making any mistake, for the sake of the money which they were +going to earn, he was calm and collected enough to carry out his part of +the “act” as well as if he had been simply taking a lesson. + +The act consisted in their riding side by side, jumping over banners and +through hoops covered with paper, and then the most difficult portion +began. + +The saddles, were taken off the horses, and they were to ride first on +one horse and then on the other, until they concluded their performance +by riding twice around the ring side by side, standing on their horses, +each one with a hand on the other's shoulder. + +All this was successfully accomplished without a single error, and when +they rode out of the ring the applause was so great as to leave no doubt +but that they would be recalled and thus earn the promised money. + +In fact, they had hardly got inside the curtain when one of the +attendants called to them, and before they had time even to speak to +each other they were in the ring again, repeating the last portion of +their act. + +When they came out of the ring for the second time they found Old Ben, +the skeleton, the fat lady, and Mr. Job Lord waiting to welcome them; +but before anyone could say a word Ella had stood on tiptoe again and +given Toby just such another kiss as she did when he told her that he +would surely stay long enough to appear in the ring with her once. + +“That's because you rode so well and helped me so much,” she said, as +she saw Toby's cheeks growing a fiery red; and then she turned to those +who were waiting to greet her. + +Mrs. Treat took her in her enormous arms, and, having kissed her, put +her down quickly, and clasped Toby as if he had been a very small walnut +and her arms a very large pair of nutcrackers. + +“Bless the boy!” she exclaimed, as she kissed him again and again with +an energy and force that made her kisses sound like the crack of the +whip and caused the horses to stamp in affright. “I knew he'd amount +to something one of these days, an' Samuel an' I had to come out, when +business was dull, just to see how he got along.” + +It was some time before she would unloose him from her motherly embrace, +and when she did the skeleton grasped him by the hand and said, in the +most pompous and affected manner: + +“Mr. Tyler, we're proud of you, and when we saw that costume of yours, +that my Lilly embroidered with her own hands, we was both proud of it +and what it contained. You're a great rider, my boy, a great rider, and +you 'll stand at the head of the profession some day, if you only stick +to it.” + +“Thank you, sir,” was all Toby had time to say before Old Ben had him by +the hand, and the skeleton was pouring out his congratulations in little +Miss Ella's ear. + +“Toby, my boy, you did well, an' now you'll amount to something, if you +only remember what I told you last night,” said Ben, as he looked upon +the boy whom he had come to think of as his protege, with pride. “I +never seen anybody of your age do any better; an' now, instead of bein' +only a candy peddler, you're one of the stars of the show.” + +“Thank you, Ben,” was all that Toby could say, for he knew that his old +friend meant every word that he said, and it pleased him so much that he +could say no more than “Thank you” in reply. + +“I feel as if your triumph was mine,” said Mr. Lord, looking benignly +at Toby from out his crooked eye, and assuming the most fatherly tone at +his command; “I have learned to look upon you almost as my own son, and +your success is very gratifying to me.” + +Toby was not at all flattered by this last praise. If he had never seen +Mr. Lord before, he might, and probably would, have been deceived by +his words; but he had seen him too often, and under too many painful +circumstances, to be at all swindled by his words. + +Toby was very much pleased with his success and by the praise he +received from all, and when the proprietor of the circus came along, +patted him on the head, and told him that he rode very nicely, he was +quite happy, until he chanced to see the greedy twinkle in Mr. Lord's +eye, and then he knew that all this success and all this praise were +only binding him faster to the show which he was so anxious to escape +from; his pleasure vanished very quickly, and in its stead came a +bitter, homesick feeling which no amount of praise could banish. + +It was Old Ben who helped him to undress after the skeleton and the +fat lady had gone to their tent and Ella had gone to dress for her +appearance with her mother, for now she was obliged to ride twice at +each performance. When Toby was in ordinary clothes again Ben said: + +“Now that you're one of the performers, Toby, you won't have to sell +candy any more, an' you'll have the most of your time to yourself, so +let's you an' I go out an' see the town.” + +“Don't you s'pose Mr. Lord expects me to go to work for him again +today?” + +“An' s'posin' he does?” said Ben, with a chuckle. “You don't s'pose the +boss would let any one that rides in the ring stand behind Job Lord's +counter, do you? You can do just as you have a mind to, my boy, an' I +say to you, let's go out an' see the town. What do you say to it?” + +“I'd like to go first rate, if I dared to,” replied Toby, thinking of +the many whippings he had received for far less than that which Ben now +proposed he should do. + +“Oh, I'll take care that Job don't bother you, so come along”; and +Ben started out of the tent, and Toby followed, feeling considerably +frightened at this first act of disobedience against his old master. + + + + + +XVII. OFF FOR HOME! + + +During this walk Toby learned many things that were of importance to +him, so far as his plan for running away was concerned. In the first +place, he gleaned from the railway posters that were stuck up in the +hotel to which they went that he could buy a ticket for Guilford for +seven dollars, and also that, by going back to the town from which they +had come, he could go to Guilford by steamer for five dollars. + +By returning to this last town--and Toby calculated that the fare on +the stage back there could not be more than a dollar--he would have ten +dollars left, and that surely ought to be sufficient to buy food enough +for two days for the most hungry boy that ever lived. + +When they returned to the circus grounds the performance was over, and +Mr. Lord in the midst of the brisk trade which he usually had after +the afternoon performance, and yet, so far from scolding Toby for going +away, he actually smiled and bowed at him as he saw him go by with Ben. + +“See there, Toby,” said the old driver to the boy, as he gave him a +vigorous poke in the ribs and then went off into one of his dreadful +laughing spells--“see what it is to be a performer an' not workin' for +such an old fossil as Job is! He'll be so sweet to you now that sugar +won't melt in his mouth, an' there's no chance of his ever attemptin' to +whip you again.” + +Toby made no reply, for he was too busily engaged thinking of something +which had just come into his mind to know that his friend had spoken. + +But as Old Ben hardly knew whether the boy had answered him or not, +owing to his being obliged to struggle with his breath lest he should +lose it in the second laughing spell that attacked him, the boy's +thoughtfulness was not particularly noticed. + +Toby walked around the show grounds for a little while with his old +friend, and then the two went to supper, where Toby performed quite as +great wonders in the way of eating as he had in the afternoon by riding. + +As soon as the supper was over he quietly slipped away from Old Ben, and +at once paid a visit to Mr. and Mrs. Treat, whom he found cozily engaged +in their supper behind the screen. + +They welcomed Toby most cordially, and, despite his assertions that he +had just finished a very hearty meal, the fat lady made him sit down to +the box which served as table, and insisted on his trying some of her +doughnuts. + +Under all these pressing attentions it was some time before Toby found +a chance to say that which he had come to say, and when he did he was +almost at a loss how to proceed; but at last he commenced by starting +abruptly on his subject with the words, “I've made up my mind to leave +tonight.” + +“Leave tonight?” repeated the skeleton, inquiringly, not for a moment +believing that Toby could think of running away after the brilliant +success he had just made. “What do you mean, Toby?” + +“Why, you know that I've been wantin' to get away from the circus,” + said Toby, a little impatient that his friend should be so wonderfully +stupid, “an' I think that I'll have as good a chance now as ever I +shall, so I'm goin' to try it.” + +“Bless us!” exclaimed the fat lady, in a gasping way. “You don't mean +to say that you're goin' off just when you've started in the business +so well? I thought you'd want to stay after you'd been so well received +this afternoon.” + +“No,” said Toby--and one quick little sob popped right up from his heart +and out before he was aware of it--“I learned to ride because I had to, +but I never give up runnin' away. I must see Uncle Dan'l, an' tell him +how sorry I am for what I did; an' if he won't have anything to say to +me I'll come back; but if he'll let me I'll stay there, an' I'll be so +good that by 'n' by he'll forget that I run off an' left him without +sayin' a word.” + +There was such a touch of sorrow in his tones, so much pathos in his +way of speaking, that good Mrs. Treat's heart was touched at once; and +putting her arms around the little fellow, as if to shield him from some +harm, she said, tenderly: “And so you shall go, Toby, my boy; but if +you ever want a home or anybody to love you come right here to us, and +you'll never be sorry. So long as Sam keeps thin and I fat enough to +draw the public you never need say that you're homeless, for nothing +would please us better than to have you come to live with us.” + +For reply Toby raised his head and kissed her on the cheek, a proceeding +which caused her to squeeze him harder than ever. + +During this conversation the skeleton had remained very thoughtful. +After a moment or two he got up from his seat, went outside the tent, +and presently returned with a quantity of silver ten cent pieces in his +hand. + +“Here, Toby,” he said--and it was to be seen that he was really too +much affected even to attempt one of his speeches--“it's right that you +should go, for I've known what it is to feel just as you do. What Lilly +said about your having a home with us I say, an' here's five dollars +that I want you to take to help you along.” + +At first Toby stoutly refused to take the money; but they both insisted +to such a degree that he was actually forced to, and then he stood up to +go. + +“I'm goin' to try to slip off after Job packs up the outside booth, if I +can,” he said, “an' it was to say goodby that I come around here.” + +Again Mrs. Treat took the boy in her arms, as if it were one of her own +children who was leaving her, and as she stroked his hair back from his +forehead she said: “Don't forget us, Toby, even if you never do see us +again; try an' remember how much we cared for you, an' how much comfort +you're taking away from us when you go; for it was a comfort to see you +around, even if you wasn't with us very much. Don't forget us, Toby, an' +if you ever get the chance, come an' see us. Goodby, Toby, goodby.” And +the kind hearted woman kissed him again and again, and then turned her +back resolutely upon him, lest it should be bad luck to him if she again +saw him after saying goodby. + +The skeleton's parting was not quite so demonstrative. He clasped Toby's +hand with one set of his fleshless fingers, while with the other he +wiped one or two suspicious looking drops of moisture from his eyes as +he said: “I hope you'll get along all right, my boy, and I believe you +will. You will get home to Uncle Daniel and be happier than ever, for +now you know what it is to be entirely without a home. Be a good boy, +mind your uncle, go to school, and one of these days you'll make a good +man. Goodby, my boy.” + +The tears were now streaming down Toby's face very rapidly; he had +not known, in his anxiety to get home, how very much he cared for this +strangely assorted couple, and now it made him feel very miserable and +wretched that he was going to leave them. He tried to say something +more, but the tears choked his utterance and he left the tent quickly to +prevent himself from breaking down entirely. + +In order that his grief might not be noticed and the cause of it +suspected, Toby went out behind the tent, and, sitting there on a stone, +he gave way to the tears which he could no longer control. + +While he was thus engaged, heeding nothing which passed around him, he +was startled by a cheery voice which cried: “Halloo! down in the dumps +again? What is the matter now, my bold equestrian?” + +Looking up, he saw Ben standing before him, and he wiped his eyes +hastily, for here was another from whom he must part and to whom a +goodby must be spoken. + +Looking around to make sure that no one was within hearing, he went +up very close to the old driver and said, in almost a whisper: “I was +feelin' bad 'cause I just come from Mr. and Mrs. Treat, an' I've been +sayin' goodby to them. I'm goin' to run away tonight.” + +Ben looked at him for a moment, as if he doubted whether the boy knew +exactly what he was talking about, and then said, “So you still want to +go home, do you?” + +“Oh yes, Ben, so much,” was the reply, in a tone which expressed how +dear to him was the thought of being in his old home once more. + +“All right, my boy; I won't say one word ag'in' it, though it do seem +too bad, after you've turned out to be such a good rider,” said the old +man, thoughtfully. “It's better for you, I know; for a circus hain't no +place for a boy, even if he wants to stay, an' I can't say but I'm glad +you're still determined to go.” + +Toby felt relieved at the tone of this leave taking. He had feared that +Old Ben, who thought a circus rider was almost on the topmost round of +fortune's ladder, would have urged him to stay, since he had made his +debut in the ring, and he was almost afraid that he might take some +steps to prevent his going. + +“I wanted to say goodby now,” said Toby, in a choking voice, “'cause +perhaps I sha'n't see you again. + +“Goodby, my boy,” said Ben as he took the boy's hand in his. “Don't +forget this experience you've had in runnin' away; an if ever the time +comes that you feel as if you wanted to know that you had a friend, +think of Old Ben, an' remember that his heart beats just as warm for you +as if he was your father. Goodby, my boy, goodby, an' may the good God +bless you!” + +“Goodby, Ben,” said Toby; and then, as the old driver turned and walked +away, wiping something from his eye with the cuff of his sleeve, Toby +gave full vent to his tears and wondered why it was that he was such a +miserable little wretch. + +There was one more goodby to be said, and that Toby dreaded more than +all the others. It was to Ella. He knew that she would feel badly to +have him go, because she liked to ride the act with him that gave them +such applause, and he felt certain that she would urge him to stay. + +Just then the thought of another of his friends--one who had not yet +been warned of what very important matter was to occur--came to his +mind, and he hastened toward the old monkey's cage. His pet was busily +engaged in playing with some of the younger members of his family, and +for some moments could not be induced to come to the bars of the cage. + +At last, however, Toby did succeed in coaxing him forward, and then, +taking him by the paw and drawing him as near as possible, Toby +whispered, “We're goin' to run away tonight, Mr. Stubbs, an' I want you +to be all ready to go the minute I come for you.” + +The old monkey winked both eyes violently, and then showed his teeth to +such an extent that Toby thought he was laughing at the prospect, and +he said, a little severely, “If you had as many friends as I have got +in the circus you wouldn't laugh when you was goin' to leave them. Of +course I've got to go, an' I want to go; but it makes me feel bad to +leave the skeleton, an' the fat woman, an Old Ben, an' little Ella. But +I mustn't stand here. You be ready when I come for you, an' by mornin' +we'll be so far off that Mr. Lord nor Mr. Castle can't catch us.” + +The old monkey went toward his companions, as if he were in high glee at +the trip before him, and Toby went into the dressing tent to prepare for +the evening's performance--which was about to commence. + +It appeared to the boy as if everyone was unusually kind to him +that night, and, feeling sad at leaving those in the circus who had +befriended him, Toby was unusually attentive to everyone around him. He +ran on some trifling errand for one, helped another in his dressing, +and in a dozen kind ways seemed as if trying to atone for leaving them +secretly. + +When the time came for him to go into the ring and he met Ella, bright +and happy at the thought of riding with him and repeating her triumphs +of the afternoon, nothing save the thought of how wicked he had been to +run away from good old Uncle Daniel, and a desire to right that wrong in +some way, prevented him from giving up his plan of going back. + +The little girl observed his sadness, and she whispered, “Has anyone +been whipping you, Toby?” + +Toby shook his head. He had thought that he would tell her what he was +about to do just before they went into the ring, but her kind words +seemed to make that impossible, and he had said nothing when the blare +of the trumpets, the noisy demonstrations of the audience, and the +announcement of the clown that the wonderful children riders were now +about to appear, ushered them into the ring. + +If Toby had performed well in the afternoon, he accomplished wonders +on this evening, and they were called back into the ring, not once, but +twice; and when finally they were allowed to retire everyone behind the +curtain overwhelmed them with praise. + +Ella was so profuse with her kind words, her admiration for what Toby +had done, and so delighted at the idea that they were to ride together, +that even then the boy could not tell her what he was going to do, but +went into his dressing room, resolving that he would tell her all when +they both had finished dressing. + +Toby made as small a parcel as possible of the costume which Mr. and +Mrs. Treat had given him--for he determined that he would take it with +him--and, putting it under his coat, went out to wait for Ella. As she +did not come out as soon as he expected, he asked someone to tell her +that he wanted to see her, and he thought to himself that when she did +come she would be in a hurry and could not stop long enough to make any +very lengthy objections to his leaving. + +But she did not come at all--her mother sent out word that Toby could +not see her until after the performance was over, owing to the fact +that it was now nearly time for her to go into the ring, and she was not +dressed yet. + +Toby was terribly disappointed. He knew that it would not be safe for +him to wait until the close of the performance if he were intending to +run away that night, and he felt that he could not go until he had said +a few last words to her. + +He was in a great perplexity, until the thought came to him that he +could write a goodby to her, and by this means any unpleasant discussion +would be avoided. + +After some little difficulty he procured a small piece of not very clean +paper and a very short bit of lead pencil, and, using the top of one of +the wagons, as he sat on the seat, for a desk, he indited the following +epistle: + +deaR ella I Am goin to Run away two night, & i want two say good by to +yu & your mother. i am Small & unkle Danil says i dont mount two much, +but i am old enuf two know that you have bin good two me, & when i Am +a man i will buy you a whole cirkus, and we Will ride together. dont +forgit me & i wont yu in haste + +Toby Tyler. + +Toby had no envelope in which to seal this precious letter, but he felt +that it would not be seen by prying eyes and would safely reach its +destination if he intrusted it to Old Ben. + +It did not take him many moments to find the old driver, and he said, as +he handed him the letter, “I didn't see Ella to tell her I was goin', so +I wrote this letter, an' I want to know if you will give it to her?” + +“Of course I will. But see here, Toby”--and Ben caught him by the sleeve +and led him aside where he would not be overheard--“have you got enough +money to take you home? for if you haven't I can let you have some.” And +Ben plunged his hand into his capacious pocket, as if he was about to +withdraw from there the entire United States Treasury. + +Toby assured him that he had sufficient for all his wants; but the old +man would not be satisfied until he had seen for himself, and then, +taking Toby's hand again, he said: “Now, my boy, it won't do for you to +stay around here any longer. Buy something to eat before you start, +an' go into the woods for a day or two before you take the train or +steamboat. + +“You're too big a prize for Job or Castle to let you go without a word, +an' they'll try their level best to find you. Be careful, now, for if +they should catch you, goodby any more chances to get away. There”--and +here Ben suddenly lifted him high from the ground and kissed him--“now +get away as fast as you can.” + +Toby pressed the old man's hand affectionately, and then, without +trusting himself to speak, walked swiftly out toward the entrance. + +He resolved to take Ben's advice and go into the woods for a short time, +and therefore he must buy some provisions before he started. + +As he passed the monkeys' cage he saw his pet sitting near the bars, +and he stopped long enough to whisper, “I'll be back in ten minutes, Mr. +Stubbs, an' you be all ready then.” + +Then he went on, and just as he got near the entrance one of the men +told him that Mrs. Treat wished to see him. + +Toby could hardly afford to spare the time just then, but he would +probably have obeyed the summons if he had known that by so doing he +would be caught, and he ran as fast as his little legs would carry him +toward the skeleton's tent. + +The exhibition was open, and both the skeleton, and his wife were on +the platform when Toby entered; but he crept around at the back and up +behind Mrs. Treat's chair, telling her as he did so that he had just +received her message and that he must hurry right back, for every moment +was important then to him. + +“I put up a nice lunch for you,” she said as she kissed him, “and you'll +find it on the top of the biggest trunk. Now go; and if my wishes are of +any good to you, you will get to your uncle Daniel's house without any +trouble. Goodby again, little one.” + +Toby did not dare to trust himself any longer where everyone was so kind +to him. He slipped down from the platform as quickly as possible, found +the bundle--and a good sized one it was, too--without any difficulty, +and went back to the monkeys' cage. + +As orders had been given by the proprietor of the circus that the boy +should do as he had a mind to with the monkey, he called Mr. Stubbs; and +as he was in the custom of taking him with him at night, no one thought +that it was anything strange that he should take him from the cage now. + +Mr. Lord or Mr. Castle might possibly have thought it queer had either +of them seen the two bundles which Toby carried, but, fortunately for +the boy's scheme, they both believed that he was in the dressing tent, +and consequently thought that he was perfectly safe. + +Toby's hand shook so that he could hardly undo the fastening of the +cage, and when he attempted to call the monkey to him his voice sounded +so strange and husky that it startled him. + +The old monkey seemed to prefer sleeping with Toby rather than with +those of his kind in the cage; and as the boy took him with him almost +every night, he came on this particular occasion as soon as Toby called, +regardless of the strange sound of his master's voice. + +With his bundles under his arm and the monkey on his shoulder, with both +paws tightly clasped around his neck, Toby made his way out of the tent +with beating heart and bated breath. + +Neither Mr. Lord, Castle, nor Jacobs were in sight, and everything +seemed favorable for his flight. During the afternoon he had carefully +noted the direction of the woods, and he started swiftly toward them +now, stopping only long enough, as he was well clear of the tents, to +say, in a whisper: + +“Goodby, Mr. Treat, an' Mrs. Treat, an' Ella, an' Ben. Sometime, when +I'm a man, I'll come back an' bring you lots of nice things, an' I'll +never forget you--never. When I have a chance to be good to some little +boy that felt as bad as I did I'll do it, an' tell him that it was you +did it. Goodby.” + +Then, turning around, he ran toward the woods as swiftly as if his +escape had been discovered and the entire company were in pursuit. + + + + +XVIII. A DAY OF FREEDOM + + +Toby ran at the top of his speed over the rough road; and the monkey, +jolted from one side to the other, clutched his paws more tightly around +the boy's neck, looking around into his face as if to ask what was the +meaning of this very singular proceeding. + +When he was so very nearly breathless as to be able to run no more, but +was forced to walk, Toby looked behind him, and there he could see the +bright lights of the circus and hear the strains of the music as he had +heard them on the night when he was getting ready to run away from +Uncle Daniel; and those very sounds, which reminded him forcibly of how +ungrateful he had been to the old man who had cared for him when there +was no one else in the world who would do so, made it more easy for him +to leave those behind who had been so kind to him when he stood so much +in need of kindness. + +“We are goin' home, Mr. Stubbs!” he said, exultantly, to the +monkey--“home to Uncle Dan'l an' the boys; an' won't you have a good +time when we get there! You can run all over the barn, an' up in the +trees, an' do just what you want to, an' there'll be plenty of fellows +to play with you. You don't know half how good a place Guilford is, Mr. +Stubbs.” + +The monkey chattered away as if he were anticipating lots of fun on his +arrival at Toby's home, and the boy chattered back, his spirits rising +at every step which took him farther away from the collection of tents +where he had spent so many wretched hours. + +A brisk walk of half an hour sufficed to take Toby to the woods, and +after some little search he found a thick clump of bushes in which he +concluded he could sleep without the risk of being seen by anyone who +might pass that way before he should be awake in the morning. + +He had not much choice in the way of a bed, for it was so dark in the +woods that it was impossible to collect moss or leaves to make a soft +resting place, and the few leaves and pine boughs which he did gather +made his place for sleeping but very little softer. + +But during the ten weeks that Toby had been with the circus his bed had +seldom been anything softer than the seat of the wagon, and it troubled +him very little that he was to sleep with nothing but a few leaves +between himself and the earth. + +Using the bundle in which was his riding costume for a pillow, and +placing the lunch Mrs. Treat had given him near by, where the monkey +could not get at it conveniently, he cuddled Mr. Stubbs up to his bosom +and lay down to sleep. + +“Mr. Lord won't wake us up in the mornin' an' swear at us for not +washin' the tumblers,” said Toby, in a tone of satisfaction, to the +monkey; “an' we won't have to go into the tent tomorrow an' sell sick +lemonade an' poor peanuts. But”--and here his tone changed to one of +sorrow--“there'll be some there that 'll be sorry not to see us in the +mornin', Mr. Stubbs, though they'll be glad to know that we got away all +right. But won't Mr. Lord swear, an' won't Mr. Castle crack his whip, +when they come to look round for us in the mornin' an' find that we +hain't there!” + +The reply which the monkey made to this was to nestle his head closer +under Toby's coat, and to show, in the most decided manner, that he was +ready to go to sleep. + +And Toby was quite as ready to go to sleep as he was. He had worked +hard that day, but the excitement of escaping had prevented him from +realizing his fatigue until after he had lain down; and almost before he +had got through congratulating himself upon the ease with which he had +gotten free both he and the monkey were as sound asleep as if they had +been tucked up in the softest bed that was ever made. + +Toby's very weariness was a friend to him that night, for it prevented +him from waking; which, if he had done so, might have been unpleasant +when he fully realized that he was all alone in the forest, and the +sounds that are always heard in the woods might have frightened him just +the least bit. + +The sun was shining directly in his face when Toby awoke on the +following morning, and the old monkey was still snugly nestled under his +coat. He sat up rather dazed at first, and then, as he fully realized +that he was actually free from all that had made his life such a sad and +hard one for so many weeks, he shouted aloud, reveling in his freedom. + +The monkey, awakened by Toby's cries, started from his sleep in affright +and jumped into the nearest tree, only to chatter, jump, and swing from +the boughs when he saw that there was nothing very unusual going on, +save that he and Toby were out in the woods again, where they could have +no end of a good time and do just as they liked. + +After a few moments spent in a short jubilee at their escape Toby took +the monkey on his shoulder and the bundles under his arm again, and went +cautiously out to the edge of the thicket, where he could form some idea +as to whether or no they were pursued. + +He had entered the woods at the brow of a small hill when he had fled +so hastily on the previous evening, and, looking down, he could see the +spot whereon the tents of the circus had been pitched, but not a sign +of them was now visible. He could see a number of people walking around, +and he fancied that they looked up every now and then to where he stood +concealed by the foliage. + +This gave him no little uneasiness, for he feared that Mr. Lord or Mr. +Castle might be among the number, and he believed that they would begin +a search for him at once, and that the spot where their attention would +first be drawn was exactly where he was then standing. + +“This won't do, Mr. Stubbs,” he said, as he pushed the monkey higher +up on his shoulder and started into the thickest part of the woods; “we +must get out of this place an' go farther down, where we can hide till +tomorrow mornin'. Besides, we must find some water where we can wash our +faces.” + +The old monkey would hardly have been troubled if they had not got their +faces washed for the next month to come; but he grinned and talked as +Toby trudged along, attempting to catch hold of the leaves as they were +passed, and in various other ways impeding his master's progress, until +Toby was obliged to give him a most severe scolding in order to make him +behave himself in anything like a decent manner. + +At last, after fully half an hour's rapid walking, Toby found just +the place he wanted in which to pass the time he concluded it would be +necessary to spend before he dare venture out to start for home. + +It was a little valley entirely filled by trees, which grew so thickly, +save in one little spot, as to make it almost impossible to walk +through. The one clear spot was not more than ten feet square, but it +was just at the edge of a swiftly running brook; and a more beautiful +or convenient place for a boy and a monkey to stop who had no tent, nor +means to build one, could not well be imagined. + +Toby's first act was to wash his face, and he tried to make the monkey +do the same; but Mr. Stubbs had no idea of doing any such foolish thing. +He would come down close to the edge of the water and look in; but the +moment that Toby tried to make him go in he would rush back among the +trees, climb out on some slender bough, and then swing himself down by +the tail, and chatter away as if making sport of his young master for +thinking that he would be so foolish as to soil his face with water. + +After Toby had made his toilet he unfastened the bundle which the fat +lady had given him, for the purpose of having breakfast. As much of an +eater as Toby was, he could not but be surprised at the quantity of food +which Mrs. Treat called a lunch. There were two whole pies and half of +another, as many as two dozen doughnuts, several large pieces of cheese, +six sandwiches, with a plentiful amount of meat, half a dozen biscuits, +nicely buttered, and a large piece of cake. + +The monkey had come down from the tree as soon as he saw Toby untying +the bundle, and there was quite as much pleasure depicted on his face, +when he saw the good things that were spread out before him, as there +was on Toby's; and he showed his thankfulness at Mrs. Treat's foresight +by suddenly snatching one of the doughnuts and running with it up the +tree, where he knew Toby could not follow. + +“Now look here, Mr. Stubbs!” said Toby, sternly, “you can have all you +want to eat, but you must take it in a decent way, an' not go to cuttin' +up any such shines as that.” + +And after giving this command--which, by the way, was obeyed just about +as well as it was understood--Toby devoted his time to his breakfast, +and he reduced the amount of eatables very considerably before he had +finished. + +Toby cleared off his table by gathering the food together and putting it +back into the paper as well as possible, and then he sat down to think +over the situation and to decide what he had better do. + +He felt rather nervous about venturing out when it was possible for Mr. +Lord or Mr. Castle to get hold of him again; and as the weather was +yet warm during the night, his camping place everything that could be +desired, and the stock of food likely to hold out, he concluded that +he had better remain there for two days at least, and then he would be +reasonably sure that if either of the men whom he so dreaded to see had +remained behind for the purpose of catching him, he would have got tired +out and gone on. + +This point decided upon, the next was to try to fix up something soft +for a bed. He had his pocketknife with him, and in his little valley +were pine and hemlock trees in abundance. From the tips of their +branches he knew that he could make a bed as soft and fragrant as any +that could be thought of, and he set to work at once, while Mr. Stubbs +continued his antics above his head. + +After about two hours' steady work he had cut enough of the tender +branches to make himself a bed into which he and the monkey could burrow +and sleep as comfortably as if they were in the softest bed in Uncle +Daniel's house. + +When Toby first began to cut the boughs he had an idea that he might +possibly make some sort of a hut; but the two hours' work had blistered +his hands, and he was perfectly ready to sit down and rest, without the +slightest desire for any other kind of a hut than that formed by the +trees themselves. + +Toby imagined that in that beautiful place he could, with the monkey, +stay contented for any number of days; but after he had rested a time, +played with his pet a little, and eaten just a trifle more of the lunch, +the time passed so slowly that he soon made up his mind to run the risk +of meeting Mr. Lord or Mr. Castle again by going out of the woods the +first thing the next morning. + +Very many times before the sun set that day was Toby tempted to run +the risk that night, for the sake of the change, if no more; but as he +thought the matter over he saw how dangerous such a course would be and +he forced himself to wait. + +That night he did not sleep as soundly as on the previous one, for the +very good reason that he was not as tired. He awoke several times; and +the noise of the night birds alarmed him to such an extent that he was +obliged to awaken the old monkey for company. + +But the night passed despite his fears, as all nights will, whether +a boy is out in the woods alone or tucked up in his own little bed at +home. In the morning Toby made all possible haste to get away, for each +moment that he stayed now made him more impatient to be moving toward +home. + +He washed himself as quickly as possible, ate his breakfast with the +most unseemly haste, and, taking up his bundles and the monkey, once +more started, as he supposed, in the direction from which he had entered +the woods. + +Toby walked briskly along, in the best possible spirits, for his running +away was now an accomplished fact, and he was going toward Uncle Daniel +and home just as fast as possible. He sang “Old Hundred” through five +or six times by way of showing his happiness. It is quite likely that +he would have sung something a little more lively had he known anything +else; but “Old Hundred” was the extent of his musical education, and he +kept repeating that, which was quite as satisfactory as if he had been +able to go through with every opera that was ever written. + +The monkey would jump from his shoulder into the branches above, run +along on the trees for a short distance, and then wait until Toby came +along, when he would drop down on his shoulder suddenly, and in every +other way of displaying monkey delight he showed that he was just as +happy as it was possible. + +Toby trudged on in this contented way for nearly an hour, and every +moment expected to step out to the edge of the woods, where he could see +houses and men once more. But instead of doing so the forest seemed +to grow more dense, and nothing betokened his approach to the village. +There was a great fear came into Toby's heart just then, and for a +moment he halted in helpless perplexity. His lips began to quiver, his +face grew white, and his hand trembled so that the old monkey took hold +of one of his fingers and looked at it wonderingly. + + + + +XIX. MR STUBBS'S MISCHIEF, AND HIS SAD FATE + + +Toby had begun to realize that he was lost in the woods, and the thought +was sufficient to cause alarm in the mind of one much older than the +boy. He said to himself that he would keep on in the direction he was +then traveling for fifteen minutes; and as he had no means of computing +the time he sat down on a log, took out the bit of pencil with which he +had written the letter to Ella, and multiplied sixty by fifteen. He +knew that there were sixty seconds to the minute, and that he could +ordinarily count one to each second; therefore, when he learned that +there were nine hundred seconds in fifteen minutes he resolved to walk +as nearly straight ahead as possible until he should have counted that +number. + +He walked on, counting as regularly as he could, and thought to himself +that he never before realized how long fifteen minutes were. + +It really seemed to him that an hour had passed before he finished +counting, and then when he stopped there were no more signs that he was +near a clearing than there had been before he started. + +“Ah, Mr. Stubbs, we're lost! we're lost!” he cried, as he laid his cheek +on the monkey's head and gave way to the lonesome grief that came over +him. “What shall we do? Perhaps we won't ever find our way out, but will +die here, an' then Uncle Dan'l won't ever know how sorry I was that I +ran away.” + +Then Toby lay right down on the ground and cried so hard that the monkey +acted as if it were frightened, and tried to turn the boy's face over, +and finally leaned down and licked Toby's ear. + +This little act, which seemed so much like a kiss, caused Toby to feel +no small amount of comfort, and he sat up again, took the monkey in his +arms, and began seriously to discuss some definite plan of action. + +“It won't do to keep on the way we've been goin', Mr. Stubbs,” said +Toby, as he looked full in his pet's face--and the old monkey sat +as still and looked as grave as it was possible for him to look and +sit--“for we must be going into the woods deeper. Let's start off this +way”--and Toby pointed at right angles with the course they had been +pursuing--“an' keep right on that way till we come to something, or till +we drop right down an' die.” + +It is fair to presume that the old monkey agreed to Toby's plan; for +although he said nothing in favor of it, he certainly made no objections +to it, which to Toby was the same as if his companion had assented to it +in the plainest English. + +Both the bundles and the monkey were rather a heavy load for a small boy +like Toby to carry; but he clung manfully to them, walked resolutely on, +without looking to the right or to the left, glad when the old monkey +would take a run among the trees, for then he would be relieved of his +weight, and glad when he returned, for then he had his company, and that +repaid him for any labor which he might have to perform. + +Toby was in a hard plight as it was; but without the old monkey for a +companion he would have thought his condition was a hundred times worse, +and would hardly have had the courage to go on as he was going. + +On and on he walked, until it seemed to him that he could really go no +farther, and yet he could see no signs which indicated the end of the +woods, and at last he sank upon the ground, too tired to walk another +step, saying to the monkey--who was looking as if he would like to know +the reason of this pause, “It's no use, Mr. Stubbs, I've got to sit down +here an' rest awhile anyhow; besides, I'm awfully hungry.” + +Then Toby commenced to eat his dinner, and to give the monkey his, until +the thought came to him that he neither had any water nor did he know +where to find it, and then, of course, he immediately became so thirsty +that it was impossible for him to eat any more. + +“We can't stand this,” moaned Toby to the monkey; “we've got to have +something to drink, or else we can't eat all these sweet things, an' I'm +so tired that I can't go any farther. Don't let's eat dinner now, but +let's stay here an' rest, an' then we can keep on an' look for water.” + +Toby's resting spell was a long one, for as soon as he stretched himself +out on the ground he was asleep from actual exhaustion, and did not +awaken until the sun was just setting, and then he saw that, hard as +his troubles had been before, they were about to become, or in fact had +become, worse. + +He had paid no attention to his bundles when he lay down, and when he +awoke he was puzzled to make out what it was that was strewn around the +ground so thickly. + +He had looked at it but a very short time when he saw that it was what +had been the lunch he had carried so far. After having had the sad +experience of losing his money he understood very readily that the old +monkey had taken the lunch while he slept, and had amused himself by +picking it apart into the smallest particles possible, and then strewn +them around on the ground where he now saw them. + +Toby looked at them in almost speechless surprise, and then he turned to +where the old monkey lay, apparently asleep; but as the boy watched him +intently he could see that the cunning animal was really watching him +out of one half closed eye. + +“Now you have killed us, Mr. Stubbs,” wailed Toby. “We never can find +our way out of here; an' now we hain't got anything to eat, and by +tomorrow we shall be starved to death. Oh dear! wasn't you bad enough +when you threw all the money away, so you had to go an' do this just +when we was in awful trouble?” + +Mr. Stubbs now looked up as if he had just been awakened by Toby's +grief, looked around him leisurely as if to see what could be the +matter, and then, apparently seeing for the first time the crumbs +that were lying around on the ground, took up some and examined them +intently. + +“Now don't go to makin' believe that you don't know how they come +there,” said Toby, showing anger toward his pet for the first time. “You +know it was you who did it, for there wasn't anyone else here, an' you +can't fool me by lookin' so surprised.” + +It seemed as if the monkey had come to the conclusion that his little +plan of ignorance wasn't the most perfect success, for he walked meekly +toward his young master, climbed up on his shoulder, and sat there +kissing his ear or looking down into his eyes, until the boy could +resist the mute appeal no longer, and took him into his arms and hugged +him closely as he said: + +“It can't be helped now, I s'pose, an' we shall have to get along the +best way we can; but it was awful wicked of you, Mr. Stubbs, an I don't +know what we're goin' to do for something to eat.” + +While the destructive fit was on him the old monkey had not spared the +smallest bit' of food, but had picked everything into such minute shreds +that none of it could be gathered up, and everything was surely wasted. + +While Toby sat bemoaning his fate and trying to make out what was to +be done for food, the darkness, which had just begun to gather when he +first awoke, now commenced to settle around, and he was obliged to seek +for some convenient place in which to spend the night before it became +so dark as to make the search impossible. + +Owing to the fact that he had slept nearly the entire afternoon, and +also rendered wakeful by the loss he had just sustained, Toby lay awake +on the hard ground, with the monkey on his arm, hour after hour, until +all kinds of fancies came to him, and in every sound feared he heard +someone from the circus coming to capture him, or some wild beast intent +on picking his bones. + +The cold sweat of fear stood out on his brow, and he hardly dared to +breathe, much more to speak, lest the sound of his voice should betray +his whereabouts and thus bring his enemies down upon him. The minutes +seemed like hours, and the hours like days, as he lay there, listening +fearfully to every one of the night sounds of the forest; and it seemed +to him that he had been there very many hours when at last he fell +asleep and was thus freed from his fears. + +Bright and early on the following morning Toby was awake, and as he came +to a realizing sense of all the dangers and trouble that surrounded him +he was disposed to give way again to his sorrow; but he said resolutely +to himself, “It might be a good deal worse than it is, an' Mr. Stubbs +an' I can get along one day without anything to eat; an' perhaps by +night we shall be out of the woods, an' then what we get will taste good +to us.” + +He began his walk--which possibly might not end that day--manfully, and +his courage was rewarded by soon reaching a number of bushes that were +literally loaded down with blackberries. From these he made a hearty +meal, and the old monkey fairly reveled in them, for he ate all he +possibly could, and then stowed enough in his cheeks to make a good +sized luncheon when he should be hungry again. + +Refreshed very much by his breakfast of fruit, Toby again started on his +journey with renewed vigor, and the world began to look very bright to +him. He had not thought that he might find berries when the thoughts of +starvation came into his mind, and, now that his hunger was satisfied, +he began to believe that he might possibly be able to live, perhaps for +weeks, in the woods solely upon what he might find growing there. + +Shortly after he had breakfast he came upon a brook, which he thought +was the same upon whose banks he had encamped the first night he spent +in the woods, and, pulling off his clothes, he waded into the deepest +part and had a most refreshing bath, although the water was rather cold. + +Not having any towels with which to dry himself, he was obliged to sit +in the sun until the moisture had been dried from his skin and he could +put his clothes on once more. Then he started out on his walk again, +feeling that sooner or later he would come out all right. + +All this time he had been traveling without any guide to tell him +whether he was going straight ahead or around in a circle, and he now +concluded to follow the course of the brook, believing that that would +lead him out of the forest some time. + +During the afternoon he walked steadily, but not so fast that he would +get exhausted quickly, and when by the position of the sun he judged +that it was noon he lay down on a mossy bank to rest. + +He was beginning to feel sad again. He had found no more berries, and +the elation which had been caused by his breakfast and his bath was +quickly passing away. The old monkey was in a tree almost directly above +his head, stretched out on one of the limbs in the most contented manner +possible; and as Toby watched him, and thought of all the trouble he had +caused by wasting the food, thoughts of starvation again came into his +mind, and he believed that he should not live to see Uncle Daniel again. + +Just as he was feeling the most sad and lonely, and where thoughts of +death from starvation were most vivid in his mind, he heard the barking +of a dog, which sounded close at hand. + +His first thought was that at last he was saved, and he was just +starting to his feet to shout for help when he heard the sharp report of +a gun and an agonizing cry from the branches above, and the old monkey +fell to the ground with a thud that told he had received his death +wound. + +All this had taken place so quickly that Toby did not at first +comprehend the extent of the misfortune which had overtaken him; but +a groan from the poor monkey, as he placed one little brown paw to his +breast, from which the blood was flowing freely, and looked up into his +master's face with a most piteous expression, showed the poor little boy +what a great trouble it was which had now come. + +Poor Toby uttered a loud cry of agony, which could not have been +more full of anguish had he received the ball in his own breast, and, +flinging himself by the side of the dying monkey, he gathered him +close to his breast, regardless of the blood that poured over him, +and, stroking tenderly the little head that had nestled so often in his +bosom, said, over and over again, as the monkey uttered short moans of +agony: “Who could have been so cruel? Who could have been so cruel?” + +Toby's tears ran like rain down his face, and he kissed his dying pet +again and again, as if he would take all the pain to himself. + +“Oh, if you could only speak to me!” he cried, as he took one of the +poor monkey's paws in his hand, and, finding that it was growing cold +with the chill of death, put it on his neck to warm it. “How I love you, +Mr. Stubbs! An' now you're goin' to die an leave me! Oh, if I hadn't +spoken cross to you yesterday, an' if I hadn't a'most choked you the day +that we went to the skeleton's to dinner! Forgive me for ever bein' bad +to you, won't you, Mr. Stubbs?” + +As the monkey's groans increased in number, but diminished in force, +Toby ran to the brook, filled his hands with water, and held it to the +poor animal's mouth. + +He lapped the water quickly and looked up with a human look of gratitude +in his eyes, as if thanking his master for that much relief. Then Toby +tried to wash the blood from his breast; but it flowed quite as fast as +he could wash it away, and he ceased his efforts in that direction, and +paid every attention to making his friend and pet more comfortable. +He took off his jacket and laid it on the ground for the monkey to lie +upon; picked a quantity of large green leaves as a cooling rest for his +head, and then sat by his side, holding his paws and talking to him +with the most tender words his lips--quivering with sorrow as they +were--could fashion. + + + + +XX. HOME AND UNCLE DANIEL + + +Meanwhile the author of all this misery had come upon the scene. He was +a young man, whose rifle and well filled game bag showed that he had +been hunting, and his face expressed the liveliest sorrow for what he +had so unwittingly done. + +“I didn't know I was firing at your pet,” he said to Toby as he laid his +hand on his shoulder and endeavored to make him look up. “I only saw a +little patch of fur through the trees, and, thinking it was some wild +animal, I fired. Forgive me, won't you, and let me put the poor brute +out of his misery?” + +Toby looked up fiercely at the murderer of his pet and asked, savagely: +“Why don't you go away? Don't you see that you have killed Mr. Stubbs, +an' you'll be hung for murder?” + +“I wouldn't have done it under any circumstances,” said the young man, +pitying Toby's grief most sincerely. “Come away and let me put the poor +thing out of its agony.” + +“How can you do it?” asked Toby, bitterly. “He's dying already.” + +“I know it, and it will be a kindness to put a bullet through his head.” + +If Toby had been big enough, perhaps there might really have been a +murder committed, for he looked up at the man who so coolly proposed to +kill the poor monkey after he had already received his death wound that +the young man stepped back quickly, as if really afraid that in his +desperation the boy might do him some injury. + +“Go 'way off,” said Toby, passionately, “an' don't ever come here again. +You've killed all I ever had in this world of my own to love me, an' I +hate you--I hate you!” + +Then, turning again to the monkey, he put his hands on each side of his +head, and, leaning down, kissed the little brown lips as tenderly as a +mother would kiss her child. + +The monkey was growing more and more feeble, and when Toby had shown +this act of affection he reached up his tiny paws, grasped Toby's +finger, half raised himself from the ground, and then with a convulsive +struggle fell back dead, while the tiny fingers slowly relaxed their +hold of the boy's hand. + +Toby feared that it was death, and yet hoped that he was mistaken; he +looked into the half open, fast glazing eyes, put his hand over his +heart, to learn if it were still beating; and, getting no responsive +look from the dead eyes, feeling no heart throbs from under that gory +breast, he knew that his pet was really dead, and flung himself by his +side in all the childish abandonment of grief. + +He called the monkey by name, implored him to look at him, and finally +bewailed that he had ever left the circus, where at least his pet's life +was safe, even if his own back received its daily flogging. + +The young man, who stood a silent spectator of this painful scene, +understood everything from Toby's mourning. He knew that a boy had run +away from the circus, for Messrs. Lord and Castle had stayed behind one +day, in the hope of capturing the fugitive, and they had told their own +version of Toby's flight. + +For nearly an hour Toby lay by the dead monkey's side, crying as if his +heart would break, and the young man waited until his grief should have +somewhat exhausted itself, and then approached the boy again. + +“Won't you believe that I didn't mean to do this cruel thing?” he asked, +in a kindly voice. “And won't you believe that I would do anything in my +power to bring your pet back to life?” + +Toby looked at him a moment earnestly, and then said, slowly, “Yes, I'll +try to.” + +“Now will you come with me, and let me talk to you? For I know who you +are, and why you are here.” + +“How do you know that?” + +“Two men stayed behind after the circus had left, and they hunted +everywhere for you.” + +“I wish they had caught me,” moaned Toby; “I wish they had caught me, +for then Mr. Stubbs wouldn't be here dead.” + +And Toby's grief broke out afresh as he again looked at the poor little +stiff form that had been a source of so much comfort and joy to him. + +“Try not to think of that now, but think of yourself and of what you +will do,” said the man, soothingly, anxious to divert Toby's mind from +the monkey's death as much as possible. + +“I don't want to think of myself, and I don't care what I'll do,” sobbed +the boy, passionately. + +“But you must; you can't stay here always, and I will try to help you +to get home, or wherever it is you want to go, if you will tell me all +about it.” + +It was some time before Toby could be persuaded to speak or think of +anything but the death of his pet; but the young man finally succeeded +in drawing his story from him, and then tried to induce him to leave +that place and accompany him to town. + +“I can't leave Mr. Stubbs,” said the boy, firmly; “he never left me the +night I got thrown out of the wagon an' he thought I was hurt.” + +Then came another struggle to induce him to bury his pet; and finally +Toby, after realizing the fact that he could not carry a dead monkey +with him, agreed to it; but he would not allow the young man to help him +in any way, or even to touch the monkey's body. + +He dug a grave under a little fir tree near by, and lined it with wild +flowers and leaves, and even then hesitated to cover the body with the +earth. At last he bethought himself of the fanciful costume which the +skeleton and his wife had given him, and in this he carefully wrapped +his dead pet. He had not one regret at leaving the bespangled suit, for +it was the best he could command, and surely nothing could be too good +for Mr. Stubbs. + +Tenderly he laid him in the little grave, and, covering the body with +flowers, said, pausing a moment before he covered it over with earth, +and while his voice was choked with emotion: “Goodby, Mr. Stubbs, +goodby! I wish it had been me instead of you that died, for I'm an awful +sorry little boy, now that you're dead!” + +Even after the grave had been filled, and a little mound made over it, +the young man had the greatest difficulty to persuade Toby to go with +him; and when the boy did consent to go at last he walked very slowly +away, and kept turning his head to look back just so long as the little +grave could be seen. + +Then, when the trees shut it completely out from sight, the tears +commenced again to roll down Toby's cheeks, and he sobbed out: “I wish I +hadn't left him. Oh, why didn't I make him lie down by me? an' then he'd +be alive now; an' how glad he'd be to know that we was getting out of +the woods at last!” + +But the man who had caused Toby this sorrow talked to him about other +matters, thus taking his mind from the monkey's death as much as +possible, and by the time the boy reached the village he had told his +story exactly as it was, without casting any reproaches on Mr. Lord, and +giving himself the full share of censure for leaving his home as he did. + +Mr. Lord and Mr. Castle had remained in the town but one day, for they +were told that a boy had taken the night train that passed through the +town about two hours after Toby had escaped, and they had set off at +once to act on that information. + +Therefore Toby need have no fears of meeting either of them just then, +and he could start on his homeward journey in peace. + +The young man who had caused the monkey's death tried first to persuade +Toby to remain a day or two with him, and, failing in that, he did all +he could toward getting the boy home as quickly and safely as possible. +He insisted on paying for his ticket on the steamboat, although Toby did +all he could to prevent him, and he even accompanied Toby to the next +town, where he was to take the steamer. + +He had not only paid for Toby's ticket, but he had paid for a stateroom +for him; and when the boy said that he could sleep anywhere, and that +there was no need of such expense, the man replied: “Those men who were +hunting for you have gone down the river, and will be very likely to +search the boat, when they discover that they started on the wrong +scent. They will never suspect that you have got a stateroom; and if +you are careful to remain in it during the trip you will get through +safely.” + +Then, when the time came for the steamer to start, the young man said to +Toby: “Now, my boy, you won't feel hard at me for shooting the monkey, +will you? I would have done anything to bring him back to life, but, as +I could not do that, helping you to get home was the next best thing I +could do.” + +“I know you didn't mean to shoot Mr. Stubbs,” said Toby, with moistening +eyes as he spoke of his pet, “an' I'm sorry I said what I did to you in +the woods.” + +Before there was time to say any more the warning whistle was sounded, +the plank pulled in, the great wheels commenced to revolve, and Toby was +really on his way to Uncle Daniel and Guilford. + +It was then but five o'clock in the afternoon, and he could not expect +to reach home until two or three o'clock in the afternoon of the next +day; but he was in a tremor of excitement as he thought that he should +walk through the streets of Guilford once more, see all the boys, and go +home to Uncle Daniel. + +And yet, whenever he thought of that home, of meeting those boys, of +going once more to all those old familiar places, the memory of all that +he had planned when he should take the monkey with him would come into +his mind and damp even his joy, great as it was. + +That night he had considerable difficulty in falling asleep, but did +finally succeed in doing so; and when he awoke the steamer was going +up the river, whose waters seemed like an old friend, because they had +flowed right down past Guilford on their way to the sea. + +At each town where a landing was made Toby looked eagerly out on the +pier, thinking that by chance someone from his home might be there and +he would see a familiar face again. But all this time he heeded the +advice given him and remained in his room, where he could see and not +be seen; and it was well for him that he did so, for at one of the +landings he saw both Mr. Lord and Mr. Castle come on board the boat. + +Toby's heart beat fast and furious, and he expected every moment to hear +them at the door, demanding admittance, for it seemed to him that they +must know exactly where he was secreted. + +But no such misfortune occurred. The men had evidently only boarded the +boat to search for the boy, for they landed again before the steamer +started, and Toby had the satisfaction of seeing their backs as they +walked away from the pier. It was some time before he recovered from the +fright which the sight of them gave him; but when he did his thoughts +and hopes far outstripped the steamer, which, it seemed, was going so +slowly, and he longed to see Guilford with an impatience that could +hardly be restrained. + +At last he could see the spire of the little church on the hill, and +when the steamer rounded the point, affording a full view of the town, +and sounded her whistle as a signal for those on the shore to come to +the pier, Toby could hardly restrain himself from jumping up and down +and shouting in his delight. + +He was at the gangplank ready to land fully five minutes before the +steamer was anywhere near the wharf, and when he recognized the first +face on the pier what a happy boy he was! + +He was at home! The dream of the past ten weeks was at length realized, +and neither Mr. Lord nor Mr. Castle had any terrors for him now. + +He ran down the gangplank before it was ready, and clasped every boy he +saw there round the neck, and would have kissed them if they had shown +an inclination to let him do so. + +Of course he was overwhelmed with questions, but before he would answer +any he asked for Uncle Daniel and the others at home. + +Some of the boys ventured to predict that Toby would get a jolly good +whipping for running away, and the only reply which the happy Toby made +to that was: + +“I hope I will, an' then I'll feel as if I had kinder paid for runnin' +away. If Uncle Dan'l will only let me stay with him again he may whip me +every mornin', an' I won't open my mouth to holler.” + +The boys were impatient to hear the story of Toby's travels, but he +refused to tell it them, saying: + +“I'll go home, an' if Uncle Dan'l forgives me for bein' so wicked I'll +sit down this afternoon an' tell you all you want to know about the +circus.” + +Then, far more rapidly than he had run away from it, Toby ran toward the +home which he had called his ever since he could remember, and his heart +was full almost to bursting as he thought that perhaps he would be told +that he had forfeited all claim to it, and that he could never more call +it “home” again. + +When he entered the old familiar sitting room Uncle Daniel was seated +near the window, alone, looking out wistfully--as Toby thought--across +the fields of yellow waving grain. + +Toby crept softly in, and, going up to the old man, knelt down and said, +very humbly, and with his whole soul in the words, “Oh, Uncle Dan'l! +if you'll only forgive me for bein' wicked an' runnin' away, an' let me +stay here again--for it's all the home I ever had--I'll do everything +you tell me to, an never whisper in meetin' or do anything bad.” + +And then he waited for the words which would seal his fate. They were +not long in coming. + +“My poor boy,” said Uncle Daniel, softly, as he stroked Toby's +refractory red hair, “my love for you was greater than I knew, and when +you left me I cried aloud to the Lord as if it had been my own flesh and +blood that had gone afar from me. Stay here, Toby, my son, and help to +support this poor old body as it goes down into the dark valley of the +shadow of death; and then, in the bright light of that glorious future, +Uncle Daniel will wait to go with you into the presence of Him who is +ever a father to the fatherless.” + +And in Uncle Daniel's kindly care we may safely leave Toby Tyler. + +THE END + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Toby Tyler, by James Otis + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TOBY TYLER *** + +***** This file should be named 7478-0.txt or 7478-0.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/7/4/7/7478/ + +Produced by Martin Robb + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Toby Tyler + +Author: James Otis + +Release Date: July 22, 2009 [EBook #7478] +Last Updated: March 16, 2018 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TOBY TYLER *** + + + + +Produced by Martin Robb, and David Widger + + + + + + +</pre> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h1> + TOBY TYLER + </h1> + <h3> + or + </h3> + <h2> + TEN WEEKS WITH A CIRCUS + </h2> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h2> + By James Otis + </h2> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + Contents + </h2> + <table summary="" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto"> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2H_4_0001"> I. </a> + </td> + <td> + TOBY'S INTRODUCTION TO THE CIRCUS + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2H_4_0002"> II. </a> + </td> + <td> + TOBY RUNS AWAY FROM HOME + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2H_4_0003"> III. </a> + </td> + <td> + THE NIGHT RIDE + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2H_4_0004"> IV. </a> + </td> + <td> + THE FIRST DAY WITH THE CIRCUS + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2H_4_0005"> V. </a> + </td> + <td> + THE COUNTERFEIT TEN CENT PIECE + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2H_4_0006"> VI. </a> + </td> + <td> + A TENDER HEARTED SKELETON + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2H_4_0007"> VII. </a> + </td> + <td> + AN ACCIDENT AND ITS CONSEQUENCES + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2H_4_0008"> VIII. </a> + </td> + <td> + CAPTURE OF THE MONKEYS + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2H_4_0009"> IX. </a> + </td> + <td> + THE DINNER PARTY + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2H_4_0010"> X. </a> + </td> + <td> + MR. STUBBS AT A PARTY + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2H_4_0011"> XI. </a> + </td> + <td> + A STORMY NIGHT + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2H_4_0012"> XII. </a> + </td> + <td> + TOBY'S GREAT MISFORTUNE + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2H_4_0013"> XIII. </a> + </td> + <td> + TOBY ATTEMPTS TO RESIGN HIS SITUATION + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2H_4_0014"> XIV. </a> + </td> + <td> + MR. CASTLE TEACHES TOBY TO RIDE + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2H_4_0015"> XV. </a> + </td> + <td> + TOBY'S FRIENDS PRESENT HIM WITH A COSTUME + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2H_4_0016"> XVI. </a> + </td> + <td> + TOBY'S FIRST APPEARANCE IN THE RING + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2H_4_0017"> XVII. </a> + </td> + <td> + OFF FOR HOME! + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2H_4_0018"> XVIII. </a> + </td> + <td> + A DAY OF FREEDOM + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2H_4_0019"> XIX. </a> + </td> + <td> + MR STUBBS'S MISCHIEF, AND HIS SAD FATE + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2H_4_0020"> XX. </a> + </td> + <td> + HOME AND UNCLE DANIEL + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + </td> + </tr> + </table> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2H_4_0001" id="link2H_4_0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <h2> + I. TOBY'S INTRODUCTION TO THE CIRCUS + </h2> + <p> + “Wouldn't you give more 'n six peanuts for a cent?” was a question asked + by a very small boy, with big, staring eyes, of a candy vender at a circus + booth. And as he spoke he looked wistfully at the quantity of nuts piled + high up on the basket, and then at the six, each of which now looked so + small as he held them in his hand. + </p> + <p> + “Couldn't do it,” was the reply of the proprietor of the booth, as he put + the boy's penny carefully away in the drawer. + </p> + <p> + The little fellow looked for another moment at his purchase, and then + carefully cracked the largest one. + </p> + <p> + A shade—and a very deep shade it was—of disappointment passed + over his face, and then, looking up anxiously, he asked, “Don't you swap + 'em when they're bad?” + </p> + <p> + The man's face looked as if a smile had been a stranger to it for a long + time; but one did pay it a visit just then, and he tossed the boy two + nuts, and asked him a question at the same time. “What is your name?” + </p> + <p> + The big brown eyes looked up for an instant, as if to learn whether the + question was asked in good faith, and then their owner said, as he + carefully picked apart another nut, “Toby Tyler.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, that's a queer name.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, I s'pose so, myself; but, you see, I don't expect that's the name + that belongs to me. But the fellers call me so, an' so does Uncle Dan'l.” + </p> + <p> + “Who is Uncle Daniel?” was the next question. In the absence of other + customers the man seemed disposed to get as much amusement out of the boy + as possible. + </p> + <p> + “He hain't my uncle at all; I only call him so because all the boys do, + an' I live with him.” + </p> + <p> + “Where's your father and mother?” + </p> + <p> + “I don't know,” said Toby, rather carelessly. “I don't know much about + 'em, an' Uncle Dan'l says they don't know much about me. Here's another + bad nut; goin' to give me two more?” + </p> + <p> + The two nuts were given him, and he said, as he put them in his pocket and + turned over and over again those which he held in his hand: “I shouldn't + wonder if all of these was bad. S'posen you give me two for each one of + 'em before I crack 'em, an' then they won't be spoiled so you can't sell + 'em again.” + </p> + <p> + As this offer of barter was made, the man looked amused, and he asked, as + he counted out the number which Toby desired, “If I give you these, I + suppose you'll want me to give you two more for each one, and you'll keep + that kind of a trade going until you get my whole stock?” + </p> + <p> + “I won't open my head if every one of em's bad.” + </p> + <p> + “All right; you can keep what you've got, and I'll give you these besides; + but I don't want you to buy any more, for I don't want to do that kind of + business.” + </p> + <p> + Toby took the nuts offered, not in the least abashed, and seated himself + on a convenient stone to eat them, and at the same time to see all that + was going on around him. The coming of a circus to the little town of + Guilford was an event, and Toby had hardly thought of anything else since + the highly colored posters had first been put up. It was yet quite early + in the morning, and the tents were just being erected by the men. Toby had + followed, with eager eyes, everything that looked as if it belonged to the + circus, from the time the first wagon had entered the town until the + street parade had been made and everything was being prepared for the + afternoon's performance. + </p> + <p> + The man who had made the losing trade in peanuts seemed disposed to + question the boy still further, probably owing to the fact that he had + nothing better to do. + </p> + <p> + “Who is this Uncle Daniel you say you live with? Is he a farmer?” + </p> + <p> + “No; he's a deacon, an' he raps me over the head with the hymn book + whenever I go to sleep in meetin', an' he says I eat four times as much as + I earn. I blame him for hittin' so hard when I go to sleep, but I s'pose + he's right about my eatin'. You see,” and here his tone grew both + confidential and mournful, “I am an awful eater, an' I can't seem to help + it. Somehow I'm hungry all the time. I don't seem ever to get enough till + carrot time comes, an' then I can get all I want without troublin' + anybody.” + </p> + <p> + “Didn't you ever have enough to eat?” + </p> + <p> + “I s'pose I did; but you see Uncle Dan'l he found me one mornin' on his + hay, an' he says I was cryin' for something to eat then, an' I've kept it + up ever since. I tried to get him to give me money enough to go into the + circus with; but he said a cent was all he could spare these hard times, + an' I'd better take that an' buy something to eat with it, for the show + wasn't very good, anyway. I wish peanuts wasn't but a cent a bushel.” + </p> + <p> + “Then you would make yourself sick eating them.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, I s'pose I should; Uncle Dan'l says I'd eat till I was sick, if I + got the chance; but I'd like to try it once.” + </p> + <p> + He was a very small boy, with a round head covered with short red hair, a + face as speckled as any turkey's egg, but thoroughly good natured looking; + and as he sat there on the rather sharp point of the rock, swaying his + body to and fro as he hugged his knees with his hands, and kept his eyes + fastened on the tempting display of good things before him, it would have + been a very hard hearted man who would not have given him something. + </p> + <p> + But Mr. Job Lord, the proprietor of the booth, was a hard hearted man, and + he did not make the slightest advance toward offering the little fellow + anything. + </p> + <p> + Toby rocked himself silently for a moment, and then he said, hesitatingly, + “I don't suppose you'd like to sell me some things, an' let me pay you + when I get older, would you?” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Lord shook his head decidedly at this proposition. + </p> + <p> + “I didn't s'pose you would,” said Toby, quickly; “but you didn't seem to + be selling anything, an' I thought I'd just see what you'd say about it.” + And then he appeared suddenly to see something wonderfully interesting + behind him, which served as an excuse to turn his reddening face away. + </p> + <p> + “I suppose your uncle Daniel makes you work for your living, don't he?” + asked Mr. Lord, after he had rearranged his stock of candy and had added a + couple of slices of lemon peel to what was popularly supposed to be + lemonade. + </p> + <p> + “That's what I think; but he says that all the work I do wouldn't pay for + the meal that one chicken would eat, an' I s'pose it's so, for I don't + like to work as well as a feller without any father and mother ought to. I + don't know why it is, but I guess it's because I take up so much time + eatin' that it kinder tires me out. I s'pose you go into the circus + whenever you want to, don't you?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh yes; I'm there at every performance, for I keep the stand under the + big canvas as well as this one out here.” + </p> + <p> + There was a great big sigh from out Toby's little round stomach, as he + thought what bliss it must be to own all those good things and to see the + circus wherever it went. + </p> + <p> + “It must be nice,” he said, as he faced the booth and its hard visaged + proprietor once more. + </p> + <p> + “How would you like it?” asked Mr. Lord, patronizingly, as he looked Toby + over in a business way, very much as if he contemplated purchasing him. + </p> + <p> + “Like it!” echoed Toby. “Why, I'd grow fat on it!” + </p> + <p> + “I don't know as that would be any advantage,” continued Mr. Lord, + reflectively, “for it strikes me that you're about as fat now as a boy of + your age ought to be. But I've a great mind to give you a chance.” + </p> + <p> + “What!” cried Toby, in amazement, and his eyes opened to their widest + extent as this possible opportunity of leading a delightful life presented + itself. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, I've a great mind to give you the chance. You see,” and now it was + Mr. Lord's turn to grow confidential, “I've had a boy with me this season, + but he cleared out at the last town, and I'm running the business alone + now.” + </p> + <p> + Toby's face expressed all the contempt he felt for the boy who would run + away from such a glorious life as Mr. Lord's assistant must lead; but he + said not a word, waiting in breathless expectation for the offer which he + now felt certain would be made him. + </p> + <p> + “Now I ain't hard on a boy,” continued Mr. Lord, still confidentially, + “and yet that one seemed to think that he was treated worse and made to + work harder than any boy in the world.” + </p> + <p> + “He ought to live with Uncle Dan'l a week,” said Toby, eagerly. + </p> + <p> + “Here I was just like a father to him,” said Mr. Lord, paying no attention + to the interruption, “and I gave him his board and lodging, and a dollar a + week besides.” + </p> + <p> + “Could he do what he wanted to with the dollar?” + </p> + <p> + “Of course he could. I never checked him, no matter how extravagant he + was, an' yet I've seen him spend his whole week's wages at this very stand + in one afternoon. And even after his money had all gone that way, I've + paid for peppermint and ginger out of my own pocket just to cure his + stomach ache.” + </p> + <p> + Toby shook his head mournfully, as if deploring that depravity which could + cause a boy to run away from such a tender hearted employer and from such + a desirable position. But even as he shook his head so sadly he looked + wistfully at the peanuts, and Mr. Lord observed the look. + </p> + <p> + It may have been that Mr. Job Lord was the tender hearted man he prided + himself upon being, or it may have been that he wished to purchase Toby's + sympathy; but, at all events, he gave him a large handful of nuts, and + Toby never bothered his little round head as to what motive prompted the + gift. Now he could listen to the story of the boy's treachery and eat at + the same time; therefore he was an attentive listener. + </p> + <p> + “All in the world that boy had to do,” continued Mr. Lord, in the same + injured tone he had previously used, “was to help me set things to rights + when we struck a town in the morning, and then tend to the counter till we + left the town at night, and all the rest of the time he had to himself. + Yet that boy was ungrateful enough to run away.” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Lord paused, as if expecting some expression of sympathy from his + listener; but Toby was so busily engaged with his unexpected feast, and + his mouth was so full, that it did not seem even possible for him to shake + his head. + </p> + <p> + “Now what should you say if I told you that you looked to me like a boy + that was made especially to help run a candy counter at a circus, and if I + offered the place to you?” + </p> + <p> + Toby made one frantic effort to swallow the very large mouthful, and in a + choking voice he answered, quickly, “I should say I'd go with you, an' be + mighty glad of the chance.” + </p> + <p> + “Then it's a bargain, my boy, and you shall leave town with me tonight.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0002" id="link2H_4_0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + II. TOBY RUNS AWAY FROM HOME + </h2> + <p> + Toby could scarcely restrain himself at the prospect of this golden future + that had so suddenly opened before him. He tried to express his gratitude, + but could only do so by evincing his willingness to commence work at once. + </p> + <p> + “No, no, that won't do,” said Mr. Lord, cautiously. “If your uncle Daniel + should see you working here, he might mistrust something, and then you + couldn't get away.” + </p> + <p> + “I don't believe he'd try to stop me,” said Toby, confidently; “for he's + told me lots of times that it was a sorry day for him when he found me.” + </p> + <p> + “We won't take any chances, my son,” was the reply, in a very benevolent + tone, as he patted Toby on the head and at the same time handed him a + piece of pasteboard. “There's a ticket for the circus, and you come around + to see me about ten o'clock tonight. I'll put you on one of the wagons, + and by' tomorrow morning your uncle Daniel will have hard work to find + you.” + </p> + <p> + If Toby had followed his inclinations, the chances are that he would have + fallen on his knees and kissed Mr. Lord's hands in the excess of his + gratitude. But not knowing exactly how such a show of thankfulness might + be received, he contented himself by repeatedly promising that he would be + punctual to the time and place appointed. + </p> + <p> + He would have loitered in the vicinity of the candy stand in order that he + might gain some insight into the business; but Mr. Lord advised him to + remain away, lest his uncle Daniel would see him, and suspect where he had + gone when he was missed in the morning. + </p> + <p> + As Toby walked around the circus grounds, whereon was so much to attract + his attention, he could not prevent himself from assuming an air of + proprietorship. His interest in all that was going on was redoubled, and + in his anxiety that everything should be done correctly and in the proper + order he actually, and perhaps for the first time in his life, forgot that + he was hungry. He was really to travel with a circus, to become a part, as + it were, of the whole, and to be able to see its many wonderful and + beautiful attractions every day. + </p> + <p> + Even the very tent ropes had acquired a new interest for him, and the + faces of the men at work seemed suddenly to have become those of friends. + How hard it was for him to walk around unconcernedly: and how especially + hard to prevent his feet from straying toward that tempting display of + dainties which he was to sell to those who came to see and enjoy, and who + would look at him with wonder and curiosity! It was very hard not to be + allowed to tell his playmates of his wonderfully good fortune; but silence + meant success, and he locked his secret in his bosom, not even daring to + talk with anyone he knew, lest he should betray himself by some incautious + word. + </p> + <p> + He did not go home to dinner that day, and once or twice he felt impelled + to walk past the candy stand, giving a mysterious shake of the head at the + proprietor as he did so. The afternoon performance passed off as usual to + all of the spectators save Toby. He imagined that each one of the + performers knew that he was about to join them; and even as he passed the + cage containing the monkeys he fancied that one particularly old one knew + all about his intention of running away. + </p> + <p> + Of course it was necessary for him to go home at the close of the + afternoon's performance, in order to get one or two valuable articles of + his own—such as a boat, a kite, and a pair of skates—and in + order that his actions might not seem suspicious. Before he left the + grounds, however, he stole slyly around to the candy stand, and informed + Mr. Job Lord, in a very hoarse whisper, that he would be on hand at the + time appointed. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Lord patted him on the head, gave him two large sticks of candy, and, + what was more kind and surprising, considering the fact that he wore + glasses and was cross eyed, he winked at Toby. A wink from Mr. Lord must + have been intended to convey a great deal, because, owing to the defect in + his eyes, it required no little exertion, and even then could not be + considered as a really first class wink. + </p> + <p> + That wink, distorted as it was, gladdened Toby's heart immensely and took + away nearly all the sting of the scolding with which Uncle Daniel greeted + him when he reached home. + </p> + <p> + That night—despite the fact that he was going to travel with the + circus, despite the fact that his home was not a happy or cheerful one—Toby + was not in a pleasant frame of mind. He began to feel for the first time + that he was doing wrong; and as he gazed at Uncle Daniel's stern, + forbidding looking face, it seemed to have changed somewhat from its + severity, and caused a great lump of something to come up in his throat as + he thought that perhaps he should never see it again. Just then one or two + kind words would have prevented him from running away, bright as the + prospect of circus life appeared. + </p> + <p> + It was almost impossible for him to eat anything, and this very surprising + state of affairs attracted the attention of Uncle Daniel. + </p> + <p> + “Bless my heart! what ails the boy?” asked the old man, as he peered over + his glasses at Toby's well filled plate, which was usually emptied so + quickly. “Are ye sick, Toby, or what is the matter with ye?” + </p> + <p> + “No, I hain't sick,” said Toby, with a sigh; “but I've been to the circus, + an' I got a good deal to eat.” + </p> + <p> + “Oho! You spent that cent I give ye, eh, an' got so much that it made ye + sick?” + </p> + <p> + Toby thought of the six peanuts which he had bought with the penny Uncle + Daniel had given him; and, amid all his homesickness, he could not help + wondering if Uncle Daniel ever made himself sick with only six peanuts + when he was a boy. + </p> + <p> + As no one paid any further attention to Toby, he pushed back his plate, + arose from the table, and went with a heavy heart to attend to his regular + evening chores. The cow, the hens, and even the pigs came in for a share + of his unusually kind attention; and as he fed them all the big tears + rolled down his cheeks as he thought that perhaps never again would he see + any of them. These dumb animals had all been Toby's confidants; he had + poured out his griefs in their ears, and fancied, when the world or Uncle + Daniel had used him unusually hard, that they sympathized with him. Now he + was leaving them forever, and as he locked the stable door he could hear + the sounds of music coming from the direction of the circus grounds, and + he was angry at it, because it represented that which was taking him away + from his home, even though it was not as pleasant as it might have been. + </p> + <p> + Still, he had no thought of breaking the engagement which he had made. He + went to his room, made a bundle of his worldly possessions, and crept out + of the back door, down the road to the circus. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Lord saw him as soon as he arrived on the grounds, and as he passed + another ticket to Toby he took his bundle from him, saying, as he did so: + “I'll pack up your bundle with my things, and then you'll be sure not to + lose it. Don't you want some candy?” + </p> + <p> + Toby shook his head; he had just discovered that there was possibly some + connection between his heart and his stomach, for his grief at leaving + home had taken from him all desire for good things. It is also more than + possible that Mr. Lord had had experience enough with boys to know that + they might be homesick on the eve of starting to travel with a circus; and + in order to make sure that Toby would keep to his engagement he was + unusually kind. + </p> + <p> + That evening was the longest Toby ever knew. He wandered from one cage of + animals to another; then to see the performance in the ring, and back + again to the animals, in the vain hope of passing the time pleasantly. + </p> + <p> + But it was of no use; that lump in his throat would remain there, and the + thoughts of what he was about to do would trouble him severely. The + performance failed to interest him, and the animals did not attract until + he had visited the monkey cage for the third or fourth time. Then he + fancied that the same venerable monkey who had looked so knowing in the + afternoon was gazing at him with a sadness which could only have come from + a thorough knowledge of all the grief and doubt that was in his heart. + </p> + <p> + There was no one around the cages, and Toby got just as near to the iron + bars as possible. No sooner had he flattened his little pug nose against + the iron than the aged monkey came down from the ring in which he had been + swinging, and, seating himself directly in front of Toby's face, looked at + him most compassionately. + </p> + <p> + It would not have surprised the boy just then if the animal had spoken; + but as he did not, Toby did the next best thing and spoke to him. + </p> + <p> + “I s'pose you remember that you saw me this afternoon, an' somebody told + you that I was goin' to join the circus, didn't they?” + </p> + <p> + The monkey made no reply, though Toby fancied that he winked an + affirmative answer; and he looked so sympathetic that he continued, + confidentially: + </p> + <p> + “Well, I'm the same feller, an' I don't mind telling you that I'm awfully + sorry that I promised that candy man I'd go with him. Do you know that I + came near crying at the supper table tonight; an' Uncle Dan'l looked real + good an' nice, though I never thought so before. I wish I wasn't goin', + after all, 'cause it don't seem a bit like a good time now; but I s'pose I + must, 'cause I promised to, an' 'cause the candy man has got all my + things.” + </p> + <p> + The big tears had begun to roll down Toby's cheeks, and as he ceased + speaking the monkey reached out one little paw, which Toby took as + earnestly as if it had been done purposely to console him. + </p> + <p> + “You're real good, you are,” continued Toby; “an' I hope I shall see you + real often, for it seems to me now, when there hain't any folks around, as + if you was the only friend I've got in this great big world. It's awful + when a feller feels the way I do, an' when he don't seem to want anything + to eat. Now if you'll stick to me I'll stick to you, an' then it won't be + half so bad when we feel this way.” + </p> + <p> + During this speech Toby had still clung to the little brown paw, which the + monkey now withdrew, and continued to gaze into the boy's face. + </p> + <p> + “The fellers all say I don't amount to anything,” sobbed Toby, “an' Uncle + Dan'l says I don't, an' I s'pose they know; but I tell you I feel just as + bad, now that I'm goin' away from them all, as if I was as good as any of + them.” + </p> + <p> + At this moment Toby saw Mr. Lord enter the tent, and he knew that the + summons to start was about to be given. + </p> + <p> + “Goodby,” he said to the monkey, as he vainly tried to take him by the + hand again. “Remember what I've told you, an' don't forget that Toby Tyler + is feelin' worse tonight than if he was twice as big an' twice as good.” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Lord had come to summon him away, and he now told Toby that he would + show him with which man he was to ride that night. + </p> + <p> + Toby looked another goodby at the venerable monkey, who was watching him + closely, and then followed his employer out of the tent, among the ropes + and poles and general confusion attendant upon the removal of a circus + from one place to another. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0003" id="link2H_4_0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + III. THE NIGHT RIDE + </h2> + <p> + The wagon on which Mr. Lord was to send his new found employee was, by the + most singular chance, the one containing the monkeys, and Toby accepted + this as a good omen. He would be near his venerable friend all night, and + there was some consolation in that. The driver instructed the boy to watch + his movements, and when he saw him leading his horses around, “to look + lively and be on hand, for he never waited for anyone.” + </p> + <p> + Toby not only promised to do as ordered, but he followed the driver around + so closely that, had he desired, he could not have rid himself of his + little companion. + </p> + <p> + The scene which presented itself to Toby's view was strange and weird in + the extreme. Shortly after he had attached himself to the man with whom he + was to ride, the performance was over, and the work of putting the show + and its belongings into such a shape as could be conveyed from one town to + another was soon in active operation. Toby forgot his grief, forgot that + he was running away from the only home he had ever known—in fact, + forgot everything concerning himself—so interested was he in that + which was going on about him. + </p> + <p> + As soon as the audience had got out of the tent and almost before the work + of taking down the canvas was begun. + </p> + <p> + Torches were stuck in the earth at regular intervals, the lights that had + shone so brilliantly in and around the ring had been extinguished, the + canvas sides had been taken off, and the boards that had formed the seats + were being packed into one of the carts with a rattling sound that seemed + as if a regular fusillade of musketry was being indulged in. Men were + shouting; horses were being driven hither and thither, harnessed to the + wagons, or drawing the huge carts away as soon as they were loaded; and + everything seemed in the greatest state of confusion, while really the + work was being done in the most systematic manner possible. + </p> + <p> + Toby had not long to wait before the driver informed him that the time for + starting had arrived, and assisted him to climb up to the narrow seat + whereon he was to ride that night. + </p> + <p> + The scene was so exciting, and his efforts to stick to the narrow seat so + great, that he really had no time to attend to the homesick feeling that + had crept over him during the first part of the evening. + </p> + <p> + The long procession of carts and wagons drove slowly out of the town, and + when the last familiar house had been passed the driver spoke to Toby for + the first time, since they started. + </p> + <p> + “Pretty hard work to keep on—eh, sonny?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” replied the boy, as the wagon jolted over a rock, bouncing him high + in air, and he, by strenuous efforts, barely succeeded in alighting on the + seat again, “it is pretty hard work; an' my name's Toby Tyler.” + </p> + <p> + Toby heard a queer sound that seemed to come from the man's throat, and + for a few moments he feared that his companion was choking. But he soon + understood that this was simply an attempt to laugh, and he at once + decided that it was a very poor style of laughing. + </p> + <p> + “So you object to being called sonny, do you?” + </p> + <p> + “Well, I'd rather be called Toby, for, you see, that's my name.” + </p> + <p> + “All right, my boy; we'll call you Toby. I suppose you thought it was a + mighty fine thing to run away an' jine a circus, didn't you?” + </p> + <p> + Toby started in affright, looked around cautiously, and then tried to peer + down through the small square aperture, guarded by iron rods, that opened + into the cage just back of the seat they were sitting on. Then he turned + slowly around to the driver, and asked, in a voice sunk to a whisper: “How + did you know that I was runnin' away? Did he tell you?” and Toby motioned + with his thumb as if he were pointing out someone behind him. + </p> + <p> + It was the driver's turn now to look around in search of the “he” referred + to by Toby. + </p> + <p> + “Who do you mean?” asked the man, impatiently. + </p> + <p> + “Why, the old feller; the one in the cart there. I think he knew I was + runnin' away, though he didn't say anything about it; but he looked just + as if he did.” + </p> + <p> + The driver looked at Toby in perfect amazement for a moment, and then, as + if suddenly understanding the boy, relapsed into one of those convulsive + efforts that caused the blood to rush up into his face and gave him every + appearance of having a fit. + </p> + <p> + “You must mean one of the monkeys,” said the driver, after he had + recovered his breath, which had been almost shaken out of his body by the + silent laughter. “So you thought a monkey had told me what any fool could + have seen if he had watched you for five minutes.” + </p> + <p> + “Well,” said Toby, slowly, as if he feared he might provoke one of those + terrible laughing spells again, “I saw him tonight, an' he looked as if he + knew what I was doin'; so I up an' told him, an' I didn't know but he'd + told you, though he didn't look to me like a feller that would be mean.” + </p> + <p> + There was another internal shaking on the part of the driver, which Toby + did not fear so much, since he was getting accustomed to it, and then the + man said, “Well, you are the queerest little cove I ever saw.” + </p> + <p> + “I s'pose I am,” was the reply, accompanied by a long drawn sigh. “I don't + seem to amount to so much as the other fellers do, an' I guess it's + because I'm always hungry; you see, I eat awful, Uncle Dan'l says.” + </p> + <p> + The only reply which the driver made to this plaintive confession was to + put his hand down into the deepest recesses of one of his deep pockets and + to draw therefrom a huge doughnut, which he handed to his companion. + </p> + <p> + Toby was so much at his ease by this time that the appetite which had + failed him at supper had now returned in full force, and he devoured the + doughnut in a most ravenous manner. + </p> + <p> + “You're too small to eat so fast,” said the man, in a warning tone, as the + last morsel of the greasy sweetness disappeared, and he fished up another + for the boy. “Some time you'll get hold of one of the India rubber + doughnuts that they feed to circus people, an' choke yourself to death.” + </p> + <p> + Toby shook his head, and devoured this second cake as quickly as he had + the first, craning his neck, and uttering a funny little squeak as the + last bit went down, just as a chicken does when he gets too large a + mouthful of dough. + </p> + <p> + “I'll never choke,” he said, confidently. “I'm used to it; and Uncle Dan'l + says I could eat a pair of boots an' never wink at 'em; but I don't just + believe that.” + </p> + <p> + As the driver made no reply to this remark Toby watched with no little + interest all that was passing on around him. Each of the wagons had a + lantern fastened to the hind axle, and these lights could be seen far + ahead on the road, as if a party of fireflies had started in single file + on an excursion. The trees by the side of the road stood out weird and + ghostly looking in the darkness, and the rumble of the carts ahead and + behind formed a musical accompaniment to the picture that sounded + strangely doleful. + </p> + <p> + Mile after mile was passed over in perfect silence, save now and then when + the driver would whistle a few bars of some very dismal tune that would + fairly make Toby shiver with its mournfulness. Eighteen miles was the + distance from Guilford to the town where the next performance of the + circus was to be given, and as Toby thought of the ride before them it + seemed as if the time would be almost interminable. He curled himself up + on one corner of the seat, and tried very hard to go to sleep; but just as + his eyes began to grow heavy the wagon would jolt over some rock or sink + deep in some rut, till Toby, the breath very nearly shaken out of his + body, and his neck almost dislocated, would sit bolt upright, clinging to + the seat with both hands, as if he expected each moment to be pitched out + into the mud. + </p> + <p> + The driver watched him closely, and each time that he saw him shaken up + and awakened so thoroughly he would indulge in one of his silent laughing + spells, until Toby would wonder whether he would ever recover from it. + Several times had Toby been awakened, and each time he had seen the + amusement his sufferings caused, until he finally resolved to put an end + to the sport by keeping awake. + </p> + <p> + “What is your name?” he asked of the driver, thinking a conversation would + be the best way to rouse himself into wakefulness. + </p> + <p> + “Waal,” said the driver, as he gathered the reins carefully in one hand, + and seemed to be debating in his mind how he should answer the question, + “I don't know as I know myself, it's been so long since I've heard it.” + </p> + <p> + Toby was wide enough awake now, as this rather singular problem was forced + upon his mind. He revolved the matter silently for some moments, and at + last he asked, “What do folks call you when they want to speak to you?” + </p> + <p> + “They always call me Old Ben, an' I've got so used to the name that I + don't need any other.” + </p> + <p> + Toby wanted very much to ask more questions, but he wisely concluded that + it would not be agreeable to his companion. + </p> + <p> + “I'll ask the old man about it,” said Toby to himself, referring to the + aged monkey, whom he seemed to feel acquainted with; “he most likely + knows, if he'll say anything.” + </p> + <p> + After this the conversation ceased, until Toby again ventured to suggest, + “It's a pretty long drive, hain't it?” + </p> + <p> + “You want to wait till you've been in this business a year or two,” said + Ben, sagely, “an' then you won't think much of it. Why, I've known the + show towns to be thirty miles apart, an' them was the times when we had + lively work of it. Riding all night and working all day kind of wears on a + fellow.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, I s'pose so,” said Toby, with a sigh, as he wondered whether he had + got to work as hard as that; “but I s'pose you get all you want to eat, + don't you?” + </p> + <p> + “Now you've struck it!” said Ben, with the air of one about to impart a + world of wisdom, as he crossed one leg over the other, that his position + might be as comfortable as possible while he was initiating his young + companion into the mysteries of the life. “I've had all the boys ride with + me since I've been with this show, an' I've tried to start them right; but + they didn't seem to profit by it, an' always got sick of the show an' run + away, just because they didn't look out for themselves as they ought to. + Now listen to me, Toby, an' remember what I say. You see they put us all + in a hotel together, an' some of these places where we go don't have any + too much stuff on the table. Whenever we strike a new town you find out at + the hotel what time they have the grub ready, an' you be on hand, so's to + get in with the first. Eat all you can, an' fill your pockets.” + </p> + <p> + “If that's all a feller has to do to travel with a circus,” said Toby, + “I'm just the one, 'cause I always used to do just that when I hadn't any + idea of bein' a circus man.” + </p> + <p> + “Then you'll get along all right,” said Ben, as he checked the speed of + his horses and, looking carefully ahead, said, as he guided his team to + one side of the road, “This is as far as we're going tonight.” + </p> + <p> + Toby learned that they were within a couple of miles of the town, and that + the entire procession would remain by the roadside until time to make the + grand entree into the village, when every wagon, horse, and man would be + decked out in the most gorgeous array, as they had been when they entered + Guilford. + </p> + <p> + Under Ben's direction he wrapped himself in an old horse blanket, and lay + down on the top of the wagon; and he was so tired from the excitement of + the day and night that he had hardly stretched out at full length before + he was fast asleep. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0004" id="link2H_4_0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + IV. THE FIRST DAY WITH THE CIRCUS + </h2> + <p> + When Toby awakened and looked around he could hardly realize where he was + or bow he came there. As far ahead and behind on the road as he could see + the carts were drawn up on one side; men were hurrying to and fro, orders + were being shouted, and everything showed that the entry into the town was + about to be made. Directly opposite the wagon on which he had been + sleeping were the four elephants and two camels, and close behind, + contentedly munching their breakfasts, were a number of tiny ponies. + Troops of horses were being groomed and attended to; the road was littered + with saddles, flags, and general decorations, until it seemed to Toby that + there must have been a smash up, and that he now beheld ruins rather than + systematic disorder. + </p> + <p> + How different everything looked now, compared to the time when the + cavalcade marched into Guilford, dazzling everyone with the gorgeous + display! Then the horses pranced gayly under their gaudy decorations, the + wagons were bright with glass, gilt, and flags, the lumbering elephants + and awkward camels were covered with fancifully embroidered velvets, and + even the drivers of the wagons were resplendent in their uniforms of + scarlet and gold. Now, in the gray light of the early morning, everything + was changed. The horses were tired and muddy, and wore old and dirty + harness; the gilded chariots were covered with mud bespattered canvas, + which caused them to look like the most ordinary of market wagons; the + elephants and camels looked dingy, dirty, almost repulsive; and the + drivers were only a sleepy looking set of men, who, in their shirt + sleeves, were getting ready for the change which would dazzle the eyes of + the inhabitants of the town. + </p> + <p> + Toby descended from his lofty bed, rubbed his eyes to thoroughly awaken + himself, and, under the guidance of Ben, went to a little brook near by + and washed his face. He had been with the circus not quite ten hours, but + now he could not realize that it had ever seemed bright and beautiful. He + missed his comfortable bed, the quiet and cleanliness, and the well spread + table; even although he had felt the lack of parents' care, Uncle Daniel's + home seemed the very abode of love and friendly feeling compared with this + condition, where no one appeared to care even enough for him to scold at + him. He was thoroughly homesick, and heartily wished that he was back in + his old native town. + </p> + <p> + While he was washing his face in the brook he saw some of the boys who had + come out from the town to catch the first glimpse of the circus, and he + saw at once that he was the object of their admiring gaze. He heard one of + the boys say, when they first discovered him: + </p> + <p> + “There's one of them, an' he's only a little feller; so I'm going to talk + to him.” + </p> + <p> + The evident admiration which the boys had for Toby pleased him, and this + pleasure was the only drop of comfort he had had since he started. He + hoped they would come and talk with him; and, that they might have the + opportunity, he was purposely slow in making his toilet. + </p> + <p> + The boys approached him shyly, as if they had their doubts whether he was + made of the same material as themselves, and when they got quite near to + him and satisfied themselves that he was only washing his face in much the + same way that any well regulated boy would do, the one who had called + attention to him said, half timidly, “Hello!” + </p> + <p> + “Hello!” responded Toby, in a tone that was meant to invite confidence. + </p> + <p> + “Do you belong to the circus?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said Toby, a little doubtfully. + </p> + <p> + Then the boys stared at him again as if he were one of the strange looking + animals, and the one who had been the spokesman drew a long breath of envy + as he said, longingly, “My! what a nice time you must have!” + </p> + <p> + Toby remembered that only yesterday he himself had thought that boys must + have a nice time with a circus, and he now felt what a mistake that + thought was; but he concluded that he would not undeceive his new + acquaintance. + </p> + <p> + “And do they give you frogs to eat, so's to make you limber?” + </p> + <p> + This was the first time that Toby had thought of breakfast, and the very + mention of eating made him hungry. He was just at that moment so very + hungry that he did not think he was replying to the question when he said, + quickly: “Eat frogs! I could eat anything, if I only had the chance.” + </p> + <p> + The boys took this as an answer to their question, and felt perfectly + convinced that the agility of circus riders and tumblers depended upon the + quantity of frogs eaten, and they looked upon Toby with no little degree + of awe. + </p> + <p> + Toby might have undeceived them as to the kind of food he ate, but just at + that moment the harsh voice of Mr. Job Lord was heard calling him, and he + hurried away to commence his first day's work. + </p> + <p> + Toby's employer was not the same pleasant, kindly spoken man that he had + been during the time they were in Guilford and before the boy was + absolutely under his control. He looked cross, he acted cross, and it did + not take the boy very long to find out that he was very cross. + </p> + <p> + He scolded Toby roundly, and launched more oaths at his defenseless head + than Toby had ever heard in his life. He was angry that the boy had not + been on hand to help him, and also that he had been obliged to hunt for + him. + </p> + <p> + Toby tried to explain that he had no idea of what he was expected to do, + and that he had been on the wagon to which he had been sent, only leaving + it to wash his face; but the angry man grew still more furious. + </p> + <p> + “Went to wash your face, did yer? Want to set yourself up for a dandy, I + suppose, and think that you must souse that speckled face of yours into + every brook you come to? I'll soon break you of that; and the sooner you + understand that I can't afford to have you wasting your time in washing + the better it will be for you.” + </p> + <p> + Toby now grew angry, and, not realizing how wholly he was in the man's + power, he retorted: “If you think I'm going round with a dirty face, even + if it is speckled, for a dollar a week, you're mistaken, that's all. How + many folks would eat your candy if they knew you handled it over before + you washed your hands?” + </p> + <p> + “Oho! I've picked up a preacher, have I? Now I want you to understand, my + bantam, that I do all the preaching as well as the practicing myself, and + this is about as quick a way as I know of to make you understand it.” + </p> + <p> + As the man spoke he grasped the boy by the coat collar with one hand and + with the other plied a thin rubber cane with no gentle force to every + portion of Toby's body that he could reach. + </p> + <p> + Every blow caused the poor boy the most intense pain; but he determined + that his tormentor should not have the satisfaction of forcing an outcry + from him, and he closed his lips so tightly that not a single sound could + escape from them. + </p> + <p> + This very silence enraged the man so much that he redoubled the force and + rapidity of his blows, and it is impossible to say what might have been + the consequences had not Ben come that way just then and changed the + aspect of affairs. + </p> + <p> + “Up to your old tricks of whipping the boys, are you, Job?” he said, as he + wrested the cane from the man's hand and held him off at arm's length, to + prevent him from doing Toby more mischief. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Lord struggled to release himself, and insisted that, since the boy + was in his employ, he should do with him just as he saw fit. + </p> + <p> + “Now look here, Mr. Lord,” said Ben, as gravely as if he was delivering + some profound piece of wisdom, “I've never interfered with you before; but + now I'm going to stop your game of thrashing your boy every morning before + breakfast. You just tell this youngster what you want him to do, and if he + don't do it you can discharge him. If I hear of your flogging him, I shall + attend to your case at once. You hear me?” + </p> + <p> + Ben shook the now terrified candy vender much as if he had been a child, + and then released him, saying to Toby as he did so, “Now, my boy, you + attend to your business as you ought to, and I'll settle his accounts if + he tries the flogging game again.” + </p> + <p> + “You see, I don't know what there is for me to do,” sobbed Toby, for the + kindly interference of Ben had made him show more feeling than Mr. Lord's + blows had done. + </p> + <p> + “Tell him what he must do,” said Ben, sternly. + </p> + <p> + “I want him to go to work and wash the tumblers, and fix up the things in + that green box, so we can commence to sell as soon as we get into town,” + snarled Mr. Lord, as he motioned toward a large green chest that had been + taken out of one of the carts, and which Toby saw was filled with dirty + glasses, spoons, knives, and other utensils such as were necessary to + carry on the business. + </p> + <p> + Toby got a pail of water from the brook, hunted around and found towels + and soap, and devoted himself to his work with such industry that Mr. Lord + could not repress a grunt of satisfaction as he passed him, however angry + he felt because he could not administer the whipping which would have + smoothed his ruffled temper. + </p> + <p> + By the time the procession was ready to start for the town Toby had as + much of his work done as he could find that it was necessary to do, and + his master, in his surly way, half acknowledged that this last boy of his + was better than any he had had before. + </p> + <p> + Although Toby had done his work so well he was far from feeling happy; he + was both angry and sad as he thought of the cruel blows that had been + inflicted, and he had plenty of leisure to repent of the rash step he had + taken, although he could not see very clearly how he was to get away from + it. He thought that he could not go back to Guilford, for Uncle Daniel + would not allow him to come to his house again; and the hot scalding tears + ran down his cheeks as he realized that he was homeless and friendless in + this great big world. + </p> + <p> + It was while he was in this frame of mind that the procession, all gaudy + with flags, streamers, and banners, entered the town. Under different + circumstances this would have been a most delightful day for him, for the + entrance of a circus into Guilford had always been a source of one day's + solid enjoyment; but now he was the most disconsolate and unhappy boy in + all that crowd. + </p> + <p> + He did not ride throughout the entire route of the procession, for Mr. + Lord was anxious to begin business, and the moment the tenting ground was + reached the wagon containing Mr. Lord's goods was driven into the + inclosure and Toby's day's work began. + </p> + <p> + He was obliged to bring water, to cut up the lemons, fetch and carry fruit + from the booth in the big tent to the booth on the outside, until he was + ready to drop with fatigue, and, having had no time for breakfast, was + nearly famished. + </p> + <p> + It was quite noon before he was permitted to go to the hotel for something + to eat, and then Ben's advice to be one of the first to get to the tables + was not needed. + </p> + <p> + In the eating line that day he astonished the servants, the members of the + company, and even himself, and by the time he arose from the table, with + both pockets and his stomach full to bursting, the tables had been set and + cleared away twice while he was making one meal. + </p> + <p> + “Well, I guess you didn't hurry yourself much,” said Mr. Lord, when Toby + returned to the circus ground. + </p> + <p> + “Oh yes, I did,” was Toby's innocent reply: “I ate just as fast as I + could”; and a satisfied smile stole over the boy's face as he thought of + the amount of solid food he had consumed. + </p> + <p> + The answer was not one which was calculated to make Mr. Lord feel any more + agreeably disposed toward his new clerk, and he showed his ill temper very + plainly as he said, “It must take a good deal to satisfy you.” + </p> + <p> + “I s'pose it does,” calmly replied Toby. “Sam Merrill used to say that I + took after Aunt Olive and Uncle Dan'l; one ate a good while, an' the other + ate awful fast.” + </p> + <p> + Toby could not understand what it was that Mr. Lord said in reply, but he + could understand that his employer was angry at somebody or something, and + he tried unusually hard to please him. He talked to the boys who had + gathered around, to induce them to buy, washed the glasses as fast as they + were used, tried to keep off the flies, and in every way he could think of + endeavored to please his master. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0005" id="link2H_4_0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + V. THE COUNTERFEIT TEN CENT PIECE + </h2> + <p> + When the doors of the big tent were opened, and the people began to crowd + in, just as Toby had seen them do at Guilford, Mr. Lord announced to his + young clerk that it was time for him to go into the tent to work. Then it + was that Toby learned for the first time that he had two masters instead + of one, and this knowledge caused him no little uneasiness. If the other + one was anything like Mr. Lord, his lot would be just twice as bad, and he + began to wonder whether he could even stand it one day longer. + </p> + <p> + As the boy passed through the tent on his way to the candy stand, where he + was really to enter upon the duties for which he had run away from home, + he wanted to stop for a moment and speak with the old monkey who he + thought had taken such an interest in him. But when he reached the cage in + which his friend was confined, there was such a crowd around it that it + was impossible for him to get near enough to speak without being + overheard. + </p> + <p> + This was such a disappointment to the little fellow that the big tears + came into his eyes, and in another instant would have gone rolling down + his cheeks if his aged friend had not chanced to look toward him. Toby + fancied that the monkey looked at him in the most friendly way, and then + he was Certain that he winked one eye. Toby felt that there was no mistake + about that wink, and it seemed as if it was intended to convey comfort to + him in his troubles. He winked back at the monkey in the most emphatic and + grave manner possible, and then went on his way, feeling wonderfully + comforted. + </p> + <p> + The work inside the tent was far different and much harder than it was + outside. He was obliged to carry around among the audience trays of candy, + nuts, and lemonade for sale, and he was expected to cry aloud the + description of that which he offered. The partner of Mr. Lord, who had + charge of the stand inside the tent, showed himself to be neither better + nor worse than Mr. Lord himself. When Toby first presented himself for + work he handed him a tray filled with glasses of lemonade, and told him to + go among the audience, crying, “Here's your nice cold lemonade, only five + cents a glass!” + </p> + <p> + Toby started to do as he was bidden; but when he tried to repeat the words + in anything like a loud tone of voice they stuck in his throat, and he + found it next to impossible to utter a sound above a whisper. It seemed to + him that everyone in the audience was looking only at him, and the very + sound of his own voice made him afraid. + </p> + <p> + He went entirely around the tent once without making a sale, and when he + returned to the stand he was at once convinced that one of his masters was + quite as bad as the other. This one—and he knew that his name was + Jacobs, for he heard someone call him so—very kindly told him that + he would break every bone in his body if he didn't sell something, and + Toby confidently believed that he would carry out his threat. + </p> + <p> + It was with a very heavy heart that he started around again in obedience + to Mr. Jacobs's angry command; but this time he did manage to cry out, in + a very thin and very squeaky voice, the words which he had been told to + repeat. + </p> + <p> + This time—perhaps owing to his pitiful and imploring look, certainly + not because of the noise he made—he met with very good luck, and + sold every glass of the mixture which Messrs. Lord and Jacobs called + lemonade, and went back to the stand for more. + </p> + <p> + He certainly thought he had earned a word of praise, and fully expected it + as he put the empty glasses and money on the stand in front of Mr. Jacobs. + But, instead of the kind words, he was greeted with a volley of curses; + and the reason for it was that he had taken in payment for two of the + glasses a lead ten cent piece. Mr. Jacobs, after scolding poor little Toby + to his heart's content, vowed that the amount should be kept from his + first week's wages, and then handed back the coin, with orders to give it + to the first man who gave him money to change, under the penalty of a + severe flogging if he failed to do so. + </p> + <p> + Poor Toby tried to explain matters by saying: “You see, I don't know + anything about money; I never had more 'n a cent at a time, an' you + mustn't expect me to get posted all at once.” + </p> + <p> + “I'll post you with a stick if you do it again; an' it won't be well for + you if you bring that ten cent piece back here!” + </p> + <p> + Now Toby was very well aware that to pass the coin, knowing it to be bad, + would be a crime, and be resolved to take the consequences of which Mr. + Jacobs had intimated, if he could not find the one who had given him the + counterfeit and persuade him to give him good money in its stead. He + remembered very plainly where he had sold each glass of lemonade, and he + retraced his steps, glancing at each face carefully as he passed. At last + he was confident that he saw the man who had gotten him into such trouble, + and he climbed up the board seats, saying, as he stood in front of him and + held out the coin: “Mister, this money that you gave me is bad. Won't you + give me another one for it?” + </p> + <p> + The man was a rough looking party who had taken his girl to the circus, + and who did not seem at all disposed to pay any heed to Toby's request. + Therefore he repeated it, and this time more loudly. + </p> + <p> + “Get out the way!” said the man, angrily. “How can you expect me to see + the show if you stand right in front of me?” + </p> + <p> + “You'll like it better,” said Toby, earnestly, “if you give me another ten + cent piece.” + </p> + <p> + “Get out an' don't bother me!” was the angry rejoinder; and the little + fellow began to think that perhaps he would be obliged to “get out” + without getting his money. + </p> + <p> + It was becoming a desperate case, for the man was growing angry very fast + and if Toby did not succeed in getting good money for the bad, he would + have to take the consequences of which Mr. Jacobs had spoken. + </p> + <p> + “Please, mister,” he said, imploringly—for his heart began to grow + very heavy, and he was fearing that he should not succeed—“won't you + please give me the money back? You know you gave it to me, an' I'll have + to pay it if you don't.” + </p> + <p> + The boy's lip was quivering, and those around began to be interested in + the affair, while several in the immediate vicinity gave vent to their + indignation that a man should try to cheat a boy out of ten cents by + giving him counterfeit money. + </p> + <p> + The man whom Toby was speaking to was about to dismiss him with an angry + reply, when he saw that those about him were not only interested in the + matter, but were evidently taking sides with the boy against him; and + knowing well that he had given the counterfeit money, he took another coin + from his pocket and, handing it to Toby, said, “I didn't give you the lead + piece; but you're making such a fuss about it that here's ten cents to + make you keep quiet.” + </p> + <p> + “I'm sure you did give me the money,” said Toby, as he took the extended + coin, “an' I'm much obliged to you for takin' it back. I didn't want to + tell you before, 'cause you'd thought I was beggin'; but if you hadn't + given me this, I 'xpect I'd have got an awful whippin', for Mr. Jacobs + said he'd fix me if I didn't get the money for it.” + </p> + <p> + The man looked sheepish enough as he put the bad money in his pocket, and + Toby's innocently told story caused such a feeling in his behalf among + those who sat near that he not only disposed of his entire stock then and + there, but received from one gentleman twenty-five cents for himself. He + was both proud and happy as he returned to Mr. Jacobs with empty glasses, + and with the money to refund the amount of loss which would have been + caused by the counterfeit. + </p> + <p> + But the worthy partner of Mr. Lord's candy business had no words of + encouragement for the boy who was trying so hard to please. + </p> + <p> + “Let that make you keep your eyes open,” he growled out, sulkily; “an' if + you get caught in that trap again, you won't be let off so easy.” + </p> + <p> + Poor little Toby! his heart seemed ready to break; but his few hours' + previous experience had taught him that there was but one thing to do, and + that was to work just as hard as possible, trusting to some good fortune + to enable him to get out of the very disagreeable position in which he had + voluntarily placed himself. + </p> + <p> + He took the basket of candy that Mr. Jacobs handed him, and trudged around + the circle of seats, selling far more because of the pitifulness of his + face than because of the excellence of his goods; and even this worked to + his disadvantage. Mr. Jacobs was keen enough to see why his little clerk + sold so many goods, and each time that he returned to the stand he said + something to him in an angry tone, which had the effect of deepening the + shadow on the boy's face and at the same time increasing trade. + </p> + <p> + By the time the performance was over Toby had in his pocket a dollar and + twenty-five cents which had been given him for himself by some of the kind + hearted in the audience, and he kept his hand almost constantly upon it, + for the money seemed to him like some kind friend who would help him out + of his present difficulties. + </p> + <p> + After the audience had dispersed, Mr. Jacobs set Toby at work washing the + glasses and clearing up generally, and then the boy started toward the + other portion of the store—that watched over by Mr. Lord. Not a + person save the watchman was in the tent, and as Toby went toward the door + he saw his friend the monkey sitting in one corner of the cage, and + apparently watching his every movement. + </p> + <p> + It was as if he had suddenly seen one of the boys from home, and Toby, + uttering an exclamation of delight, ran up to the cage and put his hand + through the wires. + </p> + <p> + The monkey, in the gravest possible manner, took one of the fingers in his + paw, and Toby shook hands with him very earnestly. + </p> + <p> + “I was sorry that I couldn't speak to you when I went in this noon,” said + Toby, as if making an apology; “but, you see, there were so many around + here to see you that I couldn't get the chance. Did you see me wink at + you?” + </p> + <p> + The monkey made no reply, but he twisted his face into such a funny little + grimace that Toby was quite as well satisfied as if he had spoken. + </p> + <p> + “I wonder if you hain't some relation to Steve Stubbs?” Toby continued, + earnestly, “for you look just like him, only he don't have quite so many + whiskers. What I wanted to say was that I'm awful sorry I run away. I used + to think that Uncle Dan'l was bad enough; but he was just a perfect good + Samarathon to what Mr. Lord an' Mr. Jacobs are; an' when Mr. Lord looks at + me with that crooked eye of his I feel it 'way down in my boots. Do you + know”—and here Toby put his mouth nearer to the monkey's head and + whispered—“I'd run away from this circus if I could get the chance. + Wouldn't you?” + </p> + <p> + Just at this point, as if in answer to the question, the monkey stood up + on his hind feet and reached out his paw to the boy, who seemed to think + this was his way of being more emphatic in saying “Yes.” + </p> + <p> + Toby took the paw in his hand, shook it again earnestly, and said, as he + released it: “I was pretty sure you felt just about the same way I did, + Mr. Stubbs, when I passed you this noon. Look here”—and Toby took + the money from his pocket which had been given him—“I got all that + this afternoon, an' I'll try an' stick it out somehow till I get as much + as ten dollars, an' then we'll run away some night, an' go 'way off as far + as—as—as out West; an' we'll stay there, too.” + </p> + <p> + The monkey, probably tired with remaining in one position so long; started + toward the top of the cage, chattering and screaming, joining the other + monkeys, who had gathered in a little group in one of the swings. + </p> + <p> + “Now see here, Mr. Stubbs,” said Toby, in alarm, “you mustn't go to + telling everybody about it, or Mr. Lord will know, an' then we'll be + dished, sure.” + </p> + <p> + The monkey sat quietly in the swing, as if he felt reproved by what the + boy had said; and Toby, considerably relieved by his silence, said, as he + started toward the door, “That's right—mum's the word; you keep + quiet, an' so will I, an' pretty soon we'll get away from the whole + crowd.” + </p> + <p> + All the monkeys chattered; and Toby, believing that everything which he + had said had been understood by the animals, went out of the door to meet + his other taskmaster. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0006" id="link2H_4_0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + VI. A TENDER HEARTED SKELETON + </h2> + <p> + “Now, then, lazybones,” was Mr. Lord's warning cry as Toby came out of the + tent, “if you've fooled away enough of your time, you can come here an' + tend shop for me while I go to supper. You crammed yourself this noon, an' + it 'll teach you a good lesson to make you go without anything to eat + tonight; it 'll make you move round more lively in future.” + </p> + <p> + Instead of becoming accustomed to such treatment as he was receiving from + his employers, Toby's heart grew more tender with each brutal word, and + this last punishment—that of losing his supper—caused the poor + boy more sorrow than blows would. Mr. Lord started for the hotel as he + concluded his cruel speech; and poor little Toby, going behind the + counter, leaned his head upon the rough boards and cried as if his heart + would break. + </p> + <p> + All the fancied brightness and pleasure of a circus life had vanished, and + in its place was the bitterness of remorse that he had repaid Uncle + Daniel's kindness by the ingratitude of running away. Toby thought that if + he could only nestle his little red head on the pillows of his little bed + in that rough room at Uncle Daniel's, he would be the happiest and best + boy, in the future, in all the great wide world. + </p> + <p> + While he was still sobbing away at a most furious rate he heard a voice + close at his elbow, and, looking up, saw the thinnest man he had ever seen + in all his life. The man had flesh colored tights on, and a spangled red + velvet garment—that was neither pants, because there were no legs to + it, nor a coat, because it did not come above his waist—made up the + remainder of his costume. + </p> + <p> + Because he was so wonderfully thin, because of the costume which he wore, + and because of a highly colored painting which was hanging in front of one + of the small tents, Toby knew that the Living Skeleton was before him, and + his big brown eyes opened all the wider as he gazed at him. + </p> + <p> + “What is the matter, little fellow?” asked the man, in a kindly tone. + “What makes you cry so? Has Job been up to his old tricks again?” + </p> + <p> + “I don't know what his old tricks are—” and Toby sobbed, the tears + coming again because of the sympathy which this man's voice expressed for + him—“but I know that he's a mean, ugly thing—that's what I + know; an' if I could only get back to Uncle Dan'l, there hain't elephants + enough in all the circuses in the world to pull me away again.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, you run away from home, did you?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, I did,” sobbed Toby, “an' there hain't any boy in any Sunday School + book that ever I read that was half so sorry he'd been bad as I am. It's + awful; an' now I can't have any supper, 'cause I stopped to talk with Mr. + Stubbs.” + </p> + <p> + “Is Mr. Stubbs one of your friends?” asked the skeleton, as he seated + himself in Mr. Lord's own private chair. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, he is, an' he's the only one in this whole circus who 'pears to be + sorry for me. You'd better not let Mr. Lord see you sittin' in that chair + or he'll raise a row.” + </p> + <p> + “Job won't raise any row with me,” said the skeleton. “But who is this Mr. + Stubbs? I don't seem to know anybody by that name.” + </p> + <p> + “I don't think that is his name. I only call him so, 'cause he looks so + much like a feller I know who is named Stubbs.” + </p> + <p> + This satisfied the skeleton that this Mr. Stubbs must be someone attached + to the show, and he asked: + </p> + <p> + “Has Job been whipping you?” + </p> + <p> + “No; Ben, the driver on the wagon where I ride, told him not to do that + again; but he hain't going to let me have any supper, 'cause I was so slow + about my work—though I wasn't slow; I only talked to Mr. Stubbs when + there wasn't anybody round his cage.” + </p> + <p> + “Sam! Sam! Sam-u-el!” + </p> + <p> + This name, which was shouted twice in a quick, loud voice, and the third + time in a slow manner, ending almost in a screech, did not come from + either Toby or the skeleton, but from an enormously large woman, dressed + in a gaudy red and black dress, cut very short, and with low neck and an + apology for sleeves, who had just come out from the tent whereon the + picture of the Living Skeleton hung. + </p> + <p> + “Samuel,” she screamed again, “come inside this minute, or you'll catch + your death o' cold, an' I shall have you wheezin' around with the phthisic + all night. Come in, Sam-u-el.” + </p> + <p> + “That's her,” said the skeleton to Toby, as he pointed his thumb in the + direction of the fat woman, but paying no attention to the outcry she was + making—“that's my wife Lilly, an' she's the Fat Woman of the show. + She's always yellin' after me that way the minute I get out for a little + fresh air, an' she's always sayin' just the same thing. Bless you, I never + have the phthisic, but she does awful; an' I s'pose 'cause she's so large + she can't feel all over her, an' thinks it's me that has it.” + </p> + <p> + “Is—is all that—is that your wife?” stammered Toby, in + astonishment, as he looked at the enormously fat woman who stood in the + tent door, and then at the wonderfully thin man who sat beside him. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, that's her,” said the skeleton. “She weighs pretty nigh four + hundred, though of course the show cards says it's over six hundred, an' + she earns almost as much money as I do. Of course she can't get so much, + for skeletons is much scarcer than fat folks; but we make a pretty good + thing travelin' together.” + </p> + <p> + “Sam-u-el!” again came the cry from the fat woman, “are you never coming + in?” + </p> + <p> + “Not yet, my angel,” said the skeleton, placidly, as he crossed one thin + leg over the other and looked calmly at her. “Come here an' see Job's new + boy.” + </p> + <p> + “Your imprudence is wearin' me away so that I sha'n't be worth five + dollars a week to any circus,” she said, impatiently, at the same time + coming toward the candy stand quite as rapidly as her very great size + would admit. + </p> + <p> + “This is my wife Lilly—Mrs. Treat,” said the skeleton, with a proud + wave of his hand, as he rose from his seat and gazed admiringly at her. + “This is my flower—my queen, Mr. — Mr. —” + </p> + <p> + “Tyler,” said Toby, supplying the name which the skeleton—or Mr. + Treat, as Toby now learned his name was—did not know; “Tyler is my + name—Toby Tyler.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, what a little chap you are!” said Mrs. Treat, paying no attention to + the awkward little bend of the head which Toby intended for a bow. “How + small he is, Samuel!” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said the skeleton, reflectively, as he looked Toby over from head + to foot, as if he were mentally trying to calculate exactly how many + inches high he was, “he is small; but he's got all the world before him to + grow in, an' if he only eats enough—There, that reminds me. Job + isn't going to give him any supper, because he didn't work hard enough.” + </p> + <p> + “He won't, won't he?” exclaimed the large lady, savagely. “Oh, he's a + precious one, he is! An' some day I shall just give him a good shakin' up, + that's what I'll do. I get all out of patience with that man's ugliness.” + </p> + <p> + “An' she'll do just what she says,” said the skeleton to Toby, with an + admiring shake of the head. “That woman hain't afraid of anybody, an' I + wouldn't be a bit surprised if she did give Job a pretty rough time.” + </p> + <p> + Toby thought, as he looked at her, that she was large enough to give 'most + anyone a pretty rough time, but he did not venture to say so. While he was + looking first at her, and then at her very thin husband, the skeleton told + his wife the little that he had learned regarding the boy's history; and + when he had concluded she waddled away toward her tent. + </p> + <p> + “Great woman that,” said the skeleton, as he saw her disappear within the + tent. + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said Toby, “she's the greatest I ever saw.” + </p> + <p> + “I mean that she's got a great head. Now you'll see about how much she + cares for what Job says.” + </p> + <p> + “If I was as big as her,” said Toby, with just a shade of envy in his + voice, “I wouldn't be afraid of anybody.” + </p> + <p> + “It hain't so much the size,” said the skeleton, sagely—“it hain't + so much the size, my boy; for I can scare that woman almost to death when + I feel like it.” + </p> + <p> + Toby looked for a moment at Mr. Treat's thin legs and arms, and then he + said, warningly, “I wouldn't feel like it very often if I was you, Mr. + Treat, 'cause she might break some of your bones if you didn't happen to + scare her enough.” + </p> + <p> + “Don't fear for me, my boy—don't fear for me; you'll see how I + manage her if you stay with the circus long enough. Now I often—” + </p> + <p> + If Mr. Treat was about to confide a family secret to Toby, it was fated + that he should not hear it then, for Mrs. Treat had just come out of her + tent, carrying in her hands a large tin plate piled high with a + miscellaneous assortment of pie, cake, bread, and meat. + </p> + <p> + She placed this in front of Toby, and as she did so she handed him two + pictures. + </p> + <p> + “There, little Toby Tyler,” she said—“there's something for you to + eat, if Mr. Job Lord and his precious partner Jacobs did say you shouldn't + have any supper; an' I've brought you a picture of Samuel an' me. We sell + 'em for ten cents apiece, but I'm going to give them to you, because I + like the looks of you.” + </p> + <p> + Toby was quite overcome with the presents, and seemed at a loss how to + thank her for them. He attempted to speak, but could not get the words out + at first; and then he said, as he put the two photographs in the same + pocket with his money: “You're awful good to me, an' when I get to be a + man I'll give you lots of things. I wasn't so very hungry, if I am such a + big eater, but I did want something.” + </p> + <p> + “Bless your dear little heart, and you shall have something to eat,” said + the Fat Woman, as she seized Toby, squeezed him close up to her, and + kissed his freckled face as kindly as if it had been as fair and white as + possible. “You shall eat all you want to; an' if you get the stomachache, + as Samuel does sometimes when he's been eatin' too much, I'll give you + some catnip tea out of the same dipper that I give him his. He's a great + eater, Samuel is,” she added, in a burst of confidence, “an' it's a wonder + to me what he does with it all sometimes.” + </p> + <p> + “Is he?” exclaimed Toby, quickly. “How funny that is! for I'm an awful + eater. Why, Uncle Dan'l used to say that I ate twice as much as I ought + to, an' it never made me any bigger. I wonder what's the reason?” + </p> + <p> + “I declare I don't know,” said the Fat Woman, thoughtfully, “an' I've + wondered at it time an' time again. Some folks is made that way, an' some + folks is made different. Now I don't eat enough to keep a chicken alive, + an' yet I grow fatter an' fatter every day—don't I, Samuel?” + </p> + <p> + “Indeed you do, my love,” said the skeleton, with a world of pride in his + voice; “but you mustn't feel bad about it, for every pound you gain makes + you worth just so much more to the show.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, I wasn't worryin', I was only wonderin'. But we must go, Samuel, for + the poor child won't eat a bit while we are here. After you've eaten what + there is there, bring the plate in to me,” she said to Toby, as she took + her lean husband by the arm and walked him off toward their own tent. + </p> + <p> + Toby gazed after them a moment, and then he commenced a vigorous attack + upon the eatables which had been so kindly given him. Of the food which he + had taken from the dinner table he had eaten some while he was in the + tent, and after that he had entirely forgotten that he had any in his + pocket; therefore, at the time that Mrs. Treat had brought him such a + liberal supply he was really very hungry. + </p> + <p> + He succeeded in eating nearly all the food which had been brought to him, + and the very small quantity which remained he readily found room for in + his pockets. Then he washed the plate nicely; and seeing no one in sight, + he thought he could leave the booth long enough to return the plate. + </p> + <p> + He ran with it quickly into the tent occupied by the thin man and fat + woman, and handed it to her, with a profusion of thanks for her kindness. + </p> + <p> + “Did you eat it all?” she asked. + </p> + <p> + “Well,” hesitated Toby, “there was two doughnuts an' a piece of pie left + over, an' I put them in my pocket. If you don't care, I'll eat them some + time tonight.” + </p> + <p> + “You shall eat it whenever you want to; an' any time that you get hungry + again you come right to me.” + </p> + <p> + “Thank you, marm. I must go now, for I left the store all alone.” + </p> + <p> + “Run, then; an' if Job abuses you, just let me know it, an' I'll keep him + from cuttin' up any monkeyshines.” + </p> + <p> + Toby hardly heard the end of her sentence, so great was his haste to get + back to the booth; and just as he emerged from the tent, on a quick run, + he received a blow on the ear which sent him sprawling in the dust, and he + heard Mr. Job Lord's angry voice as it said, + </p> + <p> + “So, just the moment my back is turned you leave the stand to take care of + itself, do you, an' run around tryin' to plot some mischief against me, + eh?” And the brute kicked the prostrate boy twice with his heavy boot. + </p> + <p> + “Please don't kick me again!” pleaded Toby. “I wasn't gone but a minute, + an' I wasn't doing anything bad.” + </p> + <p> + “You're lying now, an' you know it, you young cub!” exclaimed the angry + man as he advanced to kick the boy again. “I'll let you know who you've + got to deal with when you get hold of me!” + </p> + <p> + “And I'll let you know who you've got to deal with when you get hold of + me!” said a woman's voice; and just as Mr. Lord raised his foot to kick + the boy again the fat woman seized him by the collar, jerked him back over + one of the tent ropes, and left him quite as prostrate as he had left + Toby. + </p> + <p> + “Now, Job Lord,” said the angry woman, as she towered above the thoroughly + enraged but thoroughly frightened man, “I want you to understand that you + can't knock and beat this boy while I'm around. I've seen enough of your + capers, an' I'm going to put a stop to them. That boy wasn't in this tent + more than two minutes, an' he attends to his work better than anyone you + have ever had; so see that you treat him decent. Get up,” she said to + Toby, who had not dared to rise from the ground; “and if he offers to + strike you again, come to me.” + </p> + <p> + Toby scrambled to his feet, and ran to the booth in time to attend to one + or two customers who had just come up. He could see from out the corner of + his eye that Mr. Lord had arisen to his feet also, and was engaged in an + angry conversation with Mrs. Treat, the result of which he very much + feared would be another and a worse whipping for him. + </p> + <p> + But in this he was mistaken, for Mr. Lord, after the conversation was + ended, came toward the booth, and began to attend to his business without + speaking one word to Toby. When Mr. Jacobs returned from his supper, Mr. + Lord took him by the arm and walked him out toward the rear of the tents; + and Tony was very positive that he was to be the subject of their + conversation, which made him not a little uneasy. + </p> + <p> + It was not until nearly time for the performance to begin that Mr. Lord + returned, and he had nothing to say to Toby save to tell him to go into + the tent and begin his work there. The boy was only too glad to escape so + easily, and he went to his work with as much alacrity as if he were about + entering upon some pleasure. + </p> + <p> + When he met Mr. Jacobs that gentleman spoke to him very sharply about + being late, and seemed to think it no excuse at all that he had just been + relieved from the outside work by Mr. Lord. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0007" id="link2H_4_0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + VII. AN ACCIDENT AND ITS CONSEQUENCES + </h2> + <p> + Toby's experience in the evening was very similar to that of the + afternoon, save that he was so fortunate as not to take any more bad money + in payment for his goods. Mr. Jacobs scolded and swore alternately, and + the boy really surprised him by his way of selling goods, though he was + very careful not to say anything about it, but made Toby believe that he + was doing only about half as much work as he ought to do. Toby's private + hoard of money was increased that evening, by presents, ninety cents, and + he began to look upon himself as almost a rich man. + </p> + <p> + When the performance was nearly over Mr. Jacobs called to him to help in + packing up; and by the time the last spectator had left the tent the + worldly possessions of Messrs. Lord and Jacobs were ready for removal, and + Toby allowed to do as he had a mind to, so long as he was careful to be on + hand when Old Ben was ready to start. + </p> + <p> + Toby thought that he would have time to pay a visit to his friends the + skeleton and the Fat Woman, and to that end started toward the place where + their tent had been standing; but to his sorrow he found that it was + already being taken down, and he had only time to thank Mrs. Treat and to + press the fleshless hand of her shadowy husband as they entered their + wagon to drive away. + </p> + <p> + He was disappointed, for he had hoped to be able to speak with his new + made friends a few moments before the weary night's ride commenced; but, + failing in that, he went hastily back to the monkeys' cage. Old Ben was + there, getting things ready for a start; but the wooden sides of the cage + had not been put up, and Toby had no difficulty in calling the aged monkey + up to the bars. He held one of the Fat Woman's doughnuts in his hand, and + said, as he passed it through to the animal: + </p> + <p> + “I thought perhaps you might be hungry, Mr. Stubbs, and this is some of + what the skeleton's wife gave me. I hain't got very much time to talk with + you now; but the first chance I can get away tomorrow, an' when there + hain't anybody round, I want to tell you something.” + </p> + <p> + The monkey had taken the doughnut in his handlike paws, and was tearing it + to pieces, eating small portions of it very rapidly. + </p> + <p> + “Don't hurry yourself,” said Toby, warningly, “for Uncle Dan'l always told + me the worst thing a feller could do was to eat fast. If you want any + more, after we start, just put your hand through the little hole up there + near the seat, an' I'll give you all you want.” + </p> + <p> + From the look on his face Toby confidently believed the monkey was about + to make some reply; but just then Ben shut up the sides, separating Toby + and Mr. Stubbs, and the order was given to start. + </p> + <p> + Toby clambered up on to the high seat, Ben followed him, and in another + instant the team was moving along slowly down the dusty road, preceded and + followed by the many wagons, with their tiny swinging lights. + </p> + <p> + “Well,” said Ben, when he had got his team well under way and felt that he + could indulge in a little conversation, “how did you get along today?” + </p> + <p> + Toby related all of his movements, and gave the driver a faithful account + of all that had happened to him, concluding his story by saying, “That was + one of Mrs. Treat's doughnuts that I just gave to Mr. Stubbs.” + </p> + <p> + “To whom?” asked Ben, in surprise. + </p> + <p> + “To Mr. Stubbs—the old fellow here in the cart, you know, that's + been so good to me.” + </p> + <p> + Toby heard a sort of gurgling sound, saw the driver's body sway back and + forth in a trembling way, and was just becoming thoroughly alarmed, when + he thought of the previous night, and understood that Ben was only + laughing in his own peculiar way. + </p> + <p> + “How did you know his name was Stubbs?” asked Ben, after he had recovered + his breath. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, I don't know that that is his real name,” was the quick reply; “I + only call him that because he looks so much like a feller with that name + that I knew at home. He don't seem to mind because I call him Stubbs.” + </p> + <p> + Ben looked at Toby earnestly for a moment, acting all the time as if he + wanted to laugh again, but didn't dare to, for fear he might burst a blood + vessel; and then he said, as he patted him on the shoulder: “Well, you are + the queerest little fish that I ever saw in all my travels. You seem to + think that that monkey knows all you say to him.” + </p> + <p> + “I'm sure he does,” said Toby, positively. “He don't say anything right + out to me, but he knows everything I tell him. Do you suppose he could + talk if he tried to?” + </p> + <p> + “Look here, Mr. Toby Tyler”—and Ben turned half around in his seat + and looked Toby full in the face, so as to give more emphasis to his words—“are + you heathen enough to think that that monkey could talk if he wanted to?” + </p> + <p> + “I know I hain't a heathen,” said Toby, thoughtfully, “for if I had been + some of the missionaries would have found me out a good while ago; but I + never saw anybody like this old Mr. Stubbs before, an' I thought he could + talk if he wanted to, just as the Living Skeleton does, or his wife. + Anyhow, Mr. Stubbs winked at me; an' how could he do that if he didn't + know what I've been sayin' to him?” + </p> + <p> + “Look here, my son,” said Ben, in a most fatherly fashion, “monkeys hain't + anything but beasts, an' they don't know how to talk any more than they + know what you say to 'em.” + </p> + <p> + “Didn't you ever hear any of them speak a word?” + </p> + <p> + “Never. I've been in a circus, man an' boy, nigh on to forty years, an' I + never seen nothin' in a monkey more 'n any other beast, except their awful + mischiefness.” + </p> + <p> + “Well,” said Toby, still unconvinced, “I believe Mr. Stubbs knows what I + say to him, anyway.” + </p> + <p> + “Now don't be foolish, Toby,” pleaded Ben. “You can't show me one thing + that a monkey ever did because you told him to.” + </p> + <p> + Just at this moment Toby felt someone pulling at the back of his coat, + and, looking round, he saw it was a little brown hand, reaching through + the bars of the air hole of the cage, that was tugging away at his coat. + </p> + <p> + “There!” he said, triumphantly, to Ben. “Look there! I told Mr. Stubbs if + he wanted anything more to eat, to tell me an' I would give it to him. Now + you can see for yourself that he's come for it.” And Toby took a doughnut + from his pocket and put it into the tiny hand, which was immediately + withdrawn. + </p> + <p> + “Now what do you think of Mr. Stubbs knowing what I say to him?” + </p> + <p> + “They often stick their paws up through there,” said Ben, in a matter of + fact tone. “I've had 'em pull my coat in the night till they made me as + nervous as ever any old woman was. You see, Toby my boy, monkeys is + monkeys; an' you mustn't go to gettin' the idea that they're anything + else, for it's a mistake. You think this old monkey in here knows what you + say? Why, that's just the cuteness of the old fellow—he watches you + to see if he can't do just as you do, an' that's all there is about it.” + </p> + <p> + Toby was more than half convinced that Ben was putting the matter in its + proper light, and he would have believed all that had been said if, just + at that moment, he had not seen that brown hand reaching through the hole + to clutch him again by the coat. + </p> + <p> + The action seemed so natural, so like a hungry boy who gropes in the dark + pantry for something to eat, that it would have taken more arguments than + Ben had at his disposal to persuade Toby that his Mr. Stubbs could not + understand all that was said to him. Toby put another doughnut in the + outstretched hand, and then sat silently, as if in a brown study over some + difficult problem. + </p> + <p> + For some time the ride was continued in silence. Ben was going through all + the motions of whistling without uttering a sound—a favorite + amusement of his—and Toby's thoughts were far away in the humble + home he had scorned, with Uncle Daniel, whose virtues had increased in his + esteem with every mile of distance which had been put between them, and + whose faults had decreased in a corresponding ratio. + </p> + <p> + Toby's thoughtfulness had made him sleepy, and his eyes were almost closed + in slumber, when he was startled by a crashing sound, was conscious of a + feeling of being hurled from his seat by some great force, and then he lay + senseless by the side of the road, while the wagon became a perfect wreck, + from out of which a small army of monkeys was escaping. + </p> + <p> + Ben's experienced ear had told him at the first crash that his wagon was + breaking down, and, without having time to warn Toby of his peril, he had + leaped clear of the wreck, keeping his horses under perfect control and + thus averting more trouble. It was the breaking of one of the axles which + Toby had heard just before he was thrown from his seat and when the body + of the wagon came down upon the hard road. + </p> + <p> + The monkeys, thus suddenly released from confinement, had scampered off in + every direction, and by a singular chance Toby's aged friend started for + the woods in such a direction as to bring him directly before the boy's + insensible form. The monkey, on coming up to Toby, stopped, urged by the + well known curiosity of its race, and began to examine the boy's person + carefully, prying into pockets and trying to open the boy's half closed + eyelids. Fortunately for Toby, he had fallen upon a mud bank and was only + stunned for the moment, having received no serious bruises. The attentions + bestowed upon him by the monkey served the purpose of bringing him to his + senses; and, after he had looked around him in the gray light of the + coming morning, it would have taken far more of a philosopher than Old Ben + was to persuade the boy that monkeys did not possess reasoning faculties. + </p> + <p> + The monkey was busy at Toby's ears, nose, and mouth, as monkeys will do + when they get an opportunity, and the expression of its face was as grave + as possible. Toby firmly believed that the monkey's face showed sorrow at + his fall, and he imagined that the attentions which were bestowed upon him + were for the purpose of learning whether he had been injured or not. + </p> + <p> + “Don't worry, Mr. Stubbs,” said Toby, anxious to reassure his friend, as + he sat upright and looked about him. “I didn't get hurt any; but I would + like to know how I got way over here.” + </p> + <p> + It really seemed as if the monkey was pleased to know that his little + friend was not hurt, for he seated himself on his haunches, and his face + expressed the liveliest pleasure that Toby was well again—or at + least that was how the boy interpreted the look. + </p> + <p> + By this time the news of the accident had been shouted ahead from one team + to the other, and all hands were hurrying to the scene for the purpose of + rendering aid. As Toby saw them coming he also saw a number of small + forms, looking something like diminutive men, hurrying past him, and for + the first time he understood how it was that the aged monkey was at + liberty, and knew that those little dusky forms were the other occupants + of the cage escaping to the woods. + </p> + <p> + “See there, Mr. Stubbs! see there!” he exclaimed, pointing toward the + fugitives; “they're all going off into the woods! What shall we do?” + </p> + <p> + The sight of the runaways seemed to excite the old monkey quite as much as + it did the boy. He sprang to his feet, chattering in the most excited way, + screamed two or three times, as if he were calling them back, and then + started off in vigorous pursuit. + </p> + <p> + “Now he's gone too!” said Toby, disconsolately, believing the old fellow + had run away from him. “I didn't think Mr. Stubbs would treat me this + way!” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0008" id="link2H_4_0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + VIII. CAPTURE OF THE MONKEYS + </h2> + <p> + The boy tried to rise to his feet, but his head whirled so, and he felt so + dizzy and sick from the effects of his fall, that he was obliged to sit + down again until he should feel able to stand. Meanwhile the crowd around + the wagon paid no attention to him, and he lay there quietly enough, until + he heard the hateful voice of Mr. Lord asking if his boy were hurt. + </p> + <p> + The sound of his voice affected Toby very much as the chills and fever + affect a sufferer, and he shook so with fear, and his heart beat so + loudly, that he thought Mr. Lord must know where he was by the sound. + Seeing, however, that his employer did not come directly toward him, the + thought flashed upon his mind that now would be a good chance to run away, + and he acted upon it at once. He rolled himself over in the mud until he + reached a low growth of fir trees that skirted the road, and when beneath + their friendly shade he rose to his feet and walked swiftly toward the + woods, following the direction the monkeys had taken. + </p> + <p> + He no longer felt dizzy and sick; the fear of Mr. Lord had dispelled all + that, and he felt strong and active again. + </p> + <p> + He had walked rapidly for some distance, and was nearly beyond the sound + of the voices in the road, when he was startled by seeing quite a + procession of figures emerge from the trees and come directly toward him. + </p> + <p> + He could not understand the meaning of this strange company, and it so + frightened him that he attempted to hide behind a tree, in the hope that + they might pass without seeing him. But no sooner had he secreted himself + than a strange, shrill chattering came from the foremost of the group, and + in an instant Toby emerged from his place of concealment. + </p> + <p> + He had recognized the peculiar sound as that of the old monkey who had + left him a few moments before, and he knew now what he did not know then, + owing to the darkness. The newcomers were the monkeys that had escaped + from the cage, and had been overtaken and compelled to come back by the + old monkey, who seemed to have the most perfect control over them. + </p> + <p> + The old fellow was leading the band, and all were linked “hand in hand” + with each other, which gave the whole crowd a most comical appearance as + they came up to Toby, half hopping, half walking upright, and all + chattering and screaming, like a crowd of children out for a holiday. + </p> + <p> + Toby stepped toward the noisy crowd, held out his hand gravely to the old + monkey, and said, in tones of heartfelt sorrow: + </p> + <p> + “I felt awful bad because I thought you had gone off an' left me, when you + went off to find the other fellows. You're awful good, Mr. Stubbs; an' + now, instead of runnin' away, as I was goin' to do, we'll all go back + together.” + </p> + <p> + The old monkey grasped Toby's extended hand with his disengaged paw, and, + clinging firmly to it, the whole crowd followed in unbroken line, + chattering and scolding at the most furious rate, while every now and then + Mr. Stubbs would look back and scream out something, which would cause the + confusion to cease for an instant. + </p> + <p> + It was really a comical sight, but Toby seemed to think it the most + natural thing in the world that they should follow him in this manner, and + he chattered to the old monkey quite as fast as any of the others were + doing. He told him very gravely all that he knew about the accident, + explained why it was that he conceived the idea of running away, and + really believed that Mr. Stubbs understood every word he was saying. + </p> + <p> + Very shortly after Toby had started to run away the proprietor of the + circus drove up to the scene of disaster, and, after seeing that the wagon + was being rapidly fixed up so that it could be hauled to the next town, he + ordered that search should be made for the monkeys. It was very important + that they should be captured at once, and he appeared to think more of the + loss of the animals than of the damage done to the wagon. + </p> + <p> + While the men were forming a plan for a search for the truants, so that in + case of a capture they could let one another know, the noise made by Toby + and his party was heard, and the men stood still to learn what it meant. + </p> + <p> + The entire party burst into shouts of laughter as Toby and his companions + walked into the circle of light formed by the glare of the lanterns, and + the merriment was by no means abated at Toby's serious demeanor. The wagon + was now standing upright, with the door open, and Toby therefore led his + companions directly to it, gravely motioning them to enter. + </p> + <p> + The old monkey, instead of obeying, stepped back to Toby's side, and + screamed to the others in such a manner that they all entered the cage, + leaving him on the outside with the boy. + </p> + <p> + Toby motioned him to get in, too, but he clung to his hand, and scolded so + furiously that it was apparent he had no idea of leaving his boy + companion. One of the men stepped up and was about to force him into the + wagon, when the proprietor ordered him to stop. + </p> + <p> + “What boy is that?” he asked. + </p> + <p> + “Job Lord's new boy,” said someone in the crowd. + </p> + <p> + The man asked Toby how it was that he had succeeded in capturing all the + runaways; and he answered, gravely: + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Stubbs an' I are good friends, an' when he saw the others runnin' + away he just stopped 'em an' brought 'em back to me. I wish you'd let Mr. + Stubbs ride with me; we like each other a good deal.” + </p> + <p> + “You can do just what you please with Mr. Stubbs, as you call him. I + expected to lose half the monkeys in that cage, and you have brought back + every one. That monkey shall be yours, and you may put him in the cage + whenever you want to, or take him with you, just as you choose, for he + belongs entirely to you.” + </p> + <p> + Toby's joy knew no bounds; he put his arm around the monkey's neck, and + the monkey clung firmly to him, until even Job Lord was touched at the + evidence of affection between the two. + </p> + <p> + While the wagon was being repaired Toby and the monkey stood hand in hand + watching the work go on, while those in the cage scolded and raved because + they had been induced to return to captivity. After a while the old monkey + seated himself on Toby's arm and cuddled close up to him, uttering now and + then a contented sort of a little squeak as the boy talked to him. + </p> + <p> + That night Mr. Stubbs slept in Toby's arms, in the band wagon, and both + boy and monkey appeared very well contented with their lot, which a short + time previous had seemed so hard. + </p> + <p> + When Toby awakened to his second day's work with the circus his monkey + friend was seated by his side, gravely exploring his pockets, and all the + boy's treasures were being spread out on the floor of the wagon by his + side. Toby remonstrated with him on this breach of confidence, but Mr. + Stubbs was more in the mood for sport than for grave conversation, and the + more Toby talked the more mischievous did he become, until at length the + boy gathered up his little store of treasures, took the monkey by the paw, + and walked him toward the cage from which he had escaped on the previous + night. + </p> + <p> + “Now, Mr. Stubbs,” said Toby, speaking in an injured tone, “you must go in + here and stay till I have got more time to fool with you.” + </p> + <p> + He opened the door of the cage, but the monkey struggled as well as he was + able, and Toby was obliged to exert all his strength to put him in. + </p> + <p> + When once the door was fastened upon him Toby tried to impress upon his + monkey friend's mind the importance of being more sedate, and he was + convinced that the words had sunk deep into Mr. Stubbs's heart, for, by + the time he had concluded, the old monkey was seated in the corner of the + cage, looking up from under his shaggy eyebrows in the most reproachful + manner possible. + </p> + <p> + Toby felt sorry that he had spoken so harshly, and was about to make + amends for his severity, when Mr. Lord's gruff voice recalled him to the + fact that his time was not his own, and he therefore commenced his day's + work, but with a lighter heart than he had had since he stole away from + Uncle Daniel and Guilford. + </p> + <p> + This day was not very much different from the preceding one so far as the + manner of Mr. Lord and his partner toward the boy was concerned; they + seemed to have an idea that he was doing only about half as much work as + he ought to, and both united in swearing at and abusing him as much as + possible. + </p> + <p> + So far as his relations with other members of the company were concerned, + Toby now stood in a much better position than before. Those who had + witnessed the scene told the others how Toby had led in the monkeys on the + night previous, and nearly every member of the company had a kind word for + the little fellow whose head could hardly be seen above the counter of + Messrs. Lord and Jacobs's booth. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0009" id="link2H_4_0009"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + IX. THE DINNER PARTY + </h2> + <p> + At noon Toby was thoroughly tired out, for whenever anyone spoke kindly to + him Mr. Lord seemed to take a malicious pleasure in giving him extra tasks + to do, until Toby began to hope that no one else would pay any attention + to him. On this day he was permitted to go to dinner first, and after he + returned he was left in charge of the booth. Trade being dull—as it + usually was during the dinner hour—he had very little work to do + after he had cleaned the glasses and set things to rights generally. + </p> + <p> + When, therefore, he saw the gaunt form of the skeleton emerge from his + tent and come toward him he was particularly pleased, for he had begun to + think very kindly of the thin man and his fleshy wife. + </p> + <p> + “Well, Toby,” said the skeleton, as he came up to the booth, carefully + dusted Mr. Lord's private chair, and sat down very cautiously in it, as if + he expected that it would break down under his weight, “I hear you've been + making quite a hero of yourself by capturing the monkeys last night.” + </p> + <p> + Toby's freckled face reddened with pleasure as he heard these words, and + he stammered out, with considerable difficulty, “I didn't do anything; it + was Mr. Stubbs that brought 'em back.” + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Stubbs!” And the skeleton laughed so heartily that Toby was afraid he + would dislocate some of his thinly covered joints. “When you was tellin' + about Mr. Stubbs yesterday I thought you meant someone belonging to the + company. You ought to have seen my wife Lilly shake with laughing when I + told her who Mr. Stubbs was!” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said Toby, at a loss to know just what to say, “I should think she + would shake when she laughs.” + </p> + <p> + “She does,” replied the skeleton. “If you could see her when something + funny strikes her you'd think she was one of those big plates of jelly + that they have in the bakeshop windows.” And Mr. Treat looked proudly at + the gaudy picture which represented his wife in all her monstrosity of + flesh. “She's a great woman, Toby, an' she's got a great head.” + </p> + <p> + Toby nodded his head in assent. He would have liked to say something nice + regarding Mrs. Treat, but he really did not know what to say, so he simply + contented himself and the fond husband by nodding. + </p> + <p> + “She thinks a good deal of you, Toby,” continued the skeleton, as he moved + his chair to a position more favorable for him to elevate his feet on the + edge of the counter, and placed his handkerchief under him as a cushion; + “she's talking of you all the time, and if you wasn't such a little fellow + I should begin to be jealous of you—I should, upon my word.” + </p> + <p> + “You're—both—very—good,” stammered Toby, so weighted + down by a sense of the honor heaped upon him as to be at a loss for words. + </p> + <p> + “An' she wants to see more of you. She made me come out here now, when she + knew Mr. Lord would be away, to tell you that we're goin' to have a little + kind of a friendly dinner in our tent tomorrow—she's cooked it all + herself, or she's going to—and we want you to come in an' have some + with us.” + </p> + <p> + Toby's eyes glistened at the thought of the unexpected pleasure, and then + his face grew sad as he replied, “I'd like to come first rate, Mr. Treat, + but I don't s'pose Mr. Lord would let me stay away from the shop long + enough.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, you won't have any work to do tomorrow, Toby—it's Sunday.” + </p> + <p> + “So it is!” said the boy, with a pleased smile, as he thought of the day + of rest which was so near. And then he added, quickly: “An' this is + Saturday afternoon. What fun the boys at home are havin'! You see, there + hain't any school Saturday afternoon, an all the fellers go out in the + woods.” + </p> + <p> + “And you wish you were there to go with them, don't you?” asked the + skeleton, sympathetically. + </p> + <p> + “Indeed I do!” exclaimed Toby, quickly. “It's twice as good as any circus + that ever was.” + </p> + <p> + “But you didn't think so before you came with us, did you?” + </p> + <p> + “I didn't know so much about circuses then as I do now,” replied the boy, + sadly. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Treat saw that he was touching on a sore subject, and one which was + arousing sad thoughts in his little companion's mind, and he hastened to + change it at once. + </p> + <p> + “Then I can tell Lilly that you'll come, can I?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh yes, I'll be sure to be there; an' I want you to know just how good I + think you both are to me.” + </p> + <p> + “That's all right, Toby,” said Mr. Treat, with a pleased expression on his + face; “an' you may bring Mr. Stubbs with you, if you want.” + </p> + <p> + “Thank you,” said Toby. “I'm sure Mr. Stubbs will be just as glad to come + as I shall. But where will we be tomorrow?” + </p> + <p> + “Right here. We always stay over Sunday at the place where we show + Saturday. But I must be going, or Lilly will worry her life out of her for + fear I'm somewhere getting cold. She's awful careful of me, that woman is. + You'll be on hand tomorrow at one o'clock, won't you?” + </p> + <p> + “Indeed I will,” said Toby, emphatically, “an' I'll bring Mr. Stubbs with + me, too.” + </p> + <p> + With a friendly nod of his head, the skeleton hurried away to reassure his + wife that he was safe and well; and before he had hardly disappeared + within the tent Toby had another caller, who was none other than his old + friend Old Ben, the driver. + </p> + <p> + “Well, my boy,” shouted Ben, in his cheery, hearty tones, “I haven't seen + you since you left the wagon so sudden last night. Did you get shook up + much?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh no,” replied Toby. “You see I hain't very big; an' then I struck in + the mud; so I got off pretty easy.” + </p> + <p> + “That's a fact; an' you can thank your lucky stars for it, too, for I've + seen grown up men get pitched off a wagon in that way an break their necks + doin' it. But has Job told you where you was going to sleep tonight? You + know we stay over here till tomorrow.” + </p> + <p> + “I didn't think anything about that; but I s'pose I'll sleep in the wagon, + won't I?” + </p> + <p> + “You can sleep at the hotel, if you want to; but the beds will likely be + dirty; an' if you take my advice you'll crawl into some of the wagons in + the tent.” + </p> + <p> + Ben then explained to him that, after his work was done that night, he + would not be expected to report for duty until the time for starting on + Sunday night, and concluded his remarks by saying: + </p> + <p> + “Now you know what your rights are, an don't you let Job impose on you in + any way. I'll be round here after you get through work, an' we'll bunk in + somewhere together.” + </p> + <p> + The arrival of Messrs. Lord and Jacobs put a stop to the conversation, and + was the signal for Toby's time of trial. It seemed to him, and with good + reason, that the chief delight these men had in life was to torment him, + for neither ever spoke a pleasant word to him; and when one was not giving + him some difficult work to do, or finding fault in some way, the other + would be sure to do so; and Toby had very little comfort from the time he + began work in the morning until he stopped at night. + </p> + <p> + It was not until after the evening performance was over that Toby had a + chance to speak with Mr. Stubbs, and then he was so tired that he simply + took the old monkey from the cage, nestled him under his jacket, and lay + down with him to sleep in the place which Old Ben had selected. + </p> + <p> + When the morning came Mr. Stubbs aroused his young master at a much + 'earlier hour than he would have awakened had he been left to himself, and + the two went out for a short walk before breakfast. They went + instinctively toward the woods; and when the shade of the trees was once + reached, how the two reveled in their freedom! Mr. Stubbs climbed into the + trees, swung himself from one to the other by means of his tail, gathered + half ripe nuts, which he threw at his master, tried to catch the birds, + and had a good time generally. + </p> + <p> + Toby, stretched at full length on the mossy bank, watched the antics of + his pet, laughing boisterously at times as Mr. Stubbs would do some one + thing more comical than usual, and forgot there was in this world such a + thing as a circus or such a man as Job Lord. It was to Toby a morning + without a flaw, and he took no heed of the time, until the sound of the + church bells warned him of the lateness of the hour, reminding him at the + same time of where he should be—where he would be, if he were at + home with Uncle Daniel. + </p> + <p> + In the mean time the old monkey had been trying to attract his young + master's attention, and, failing in his efforts, he came down from the + tree, crept softly up to Toby, and nestled his head under the boy's arm. + </p> + <p> + This little act of devotion seemed to cause Toby's grief to burst forth + afresh, and, clasping the monkey around the neck, hugging him close to his + bosom, he sobbed: + </p> + <p> + “Oh, Mr. Stubbs, Mr. Stubbs, how lonesome we are! If we was only at Uncle + Dan'l's we'd be the two happiest people in all this world. We could play + on the hay, or go up to the pasture, or go down to the village; an' I'd + work my fingers off if I could only be there just once more. It was wicked + for me to run away, an' now I'm gettin' paid for it.” + </p> + <p> + He hugged the monkey closely, swaying his body to and fro, and presenting + a perfect picture of grief. The monkey, not knowing what to make of this + changed mood, cowered whimperingly in his arms, looking up into his face, + and licking the boy's hands whenever he had the opportunity. + </p> + <p> + It was some time before Toby's grief exhausted itself; and then, still + clasping the monkey, he hurried out of the woods toward the town and the + now thoroughly hated circus tents. + </p> + <p> + The clocks were just striking one as Toby entered the inclosure used by + the show as a place of performance, and, remembering his engagement with + the skeleton and his wife, he went directly to their tent. From the odors + which assailed him as he entered, it was very evident that a feast of no + mean proportions was in course of preparation, and Toby's keen appetite + returned in full vigor. Even the monkey seemed affected by the odor, for + he danced about on his master's shoulder, and chattered so that Toby was + obliged to choke him a little in order to make him present a respectable + appearance. + </p> + <p> + When Toby reached the interior of the tent he was astonished at the extent + of the preparations that were being made, and gazed around him in + surprise. The platform on which the lean man and fat woman were in the + habit of exhibiting themselves now bore a long table, loaded with + eatables; and, from the fact that eight or ten chairs were ranged around + it, Toby understood that he was not the only guest invited to the feast. + Some little attempt had also been made at decoration by festooning that + end of the tent where the platform was placed with two or three flags and + some streamers, and the tent poles also were fringed with tissue paper of + the brightest colors. + </p> + <p> + Toby had only time enough to notice this when the skeleton advanced toward + him, and, with the liveliest appearance of pleasure, said, as he took him + by the hands with a grip that made him wince: + </p> + <p> + “It gives me great joy, Mr. Tyler, to welcome you at one of our little + home reunions, if one can call a tent, that is moved every day in the + week, home.” + </p> + <p> + Toby hardly knew whom Mr. Treat referred to when he said “Mr. Tyler”; but + by the time his hands were released from the bony grasp he understood that + it was himself who was spoken to. + </p> + <p> + The skeleton then formally introduced him to the other guests present, who + were sitting at one end of the tent, and evidently anxiously awaiting the + coming feast. + </p> + <p> + “These,” said Mr. Treat, as he waved his hand toward two white haired, + pink eyed young ladies who sat with their arms twined around each other's + waist, and had been eying the monkey with some appearance of fear, “are + the Miss Cushings, known to the world as the Albino Children; they command + a large salary and form a very attractive feature of our exhibition.” + </p> + <p> + The young ladies arose at the same time, as if they had been the Siamese + Twins and could not act independently of each other, and bowed. + </p> + <p> + Toby made the best bow he was capable of; and the monkey made frantic + efforts to escape, as if he would enjoy twisting his paws in their + perpendicular hair. + </p> + <p> + “And this,” continued Mr. Treat, pointing to a sickly, sour looking + individual who was sitting apart from the others, with his arms folded, + and looking as if he was counting the very seconds before the dinner + should begin, “is the wonderful Signor Castro, whose sword swallowing + feats you have doubtless heard of.” + </p> + <p> + Toby stepped back just one step, as if overwhelmed by awe at beholding the + signor in the guise of a humble individual; and the gentleman who gained + his livelihood by swallowing swords unbent his dignity so far as to unfold + his arms and present a very dirty looking hand for Toby to shake. The boy + took hold of the outstretched hand, wondering why the signor never used + soap and water; and Mr. Stubbs, apparently afraid of the sour looking man, + retreated to Toby's shoulder, where he sat chattering and scolding about + the introduction. + </p> + <p> + Again the skeleton waved his hand, and this time he introduced + “Mademoiselle Spelletti, the wonderful snake charmer, whose exploits in + this country, and before the crowned heads of Europe had caused the whole + world to stand aghast at her daring.” + </p> + <p> + Mademoiselle Spelletti was a very ordinary looking young lady of about + twenty-five years of age, who looked very much as if her name might + originally have been Murphy, and she, too, extended a hand for Toby to + grasp—only her hand was clean, and she appeared to be a very much + more pleasant acquaintance than the gentleman who swallowed swords. + </p> + <p> + This ended the introductions; and Toby was just looking around for a seat, + when Mrs. Treat, the fat lady and the giver of the feast which was about + to come, and which already smelled so invitingly, entered from behind a + curtain of canvas, where the cooking stove was supposed to be located. + </p> + <p> + She had every appearance of being the cook for the occasion. Her sleeves + were rolled up, her hair tumbled and frowzy, and there were several + unmistakable marks of grease on the front of her calico dress. + </p> + <p> + She waited for no ceremony, but rushed up to Toby and, taking him in her + arms, gave him such a squeeze that there seemed to be every possibility + that she would break all the bones in his body; and she kept him so long + in this bearlike embrace that Mr. Stubbs reached his little brown paws + over and got such a hold of her hair that all present, save Signor Castro, + rushed forward to release her from the monkey's grasp. + </p> + <p> + “You dear little thing!” said Mrs. Treat, paying but slight attention to + the hair pulling she had just undergone, and holding Toby at arm's length + so that she could look into his face, “you were so late that I was afraid + you wasn't coming; and my dinner wouldn't have tasted half so good if you + hadn't been here to eat some.” + </p> + <p> + Toby hardly knew what to say for this hearty welcome, and he managed to + tell the large and kind hearted lady that he had had no idea of missing + the dinner, and that he was very glad she wanted him to come. + </p> + <p> + “Want you to come, you dear little thing!” she exclaimed, as she gave him + another hug, but careful not to give Mr. Stubbs a chance of grasping her + hair again. “Of course I wanted you to come, for this dinner has been got + up so that you could meet these people here, and so that they could see + you.” + </p> + <p> + Toby was entirely at a loss to know what to say to this overwhelming + compliment, and for that reason did not say anything, only submitting + patiently to the third hug, which was all Mrs. Treat had time to give him, + as she was obliged to rush behind the canvas screen again, as there were + unmistakable sounds of something boiling over on the stove. + </p> + <p> + “You'll excuse me,” said the skeleton, with an air of dignity, waving his + hand once more toward the assembled company, “but while introducing you to + Mr. Tyler I had almost forgotten to introduce him to you. This, ladies and + gentlemen”—and here he touched Toby on the shoulder, as if he were + some living curiosity whose habits and mode of capture he was about to + explain to a party of spectators—“is Mr. Toby Tyler, of whom you + heard on the night when the monkey cage was smashed, and who now carries + with him the identical monkey which was presented to him by the manager of + this great show as a token of esteem for his skill and bravery in + capturing the entire lot of monkeys without a single blow.” + </p> + <p> + By the time that Mr. Treat got through with his long speech Toby felt very + much as if he were some wonderful creature whom the skeleton was + exhibiting; but he managed to rise to his feet and duck his little red + head in his best imitation of a bow. Then he sat down and hugged Mr. + Stubbs to cover his confusion. + </p> + <p> + One of the Albino Children now came forward, and, while stroking Mr. + Stubbs's hair, looked so intently at Toby that for the life of him he + couldn't say which she regarded as the curiosity, himself or the monkey; + therefore he hastened to say, modestly: + </p> + <p> + “I didn't do much toward catchin' the monkeys; Mr. Stubbs here did almost + all of it, an' I only led 'em in. + </p> + <p> + “There, there, my boy,” said the skeleton, in a fatherly tone, “I've heard + the whole story from Old Ben, an' I sha'n't let you get out of it like + that. We all know what you did, an' it's no use for you to deny any part + of it.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0010" id="link2H_4_0010"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + X. MR. STUBBS AT A PARTY + </h2> + <p> + Toby was about to say that he did not intend to represent the matter other + than it really was, when a voice from behind the canvas screen arrested + further conversation. + </p> + <p> + “Sam-u-el, come an' help me carry these things in.” + </p> + <p> + Something very like a smile of satisfaction passed over Signor Castro's + face as he heard this, which told him that the time for the feast was near + at hand; and the snake charmer, as well as the Albino Children, seemed + quite as much pleased as did the sword swallower. + </p> + <p> + “You will excuse me, ladies and gentlemen,” said the skeleton, in an + important tone; “I must help Lilly, and then I shall have the pleasure of + helping you to some of her cooking, which, if I do say it, that oughtn't, + is as good as can be found in this entire country.” + </p> + <p> + Then he, too, disappeared behind the canvas screen. + </p> + <p> + Left alone, Toby looked at the ladies, and the ladies looked at him, in + perfect silence, while the sword swallower grimly regarded them all, until + Mr. Treat reappeared, bearing on a platter an immense turkey, as nicely + browned as any Thanksgiving turkey Toby ever saw. Behind him came his fat + wife, carrying several dishes, each of which emitted a most fragrant odor; + and as these were placed upon the table the spirits of the sword swallower + seemed to revive, and he smiled pleasantly; while even the ladies appeared + animated by the sight and odor of the good things which they were to be + called upon so soon to pass judgment. + </p> + <p> + Several times did Mr. and Mrs. Treat bustle in and out from behind the + screen, and each time they made some addition to that which was upon the + table, until Toby began to fear that they would never finish, and the + sword swallower seemed unable to restrain his impatience. + </p> + <p> + At last the finishing touch had been put to the table, the last dish + placed in position, and then, with a certain kind of grace, which no one + but a man as thin as Mr. Treat could assume, he advanced to the edge of + the platform and said: + </p> + <p> + “Ladies and gentlemen, nothing gives me greater pleasure than to invite + you all, including Mr. Tyler's friend Stubbs, to the bountiful repast + which my Lilly has prepared for—” + </p> + <p> + At this point Mr. Treat's speech—for it certainly seemed as if he + had commenced to make one—was broken off in a most summary manner. + His wife had come up behind him and, with as much ease as if he had been a + child, lifted him from off the floor and placed him gently in the chair at + the head of the table. + </p> + <p> + “Come right up and get dinner,” she said to her guests. “If you had waited + until Samuel had finished his speech everything on the table would have + been stone cold.” + </p> + <p> + The guests proceeded to obey her kindly command; and it is to be regretted + that the sword swallower had no better manners than to jump on to the + platform with one bound and seat himself at the table with the most + unseemly haste. The others, and more especially Toby, proceeded in a + leisurely and more dignified manner. + </p> + <p> + A seat had been placed by the side of the one intended for Toby for the + accommodation of Mr. Stubbs, who suffered a napkin to be tied under his + chin, and behaved generally in a manner that gladdened the heart of his + young master. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Treat cut generous slices from the turkey for each guest, and Mrs. + Treat piled their plates high with all sorts of vegetables, complaining, + after the manner of housewives generally, that the food was not cooked as + she would like to have had it, and declaring that she had had poor luck + with everything that morning, when she firmly believed in her heart that + her table had never looked better. + </p> + <p> + After the company had had the edge taken off their appetites—which + effect was produced on the sword swallower only after he had been helped + three different times, the conversation began by the fat woman asking Toby + how he got along with Mr. Lord. + </p> + <p> + Toby could not give a very good account of his employer, but he had the + good sense not to cast a damper on a party of pleasure by reciting his own + troubles; so he said, evasively: + </p> + <p> + “I guess I shall get along pretty well, now that I have got so many + friends.” + </p> + <p> + Just as he had commenced to speak the skeleton had put into his mouth a + very large piece of turkey—very much larger in proportion than + himself—and when Toby had finished speaking he started to say + something evidently not very complimentary to Mr. Lord. But what it was + the company never knew; for just as he opened his mouth to speak, the food + went down the wrong way, his face became a bright purple, and it was quite + evident that he was choking. + </p> + <p> + Toby was alarmed, and sprang from his chair to assist his friend, + upsetting Mr. Stubbs from his seat, causing him to scamper up the tent + pole, with the napkin still tied around his neck, and to scold in his most + vehement manner. Before Toby could reach the skeleton, however, the fat + woman had darted toward her lean husband, caught him by the arm, and was + pounding his back, by the time Toby got there, so vigorously that the boy + was afraid her enormous hand would go through his tissue paper like frame. + </p> + <p> + “I wouldn't,” said Toby, in alarm; “you may break him.” + </p> + <p> + “Don't you get frightened,” said Mrs. Treat, turning her husband + completely over, and still continuing the drumming process. “He's often + taken this way; he's such a glutton that he'd try to swallow the turkey + whole if he could get it in his mouth, an' he's so thin that 'most + anything sticks in his throat.” + </p> + <p> + “I should think you'd break him all up,” said Toby, apologetically, as he + resumed his seat at the table; “he don't look as if he could stand very + much of that sort of thing.” + </p> + <p> + But apparently Mr. Treat could stand very much more than Toby gave him + credit for, because at this juncture he stopped coughing, and his face + fast assumed its natural hue. + </p> + <p> + His attentive wife, seeing that he had ceased struggling, lifted him in + her arms and sat him down in his chair with a force that threatened to + snap his head off. + </p> + <p> + “There!” she said, as he wheezed a little from the effects of the shock, + “now see if you can behave yourself an' chew your meat as you ought to! + One of these days when you're alone you'll try that game, and that 'll be + the last of you.” + </p> + <p> + “If he'd try to do one of my tricks long enough he'd get so that there + wouldn't hardly anything choke him,” the sword swallower ventured to + suggest, mildly, as he wiped a small stream of cranberry sauce from his + chin and laid a well polished turkey bone by the side of his plate. + </p> + <p> + “I'd like to see him try it!” said the fat lady, with just a shade of + anger in her voice. Then turning toward her husband, she said, + emphatically, “Samuel, don't you ever let me catch you swallowing a + sword!” + </p> + <p> + “I won't, my love, I won't; and I will try to chew my meat more,” replied + the very thin glutton, in a feeble tone. Toby thought that perhaps the + skeleton might keep the first part of that promise, but he was not quite + sure about the last. + </p> + <p> + It required no little coaxing on the part of both Toby and Mrs. Treat to + induce Mr. Stubbs to come down from his lofty perch; but the task was + accomplished at last, and by the gift of a very large doughnut he was + induced to resume his seat at the table. + </p> + <p> + The time had now come when the duties of a host, in his own peculiar way + of viewing them, devolved upon Mr. Treat, and he said, as he pushed his + chair back a short distance from the table and tried to polish the front + of his vest with his napkin: + </p> + <p> + “I don't want this fact lost sight of, because it is an important one: + everyone must remember that we have gathered here to meet and become + better acquainted with the latest and best addition to this circus, Mr. + Toby Tyler.” + </p> + <p> + Poor Toby! As the company all looked directly at him, and Mrs. Treat + nodded her enormous head energetically, as if to say that she agreed + exactly with her husband, the poor boy's face grew very red and the squash + pie lost its flavor. + </p> + <p> + “Although Mr. Tyler may not be exactly one of us, owing to the fact that + he does not belong to the profession, but is only one of the adjuncts to + it, so to speak,” continued the skeleton, in a voice which was fast being + raised to its highest pitch, “we feel proud, after his exploits at the + time of the accident, to have him with us, and gladly welcome him now, + through the medium of this little feast prepared by my Lilly.” + </p> + <p> + Here the Albino Children nodded their heads in approval, and the sword + swallower gave a grunt of assent; and, thus encouraged, the skeleton + proceeded: + </p> + <p> + “I feel, when I say that we like and admire Mr. Tyler, all present will + agree with me and all would like to hear him say a word for himself.” + </p> + <p> + The skeleton seemed to have expressed the views of those present + remarkably well, judging from their expressions of pleasure and assent, + and all waited for the honored guest to speak. + </p> + <p> + Toby knew that he must say something, but he couldn't think of a single + thing; he tried over and over again to call to his mind something which he + had read as to how people acted and what they said when they were expected + to speak at a dinner table, but his thoughts refused to go back for him, + and the silence was actually becoming painful. Finally, and with the + greatest effort, he managed to say, with a very perceptible stammer, and + while his face was growing very red: + </p> + <p> + “I know I ought to say something to pay for this big dinner that you said + was gotten up for me, but I don't know what to say, unless to thank you + for it. You see, I hain't big enough to say much, an', as Uncle Dan'l + says, I don't amount to very much, 'cept for eatin', an' I guess he's + right. You're all real good to me, an' when I get to be a man I'll try to + do as much for you.” + </p> + <p> + Toby had risen to his feet when he began to make his speech, and while he + was speaking Mr. Stubbs had crawled over into his chair. When he finished + he sat down again without looking behind him, and of course sat plump on + the monkey. There was a loud outcry from Mr. Stubbs, a little frightened + noise from Toby, an instant's scrambling, and then boy, monkey, and chair + tumbled off the platform, landing on the ground in an indescribable mass, + from which the monkey extricated himself more quickly than Toby could, and + again took refuge on the top of the tent pole. + </p> + <p> + Of course all the guests ran to Toby's assistance; and while the fat woman + poked him all over to see that none of his bones were broken, the skeleton + brushed the dirt from his clothes. + </p> + <p> + All this time the monkey screamed, yelled, and danced around on the tent + pole and ropes, as if his feelings had received a shock from which he + could never recover. + </p> + <p> + “I didn't mean to end it up that way, but it was Mr. Stubbs's fault,” said + Toby, as soon as quiet had been restored and the guests, with the + exception of the monkey, were seated at the table once more. + </p> + <p> + “Of course you didn't,” said Mrs. Treat, in a kindly tone. “But don't you + feel bad about it one bit, for you ought to thank your lucky stars that + you didn't break any of your bones.” + </p> + <p> + “I s'pose I had,” said Toby, soberly, as he looked back at the scene of + his disaster, and then up at the chattering monkey that had caused all the + trouble. + </p> + <p> + Shortly after this, Mr. Stubbs having again been coaxed down from his + lofty position, Toby took his departure, promising to call as often during + the week as he could get away from his exacting employers. + </p> + <p> + Just outside the tent he met Old Ben, who said, as he showed signs of + indulging in another of his internal laughing spells: + </p> + <p> + “Hello! has the skeleton an' his lily of a wife been givin' a blowout to + you, too?” + </p> + <p> + “They invited me in there to dinner,” said Toby, modestly. + </p> + <p> + “Of course they did—of course they did,” replied Ben, with a + chuckle; “they carries a cookin' stove along with 'em, so's they can give + these little spreads whenever we stay over a day in a place. Oh, I've been + there!” + </p> + <p> + “And did they ask you to make a speech?” + </p> + <p> + “Of course. Did they try it on you?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said Toby, mournfully, “an' I tumbled off the platform when I got + through.” + </p> + <p> + “I didn't do exactly that,” replied Ben, thoughtfully; “but I s'pose you + got too much steam on, seein' 's how it was likely your first speech. Now + you'd better go into the tent an try to get a little sleep, 'cause we've + got a long ride tonight over a rough road, an' you won't get more 'n a cat + nap all night.” + </p> + <p> + “But where are you going?” asked Toby, as he shifted Mr. Stubbs over to + his other shoulder, preparatory to following his friend's advice. + </p> + <p> + “I'm goin' to church,” said Ben, and then Toby noticed for the first time + that the old driver had made some attempt at dressing up. “I've been with + the circus, man an boy, for nigh to forty years, an' I allus go to meetin' + once on Sunday. It's somethin' I promised my old mother I would do, an' I + hain't broke my promise yet.” + </p> + <p> + “Why don't you take me with you?” asked Toby, wistfully, as he thought of + the little church on the hill at home, and wished—oh, so earnestly!—that + he was there then, even at the risk of being thumped on the head with + Uncle Daniel's book. + </p> + <p> + “If I'd seen you this mornin' I would,” said Ben; “but now you must try to + bottle up some sleep ag'in' tonight, an' next Sunday I'll take you.” + </p> + <p> + With these words Old Ben started off, and Toby proceeded to carry out his + wishes, although he rather doubted the possibility of “bottling up” any + sleep that afternoon. + </p> + <p> + He lay down on the top of the wagon, after having put Mr. Stubbs inside, + with the others of his tribe, and in a very few moments the boy was sound + asleep, dreaming of a dinner party at which Mr. Stubbs made a speech and + he himself scampered up and down the tent pole. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0011" id="link2H_4_0011"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + XI. A STORMY NIGHT + </h2> + <p> + When Toby awoke it was nearly dark, and the bustle around him told very + plainly that the time for departure was near at hand. He rubbed his eyes + just enough to make sure that he was thoroughly awake, and then jumped + down from his rather lofty bed, and ran around to the door of the cage to + assure himself that Mr. Stubbs was safe. This done, his preparations for + the journey were made. + </p> + <p> + Now Toby noticed that each one of the drivers was clad in rubber clothing, + and, after listening for a moment, he learned the cause of their + waterproof garments. It was raining very hard, and Toby thought with + dismay of the long ride that he would have to take on the top of the + monkeys' cage, with no protection whatever save that afforded by his + ordinary clothing. + </p> + <p> + While he was standing by the side of his wagon, wondering how he should + get along, Old Ben came in. The water was pouring from his clothes in + little rivulets, and he afforded most unmistakable evidence of the damp + state of the weather. + </p> + <p> + “It's a nasty night, my boy,” said the old driver, in much the same cheery + tone that he would have used had he been informing Toby that it was a + beautiful moonlight evening. + </p> + <p> + “I guess I'll get wet,” said Toby, ruefully, as he looked up at the lofty + seat which he was to occupy. + </p> + <p> + “Bless me!” said Ben, as if the thought had just come to him, “it won't do + for you to ride outside on a night like this. You wait here, an' I'll see + what I can do for you.” + </p> + <p> + The old man hurried off to the other end of the tent, and almost before + Toby thought he had time to go as far as the ring he returned. + </p> + <p> + “It's all right,” he said, and this time in a gruff voice, as if he were + announcing some misfortune; “you 're to ride in the women's wagon. Come + with me.” + </p> + <p> + Toby followed without a question, though he was wholly at a loss to + understand what the “women's wagon” was, for he had never seen anything + which looked like one. + </p> + <p> + He soon learned, however, when Old Ben stopped in front—or, rather, + at the end—of a long, covered wagon that looked like an omnibus, + except that it was considerably longer, and the seats inside were divided + by arms, padded, to make them comfortable to lean against. + </p> + <p> + “Here's the boy,” said Ben, as he lifted Toby up on the step, gave him a + gentle push to intimate that he was to get inside, and then left him. + </p> + <p> + As Toby stepped inside he saw that the wagon was nearly full of women and + children; and fearing lest he should take a seat that belonged to someone + else, he stood in the middle of the wagon, not knowing what to do. + </p> + <p> + “Why don't you sit down, little boy?” asked one of the ladies, after Toby + had remained standing nearly five minutes and the wagon was about to + start. + </p> + <p> + “Well,” said Toby, with some hesitation, as he looked around at the two or + three empty seats that remained, “I didn't want to get in anybody else's + place an' I didn't know where to sit.” + </p> + <p> + “Come right here,” said the lady, as she pointed to a seat by the side of + a little girl who did not look any older than Toby; “the lady who usually + occupies that seat will not be here tonight, and you can have it.” + </p> + <p> + “Thank you, ma'am,” said Toby, as he sat timidly down on the edge of the + seat, hardly daring to sit back comfortably, and feeling very awkward + meanwhile, but congratulating himself on being thus protected from the + pouring rain. + </p> + <p> + The wagon started, and as each one talked with her neighbor, Toby felt a + most dismal sense of loneliness, and almost wished that he was riding on + the monkey cart with Ben, where he could have someone to talk with. He + gradually pushed himself back into a more comfortable position, and had + then an opportunity of seeing more plainly the young girl who rode by his + side. + </p> + <p> + She was quite as young as Toby, and small of her age; but there was an old + look about her face that made the boy think of her as being an old woman + cut down to fit children's clothes. Toby had looked at her so earnestly + that she observed him, and asked, “What is your name?” + </p> + <p> + “Toby Tyler.” + </p> + <p> + “What do you do in the circus?” + </p> + <p> + “Sell candy for Mr. Lord.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh! I thought you was a new member of the company.” + </p> + <p> + Toby knew by the tone of her voice that he had fallen considerably in her + estimation by not being one of the performers, and it was some little time + before he ventured to speak; and then he asked, timidly, “What do you do?” + </p> + <p> + “I ride one of the horses with mother.” + </p> + <p> + “Are you the little girl that comes out with the lady an' four horses?” + asked Toby, in awe that he should be conversing with so famous a person. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, I am. Don't I do it nicely?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, you're a perfect little—little—fairy!” exclaimed Toby, + after hesitating a moment to find some word which would exactly express + his idea. + </p> + <p> + This praise seemed to please the young lady, and in a short time the two + became very good friends, even if Toby did not occupy a more exalted + position than that of candy seller. She had learned from him all about the + accident to the monkey cage, and about Mr. Stubbs, and in return had told + him that her name was Ella Mason, though on the bills she was called + “Mademoiselle Jeannette.” + </p> + <p> + For a long time the two children sat talking together, and then + Mademoiselle Jeannette curled herself up on the seat, with her head in her + mother's lap, and went to sleep. + </p> + <p> + Toby had resolved to keep awake and watch her, for he was struck with + admiration at her face; but sleep got the better of him in less than five + minutes after he had made the resolution, and he sat bolt upright, with + his little round head nodding and bobbing until it seemed almost certain + that he would shake it off. + </p> + <p> + When Toby awoke the wagon was drawn up by the side of the road, the sun + was shining brightly, preparations were being made for the entree into + town, and the harsh voice of Mr. Job Lord was shouting his name in a tone + that boded no good for poor Toby when he should make his appearance. + </p> + <p> + Toby would have hesitated before meeting his angry employer but that he + knew it would only make matters worse for him when he did show himself, + and he mentally braced himself for the trouble which he knew was coming. + The little girl whose acquaintance he had made the night previous was + still sleeping; and, wishing to say goodby to her in some way without + awakening her, he stooped down and gently kissed the skirt of her dress. + Then he went out to meet his master. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Lord was thoroughly enraged when Toby left the wagon, and saw the boy + just as he stepped to the ground. The angry man gave a quick glance + around, to make sure that none of Toby's friends were in sight, and then + caught him by the coat collar and commenced to whip him severely with the + small rubber cane that he usually carried. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Job Lord lifted the poor boy entirely clear of the ground, and each + blow that he struck could be heard almost the entire length of the circus + train. + </p> + <p> + “You've been makin' so many acquaintances here that you hain't willin' to + do any work,” he said, savagely, as he redoubled the force of his blows. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, please stop! please stop!” shrieked the poor boy in his agony. “I'll + do everything you tell me to, if you won't strike me again!” + </p> + <p> + This piteous appeal seemed to have no effect upon the cruel man, and he + continued to whip the boy, despite his cries and entreaties, until his arm + fairly ached from the exertion and Toby's body was crossed and recrossed + with the livid marks of the cane. + </p> + <p> + “Now let's see whether you'll 'tend to your work or not!” said the man as + he flung Toby from him with such force that the boy staggered, reeled, and + nearly fell into the little brook that flowed by the roadside. “I'll make + you understand that all the friends you've whined around in this show + can't save you from a lickin' when I get ready to give you one! Now go an' + do your work that ought to have been done an hour ago!” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Lord walked away with the proud consciousness of a man who has + achieved a great victory, and Toby was limping painfully along toward the + cart that was used in conveying Mr. Lord's stock in trade, when he felt a + tiny hand slip into his and heard a childish voice say: + </p> + <p> + “Don't cry, Toby. Sometime, when I get big enough, I'll make Mr. Lord + sorry that he whipped you as he did; and I'm big enough now to tell him + just what kind of a man I think he is.” + </p> + <p> + Looking around, Toby saw his little acquaintance of the evening previous, + and he tried to force back the big tears that were rolling down his cheeks + as he said, in a voice choked with grief: “You're awful good, an' I don't + mind the lickin' when you say you're sorry for me. I s'pose I deserve it + for runnin' away from Uncle Dan'l.” + </p> + <p> + “Did it hurt you much?” she asked, feelingly. + </p> + <p> + “It did when he was doin' it,” replied Toby, manfully, “but it don't a + bit, now that you've come.” + </p> + <p> + “Then I'll go and talk to that Mr. Lord, and I'll come and see you again + after we get into town,” said the little miss, as she hurried away to tell + the candy vender what she thought of him. + </p> + <p> + That day, as on all others since he had been with the circus, Toby went to + his work with a heavy heart, and time and time again did he count the + money which had been given him by kind hearted strangers, to see whether + he had enough to warrant his attempting to run away. Three dollars and + twenty-five cents was the total amount of his treasure, and, large as that + sum appeared to him, he could not satisfy himself that he had sufficient + to enable him to get back to the home which he had so wickedly left. + Whenever he thought of this home, of the Uncle Daniel who had in charity + cared for him—a motherless, fatherless boy—and of returning to + it, with not even as much right as the Prodigal Son, of whom he had heard + Uncle Daniel tell, his heart sank within him and he doubted whether he + would be allowed to remain even if he should be so fortunate as ever to + reach Guilford again. + </p> + <p> + This day passed, so far as Toby was concerned, very much as had the + others: he could not satisfy either of his employers, try as hard as he + might; but, as usual, he met with two or three kindly disposed people, who + added to the fund that he was accumulating for his second venture of + running away by little gifts of money, each one of which gladdened his + heart and made his trouble a trifle less hard to bear. + </p> + <p> + During the entire week he was thus equally fortunate. Each day added + something to his fund, and each night it seemed to Toby that he was one + day nearer the freedom for which he so ardently longed. + </p> + <p> + The skeleton, the fat lady, Old Ben, the Albino Children, little Ella, and + even the sword swallower, all gave him a kindly word as they passed him + while he was at his work, or saw him as the preparations for the grand + entree were being made. + </p> + <p> + The time had passed slowly to Toby, and yet Sunday came again—as + Sundays always come; and on this day Old Ben hunted him up, made him wash + his face and hands until they fairly shone from very cleanliness, and then + took him to church. Toby was surprised to find that it was really a + pleasant thing to be able to go to church after being deprived of it, and + was more light hearted than he had yet been since he left Guilford when he + returned to the tent at noon. + </p> + <p> + The skeleton had invited him to another dinner party, but Toby had + declined the invitation, agreeing to present himself in time for supper + instead. He hardly cared to go through the ordeal of another state dinner; + and besides, he wanted to go off to the woods with the old monkey, where + he could enjoy the silence of the forest, which seemed like a friend to + him, because it reminded him of home. + </p> + <p> + Taking the monkey with him as usual, he inquired the nearest way to a + grove, and, without waiting for dinner, started off for an afternoon's + quiet enjoyment. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0012" id="link2H_4_0012"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + XII. TOBY'S GREAT MISFORTUNE + </h2> + <p> + The town in which the circus remained over Sunday was a small one, and a + brisk walk of ten minutes sufficed to take Toby into a secluded portion of + a very thickly grown wood, where he could lie upon the mossy ground and + fairly revel in freedom. + </p> + <p> + As he lay upon his back, his hands under his head, and his eyes directed + to the branches of the trees above, where the birds twittered and sung, + and the squirrels played in fearless sport, the monkey enjoyed himself in + his way, by playing all the monkey antics he knew of. + </p> + <p> + He scrambled from tree to tree, swung himself from one branch to the other + by the aid of his tail, and amused both himself and his master, until, + tired by his exertions, he crept down by Toby's side and lay there in + quiet, restful content. + </p> + <p> + One of Toby's reasons for wishing to be by himself that afternoon was that + he wanted to think over some plan of escape, for he believed that he had + nearly money enough to enable him to make a bold stroke for freedom and + Uncle Daniel's. Therefore, when the monkey nestled down by his side he was + all ready to confide in him that which had been occupying his busy little + brain for the past three days. + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Stubbs,” he said to the monkey, in a solemn tone, “we're goin' to run + away in a day or two.” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Stubbs did not seem to be moved in the least at this very startling + piece of intelligence, but winked his bright eyes in unconcern; and Toby, + seeming to think that everything which he said had been understood by the + monkey, continued: “I've got a good deal of money now, an' I guess there's + enough for us to start out on. We'll get away some night, an' stay in the + woods till they get through hunting for us, an' then we'll go back to + Guilford an' tell Uncle Dan'l if he'll only take us back we'll never go to + sleep in meetin' any more, an' we'll be just as good as we know how. Now + let's see how much money we've got.” + </p> + <p> + Toby drew from a pocket, which he had been at a great deal of trouble to + make in his shirt, a small bag of silver, and spread it upon the ground, + where he could count it at his leisure. + </p> + <p> + The glittering coin instantly attracted the monkey's attention, and he + tried by every means to thrust his little black paw into the pile; but + Toby would allow nothing of that sort, and pushed him away quite roughly. + Then he grew excited, and danced and scolded around Toby's treasure until + the boy had hard work to count it. + </p> + <p> + He did succeed, however, and as he carefully replaced it in the bag he + said to the monkey: “There's seven dollars an' thirty cents in that bag, + an' every cent of it is mine. That ought to take care of us for a good + while, Mr. Stubbs; an' by the time we get home we shall be rich men.” + </p> + <p> + The monkey showed his pleasure at this intelligence by putting his hand + inside Toby's clothes to find the bag of treasure that he had seen + secreted there, and two or three times, to the great delight of both + himself and the boy, he drew forth the bag, which was immediately taken + away from him. + </p> + <p> + The shadows were beginning to lengthen in the woods, and, heeding this + warning of the coming night, Toby took the monkey on his arm and started + for home, or for the tent, which was the only place he could call home. + </p> + <p> + As he walked along he tried to talk to his pet in a serious manner, but + the monkey, remembering where he had seen the bright coins secreted, tried + so hard to get at them that finally Toby lost all patience and gave him + quite a hard cuff on the ear, which had the effect of keeping him quiet + for a time. + </p> + <p> + That night Toby took supper with the skeleton and his wife, and he enjoyed + the meal, even though it was made from what had been left of the turkey + that served as the noonday feast, more than he did the state dinner, where + he was obliged to pay for what he ate by the torture of making a speech. + </p> + <p> + There were no guests but Toby present; and Mr. and Mrs. Treat were not + only very kind, but so attentive that he was actually afraid he should eat + so much as to stand in need of some of the catnip tea which Mrs. Treat had + said she gave to her husband when he had been equally foolish. The + skeleton would pile his plate high with turkey bones from one side, and + the fat lady would heap it up, whenever she could find a chance, with all + sorts of food from the other, until Toby pushed back his chair, his + appetite completely satisfied, if it never had been so before. + </p> + <p> + Toby had discussed the temper of his employer with his host and hostess, + and, after some considerable conversation, confided in them his + determination to run away. + </p> + <p> + “I'd hate awfully to have you go,” said Mrs. Treat, reflectively; “but + it's a good deal better for you to get away from that Job Lord if you can. + It wouldn't do to let him know that you had any idea of goin', for he'd + watch you as a cat watches a mouse, an never let you go so long as he saw + a chance to keep you. I heard him tellin' one of the drivers the other day + that you sold more goods than any other boy he ever had, an' he was going + to keep you with him all summer.” + </p> + <p> + “Be careful in what you do, my boy,” said the skeleton, sagely, as he + arranged a large cushion in an armchair, and proceeded to make ready for + his after dinner nap; “be sure that you're all ready before you start, + an', when you do go, get a good ways ahead of him; for if he should ever + catch you the trouncin' you'd get would be awful.” + </p> + <p> + Toby assured his friends that he would use every endeavor to make his + escape successful when he did start; and Mrs. Treat, with an eye to the + boy's comfort, said, “Let me know the night you're goin', an' I'll fix you + up something to eat, so's you won't be hungry before you come to a place + where you can buy something.” + </p> + <p> + As these kind hearted people talked with him, and were ready thus to aid + him in every way that lay in their power, Toby thought that he had been + very fortunate in thus having made so many kind friends in a place where + he was having so much trouble. + </p> + <p> + It was not until he heard the sounds of preparation for departure that he + left the skeleton's tent, and then, with Mr. Stubbs clasped tightly to his + breast, he hurried over to the wagon where Old Ben was nearly ready to + start. + </p> + <p> + “All right, Toby,” said the old driver, as the boy came in sight. “I was + afraid you was goin' to keep me waitin' for the first time. Jump right up + on the box, for there hain't no time to lose, an' I guess you'll have to + carry the monkey in your arms, for I don't want to stop to open the cage + now.” + </p> + <p> + “I'd just as soon carry him, an' a little rather,” said Toby, as he + clambered up on the high seat and arranged a comfortable place in his lap + for his pet to sit. + </p> + <p> + In another moment the heavy team had started, and nearly the entire circus + was on the move. “Now tell me what you've been doin' since I left you,” + said Old Ben, after they were well clear of the town and he could trust + his horses to follow the team ahead. “I s'pose you've been to see the + skeleton an' his mountain of a wife?” + </p> + <p> + Toby gave a clear account of where he had been and what he had done, and + when he concluded he told Old Ben of his determination to run away, and + asked his advice on the matter. + </p> + <p> + “My advice,” said Ben, after he had waited some time, to give due weight + to his words, “is that you clear out from this show just as soon as you + can. This hain't no fit place for a boy of your age to be in, an' the + sooner you get back where you started from, an get to school, the better. + But Job Lord will do all he can to keep you from goin', if he thinks you + have any idea of leavin' him.” + </p> + <p> + Toby assured Ben, as he had assured the skeleton and his wife, that he + would be very careful in all he did, and lay his plans with the utmost + secrecy; and then he asked whether Ben thought the amount of money which + he had would be sufficient to carry him home. + </p> + <p> + “Waal, that depends,” said the driver, slowly. “If you go to spreadin' + yourself all over creation, as boys are very apt to do, your money won't + go very far; but if you look at your money two or three times afore you + spend it, you ought to get back and have a dollar or two left.” + </p> + <p> + The two talked, and Old Ben offered advice, until Toby could hardly keep + his eyes open, and almost before the driver concluded his sage remarks the + boy had stretched himself on the top of the wagon, where he had learned to + sleep without being shaken off, and was soon in dreamland. + </p> + <p> + The monkey, nestled down snug in Toby's bosom, did not appear to be as + sleepy as was his master, but popped his head in and out from under the + coat, as if watching whether the boy was asleep or not. + </p> + <p> + Toby was awakened by a scratching on his face, as if the monkey was + dancing a hornpipe on that portion of his body, and by a shrill, quick + chattering, which caused him to assume an upright position instantly. + </p> + <p> + He was frightened, although he knew not at what, and looked around quickly + to discover the cause of the monkey's excitement. + </p> + <p> + Old Ben was asleep on his box, while the horses jogged along behind the + other teams, and Toby failed to see anything whatever which should have + caused his pet to become so excited. + </p> + <p> + “Lie down an' behave yourself,” said Toby, as sternly as possible, and as + he spoke he took his pet by the collar, to oblige him to obey his command. + </p> + <p> + The moment that he did this he saw the monkey throw something out into the + road, and the next instant he also saw that he held something tightly + clutched in his other paw. + </p> + <p> + It required some little exertion and active movement on Toby's part to + enable him to get hold of that paw, in order to discover what it was which + Mr. Stubbs had captured; but the instant he did succeed, there went up + from his heart such a cry of sorrow as caused Old Ben to start up in alarm + and the monkey to cower and whimper like a whipped dog. + </p> + <p> + “What is it, Toby? What's the matter?” asked the old driver, as he peered + out into the darkness ahead, as if he feared some danger threatened them + from that quarter. “I don't see anything. What is it?” + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Stubbs has thrown all my money away,” cried Toby, holding up the + almost empty bag, which a short time previous had been so well filled with + silver. + </p> + <p> + “Stubbs—thrown—the—money—away?” repeated Ben, with + a pause between each word, as if he could not understand that which he + himself was saying. + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” sobbed Toby, as he shook out the remaining contents of the bag, + “there's only half a dollar, an' all the rest is gone.” + </p> + <p> + “The rest gone!” again repeated Ben. “But how come the monkey to have the + money?” + </p> + <p> + “He tried to get at it out in the woods, an' I s'pose the moment I got + asleep he felt for it in my pockets. This is all there is left, an' he + threw away some just as I woke up.” + </p> + <p> + Again Toby held the bag up where Ben could see it, and again his grief + broke out anew. + </p> + <p> + Ben could say nothing; he realized the whole situation—that the + monkey had got the moneybag while Toby was sleeping; that in his play he + had thrown it away piece by piece; and he knew that that small amount of + silver represented liberty in the boy's eyes. He felt that there was + nothing he could say which would assuage Toby's grief, and he remained + silent. + </p> + <p> + “Don't you s'pose we could go back an' get it?” asked the boy, after the + intensity of his grief had somewhat subsided. + </p> + <p> + “No, Toby, it's gone,” replied Ben, sorrowfully. “You couldn't find it if + it was daylight, an' you don't stand a ghost of a chance now in the dark. + Don't take on so, my boy. I'll see if we can't make it up to you in some + way.” + </p> + <p> + Toby gave no heed to this last remark of Ben's. He hugged the monkey + convulsively to his breast, as if he would seek consolation from the very + one who had wrought the ruin, and, rocking himself to and fro, he said, in + a voice full of tears and sorrow: + </p> + <p> + “Oh, Mr. Stubbs, why did you do it?—why did you do it? That money + would have got us away from this hateful place, an' we'd have gone back to + Uncle Dan'l's, where we'd have been so happy, you an' me. An' now it's all + gone—all gone. What made you, Mr. Stubbs—what made you do such + a bad, cruel thing? Oh, what made you?” + </p> + <p> + “Don't, Toby—don't take on so,” said Ben, soothingly. “There wasn't + so very much money there, after all, an' you'll soon get as much more.” + </p> + <p> + “But it won't be for a good while, an' we could have been in the good old + home long before I can get so much again.” + </p> + <p> + “That's true, my boy; but you must kinder brace up an' not give way so + about it. Perhaps I can fix it so the fellers will make it up to you. Give + Stubbs a good poundin', an' perhaps that 'll make you feel better.” + </p> + <p> + “That won't bring back my money an' I don't want to whip him,” cried Toby, + hugging his pet the closer because of this suggestion. “I know what it is + to get a whippin', an' I wouldn't whip a dog, much less Mr. Stubbs, who + didn't know any better.” + </p> + <p> + “Then you must try to take it like a man,” said Ben, who could think of no + other plan by which the boy might soothe his feelings. “It hain't half so + bad as it might be, an' you must try to keep a stiff upper lip, even if it + does seem hard at first.” + </p> + <p> + This keeping a stiff upper lip in the face of all the trouble he was + having was all very well to talk about, but Toby could not reduce it to + practice, or, at least, not so soon after he knew of his loss, and he + continued to rock the monkey back and forth, to whisper in his ear now and + then, and to cry as if his heart was breaking, for nearly an hour. + </p> + <p> + Ben tried, in his rough, honest way, to comfort him, but without success; + and it was not until the boy's grief had spent itself that he would listen + to any reasoning. + </p> + <p> + All this time the monkey had remained perfectly quiet, submitting to + Toby's squeezing without making any effort to get away, and behaving as if + he knew he had done wrong, and was trying to atone for it. He looked up + into the boy's face every now and then with such a penitent expression + that Toby finally assured him of forgiveness and begged him not to feel so + badly. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0013" id="link2H_4_0013"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + XIII. TOBY ATTEMPTS TO RESIGN HIS SITUATION + </h2> + <p> + At last it was possible for Toby to speak of his loss with some degree of + calmness, and then he immediately began to reckon up what he could have + done with the money if he had not lost it. + </p> + <p> + “Now see here, Toby,” said Ben, earnestly, “don't go to doin' anything of + that kind. The money's lost, an' you can't get it back by talkin'; so the + very best thing for you is to stop thinkin' what you could do if you had + it, an' just to look at it as a goner.” + </p> + <p> + “But—” persisted Toby. + </p> + <p> + “I tell you there's no buts about it,” said Ben, rather sharply. “Stop + talkin' about what's gone, an' just go to thinkin' how you'll get more. Do + what you've a mind to the monkey, but don't keep broodin' over what you + can't help.” + </p> + <p> + Toby knew that the advice was good and he struggled manfully to carry it + into execution, but it was very hard work. At all events, there was no + sleep for his eyes that night; and when, just about daylight, the train + halted to wait a more seasonable hour in which to enter the town, the + thought of what he might have done with his lost money was still in Toby's + mind. + </p> + <p> + Only once did he speak crossly to the monkey, and that was when he put him + into the cage preparatory to commencing his morning's work. Then he said: + </p> + <p> + “You wouldn't had to go into this place many times more if you hadn't been + so wicked, for by tomorrow night we'd been away from this circus an' on + the way to home an' Uncle Dan'l. Now you've spoiled my chance an' your own + for a good while to come, an' I hope before the day is over you'll feel as + bad about it as I do.” + </p> + <p> + It seemed to Toby as if the monkey understood just what he said to him, + for he sneaked over into one corner, away from the other monkeys, and sat + there looking very penitent and very dejected. + </p> + <p> + Then, with a heavy heart, Toby began his day's work. + </p> + <p> + Hard as had been Toby's lot previous to losing his money, and difficult as + it had been to bear the cruelty of Mr. Job Lord and his precious partner, + Mr. Jacobs, it was doubly hard now while this sorrow was fresh upon him. + </p> + <p> + Previous to this, when he had been kicked or cursed by one or the other of + the partners, Toby thought exultantly that the time was not very far + distant when he should be beyond the reach of his brutal taskmasters, and + that thought had given him strength to bear all that had been put upon + him. + </p> + <p> + Now the time of his deliverance from this bondage seemed very far off, and + each cruel word or blow caused him the greater sorrow, because of the + thought that but for the monkey's wickedness he would have been nearly + free from that which made his life so very miserable. + </p> + <p> + If he had looked sad and mournful before, he looked doubly so now, as he + went his dreary round of the tent, crying, “Here's your cold lemonade,” or + “Fresh baked peanuts, ten cents a quart”; and each day there were some in + the audience who pitied the boy because of the misery which showed so + plainly in his face, and they gave him a few cents more than his price for + what he was selling, or gave him money without buying anything at all, + thereby aiding him to lay up something again toward making his escape. + </p> + <p> + Those few belonging to the circus who knew of Toby's intention to escape + tried their best to console him for the loss of his money, and that kind + hearted couple, the skeleton and his fat wife, tried to force him to take + a portion of their scanty earnings in the place of that which the monkey + had thrown away. But this Toby positively refused to do; and to the + arguments which they advanced as reasons why they should help him along he + only replied that until he could get the money by his own exertions he + would remain with Messrs. Lord and Jacobs and get along as best he could. + </p> + <p> + Every hour in the day the thought of what might have been if he had not + lost his money so haunted his mind that finally he resolved to make one + bold stroke and tell Mr. Job Lord that he did not want to travel with the + circus any longer. + </p> + <p> + As yet he had not received the two dollars which had been promised him for + his two weeks' work, and another one was nearly due. If he could get this + money it might, with what he had saved again, suffice to pay his railroad + fare to Guilford; and if it would not, he resolved to accept from the + skeleton sufficient to make up the amount needed. + </p> + <p> + He naturally shrank from the task; but the hope that he might possibly + succeed gave him the necessary amount of courage, and when he had gotten + his work done, on the third morning after he had lost his money, and Mr. + Lord appeared to be in an unusually good temper, he resolved to try the + plan. + </p> + <p> + It was just before the dinner hour. Trade had been exceptionally good, and + Mr. Lord had even spoken in a pleasant tone to Toby when he told him to + fill up the lemonade pail with water, so that the stock might not be + disposed of too quickly and with too little profit. + </p> + <p> + Toby poured in quite as much water as he thought the already weak mixture + could receive and retain any flavor of lemon; and then, as his employer + motioned him to add more, he mixed another quart in, secretly wondering + what it would taste like. + </p> + <p> + “When you're mixin' lemonade for circus trade,” said Mr. Lord, in such a + benign, fatherly tone that one would have found it difficult to believe + that he ever spoke harshly, “don't be afraid of water, for there's where + the profit comes in. Always have a piece of lemon peel floatin' on the top + of every glass, an' it tastes just as good to people as if it cost twice + as much.” + </p> + <p> + Toby could not agree exactly with that opinion, neither did he think it + wise to disagree, more especially since he was going to ask the very great + favor of being discharged; therefore he nodded his head gravely, and began + to stir up what it pleased Mr. Lord to call lemonade, so that the last + addition might be more thoroughly mixed with the others. + </p> + <p> + Two or three times he attempted to ask the favor which seemed such a great + one, and each time the words stuck in his throat, until it seemed to him + that he should never succeed in getting them out. + </p> + <p> + Finally, in his despair, he stammered out: “Don't you think you could find + another boy in this town, Mr. Lord?” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Lord moved round sideways, in order to bring his crooked eye to bear + squarely on Toby, and then there was a long interval of silence, during + which time the boy's color rapidly came and went and his heart beat very + fast with suspense and fear. + </p> + <p> + “Well, what if I could?” he said, at length. “Do you think that trade is + so good I could afford to keep two boys, when there isn't half work enough + for one?” + </p> + <p> + Toby stirred the lemonade with renewed activity, as if by this process he + was making both it and his courage stronger, and said, in a low voice, + which Mr. Lord could scarcely hear: + </p> + <p> + “I didn't think that; but you see I ought to go home, for Uncle Dan'l will + worry about me; an', besides, I don't like a circus very well.” + </p> + <p> + Again there was silence on Mr. Lord's part, and again the crooked eye + glowered down on Toby. + </p> + <p> + “So,” he said—and Toby could see that his anger was rising very fast—“you + don't like a circus very well, an' you begin to think that your uncle + Daniel will worry about you, eh? Well, I want you to understand that it + don't make any difference to me whether you like a circus or not, and I + don't care how much your uncle Daniel worries. You mean that you want to + get away from me, after I've been to all the trouble and expense of + teaching you the business?” + </p> + <p> + Toby bent his head over the pail and stirred away as if for dear life. + </p> + <p> + “If you think you're going to get away from here until you've paid me for + all you've eat, an' all the time I've spent on you, you're mistaken, + that's all. You've had an easy time with me—too easy, in fact—and + that's what ails you. Now you just let me hear two words more out of your + head about going away—only two more—an' I'll show you what a + whipping is. I've only been playing with you before when you thought you + were getting a whipping; but you'll find out what it means if I so much as + see a thought in your eyes about goin' away. An' don't you dare to try to + give me the slip in the night an run away; for if you do I'll follow you + an' have you arrested. Now you mind your eye in the future.” + </p> + <p> + It is impossible to say how much longer Mr. Lord might have continued this + tirade had not a member of the company—one of the principal riders—called + him to one side to speak with him. + </p> + <p> + Poor Toby was so much confused by the angry words which had followed his + very natural and certainly very reasonable suggestion that he paid no + attention to anything around him until he heard his own name mentioned; + and then, fearing lest some new misfortune was about to befall him, he + listened intently. + </p> + <p> + “I'm afraid you couldn't do much of anything with him,” he heard Mr. Lord + say. “He's had enough of this kind of life already, so he says, an' I + expect the next thing he does will be to try and run away.” + </p> + <p> + “I'll risk his getting away from you, Job,” he heard the other say; “but + of course I've got to take my chances. I'll take him in hand from eleven + to twelve each day—just your slack time of trade—and I'll not + only give you half of what he can earn in the next two years, but I'll pay + you for his time, if he gives you the slip before the season is out.” + </p> + <p> + Toby knew that they were speaking of him, but what it all meant he could + not imagine. + </p> + <p> + “What are you going to do with him first?” Job asked. + </p> + <p> + “Just put him right in the ring and teach him what riding is. I tell you, + Job, the boy's smart enough, and before the season's over I'll have him so + that he can do some of the bareback acts, and perhaps we'll get some money + out of him before we go into winter quarters.” + </p> + <p> + Toby understood the meaning of their conversation only too well, and he + knew that his lot, which before seemed harder than he could bear, was + about to be intensified through this Mr. Castle, of whom he had frequently + heard, and who was said to be a rival of Mr. Lord's so far as brutality + went. The two men now walked toward the large tent, and Toby was left + alone with his thoughts and two or three little boy customers, who looked + at him wonderingly and envied him because he belonged to the circus. + </p> + <p> + During the ride that night he told Old Ben what he had heard, confidently + expecting that that friend at least would console him; but Ben was not the + champion which he had expected. The old man, who had been with a circus, + “man and boy, nigh to forty years,” did not seem to think it any calamity + that he was to be taught to ride. + </p> + <p> + “That Mr. Castle is a little rough on boys,” Old Ben said, thoughtfully; + “but it'll be a good thing for you, Toby. Just so long as you stay with + Job you won't be nothin' more 'n a candy boy; but after you know how to + ride it 'll be another thing, an' you can earn a good deal of money an' be + your own boss.” + </p> + <p> + “But I don't want to stay with the circus,” whined Toby; “I don't want to + learn to ride, an' I do want to get back to Uncle Dan'l.” + </p> + <p> + “That may all be true, an' I don't dispute it,” said Ben; “but you see you + didn't stay with your uncle Daniel when you had the chance, an' you did + come with the circus. You've told Job you wanted to leave, an' he 'll be + watchin' you all the time to see that you don't give him the slip. Now + what's the consequence? Why, you can't get away for a while, anyhow, an' + you'd better try to amount to something while you are here. Perhaps after + you've got so you can ride you may want to stay; an' I'll see to it that + you get all of your wages, except enough to pay Castle for learnin' of + you.” + </p> + <p> + “I sha'n't want to stay,” said Toby. “I wouldn't stay if I could ride all + the horses at once an' was gettin' a hundred dollars a day.” + </p> + <p> + “But you can't ride one horse, an' you hain't gettin' but a dollar a week, + an' still I don't see any chance of your gettin' away yet awhile,” said + Ben, in a matter of fact tone, as he devoted his attention again to his + horses, leaving Toby to his own sad reflections and the positive + conviction that boys who run away from home do not have a good time, + except in stories. + </p> + <p> + The next forenoon, while Toby was deep in the excitement of selling to a + boy no larger than himself, and with just as red hair, three cents' worth + of peanuts and two sticks of candy, and while the boy was trying to induce + him to “throw in” a piece of gum, because of the quantity purchased, Job + Lord called him aside, and Toby knew that his troubles had begun. + </p> + <p> + “I want you to go in an' see Mr. Castle; he's goin' to show you how to + ride,” said Mr. Lord, in as kindly a tone as if he were conferring some + favor on the boy. + </p> + <p> + If Toby had dared to, he would have rebelled then and there and refused to + go; but, as he hadn't the courage for such proceeding, he walked meekly + into the tent and toward the ring. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0014" id="link2H_4_0014"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + XIV. MR. CASTLE TEACHES TOBY TO RIDE + </h2> + <p> + When Toby got within sight of the ring he was astonished at what he saw. A + horse, with a broad wooden saddle, was being led slowly around the ring; + Mr. Castle was standing on one side, with a long whip in his hand; and on + the tent pole, which stood in the center of the ring, was a long arm, from + which dangled a leathern belt attached to a long rope that was carried + through the end of the arm and run down to the base of the pole. + </p> + <p> + Toby knew well enough why the horse, the whip, and the man were there, but + the wooden projection from the tent pole, which looked so much like a + gallows, he could not understand at all. + </p> + <p> + “Come, now,” said Mr. Castle, cracking his whip ominously as Toby came in + sight, “why weren't you here before?” + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Lord just sent me in,” said Toby, not expecting that his excuse would + be received, for they never had been since he had arrived at the height of + his ambition by joining the circus. + </p> + <p> + “Then I'll make Mr. Job understand that I am to have my full hour of your + time; and if I don't get it there 'll be trouble between us.” + </p> + <p> + It would have pleased Toby very well to have had Mr. Castle go out with + his long whip just then and make trouble for Mr. Lord; but Mr. Castle had + not the time to spare, because of the trouble which he was about to make + for Toby, and that he commenced on at once. + </p> + <p> + “Well, get in here and don't waste any more time,” he said, sharply. + </p> + <p> + Toby looked around curiously for a moment, and, not understanding exactly + what he was expected to get in and do, asked, “What shall I do?” + </p> + <p> + “Pull off your boots, coat, and vest.” + </p> + <p> + Since there was no other course than to learn to ride, Toby wisely + concluded that the best thing he could do would be to obey his new master + without question; so he began to take off his clothes with as much + alacrity as if learning to ride was the one thing upon which he had long + set his heart. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Castle was evidently accustomed to prompt obedience, for he not only + took it as a matter of course, but endeavored to hurry Toby in the work of + undressing. + </p> + <p> + With his desire to please, and urged by Mr. Castle's words and the ominous + shaking of his whip, Toby's preparations were soon made, and he stood + before his instructor clad only in his shirt, trousers, and stockings. + </p> + <p> + The horse was led around to where he stood, and when Mr. Castle held out + his hand to help him to mount Toby jumped up quickly without aid, thereby + making a good impression at the start as a willing lad. + </p> + <p> + “Now,” said the instructor, as he pulled down the leathern belt which hung + from the rope and fastened it around Toby's waist, “stand up in the + saddle, and try to keep there. You can't fall, because the rope will hold + you up, even if the horse goes out from under you; but it isn't hard work + to keep on if you mind what you are about; and if you don't this whip will + help you. Now stand up.” + </p> + <p> + Toby did as he was bid; and as the horse was led at a walk, and as he had + the long bridle to aid him in keeping his footing, he had no difficulty in + standing during the time that the horse went once around the ring; but + that was all. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Castle seemed to think that this was preparation enough for the boy to + be able to understand how to ride, and he started the horse into a canter. + As might have been expected, Toby lost his balance, the horse went on + ahead, and he was left dangling at the end of the rope, very much like a + crab that has just been caught by the means of a pole and line. + </p> + <p> + Toby kicked, waved his hands, and floundered about generally, but all to + no purpose, until the horse came round again, and then he made frantic + efforts to regain his footing, which efforts were aided—or perhaps + it would be more proper to say retarded—by the long lash of Mr. + Castle's whip, that played around his legs with merciless severity. + </p> + <p> + “Stand up! stand up!” cried his instructor, as Toby reeled first to one + side and then to the other, now standing erect in the saddle and now + dangling at the end of the rope, with the horse almost out from under him. + </p> + <p> + This command seemed needless, as it was exactly what Toby was trying to + do; but as it was given he struggled all the harder, until it seemed to + him that the more he tried the less did he succeed. + </p> + <p> + And this first lesson progressed in about the same way until the hour was + over, save that now and then Mr. Castle would give him some good advice, + but oftener he would twist the long lash of the whip around the boy's legs + with such force that Toby believed the skin had been taken entirely off. + </p> + <p> + It may have been a relief to Mr. Castle when this first lesson was + concluded, and it certainly was to Toby, for he had had all the teaching + in horsemanship that he wanted, and he thought, with deepest sorrow, that + this would be of daily occurrence during all the time that he remained + with the circus. + </p> + <p> + As he went out of the tent he stopped to speak with his friend the old + monkey, and his troubles seemed to have increased when he stood in front + of the cage calling, “Mr. Stubbs! Mr. Stubbs!” and the old fellow would + not even come down from off the lofty perch where he was engaged in monkey + gymnastics with several younger companions. It seemed to him, as he + afterward told Ben, “as if Mr. Stubbs had gone back on him because he knew + that he was in trouble.” + </p> + <p> + When he went toward the booth Mr. Lord looked at him around the corner of + the canvas—for it seemed to Toby that his employer could look around + a square corner with much greater ease than he could straight ahead—with + a disagreeable leer in his eye, as though he enjoyed the misery which he + knew his little clerk had just undergone. + </p> + <p> + “Can you ride yet?” he asked, mockingly, as Toby stepped behind the + counter to attend to his regular line of business. + </p> + <p> + Toby made no reply, for he knew that the question was only asked + sarcastically and not through any desire for information. In a few moments + Mr. Lord left him to attend to the booth alone and went into the tent, + where Toby rightly conjectured he had gone to question Mr. Castle upon the + result of the lesson just given. + </p> + <p> + That night Old Ben asked him how he had got on while under the teaching of + Mr. Castle; and Toby, knowing that the question was asked because of the + real interest which Ben had in his welfare, replied: + </p> + <p> + “If I was tryin' to learn how to swing round the ring, strapped to a rope, + I should say that I got along first rate; but I don't know much about the + horse, for I was only on his back a little while at a time.” + </p> + <p> + “You'll get over that soon,” said Old Ben, patronizingly, as he patted him + on the back. “You remember my words, now: I say that you've got it in you, + an' if you've a mind to take hold an' try to learn you'll come out on the + top of the heap yet, an' be one of the smartest riders they've got in this + show.” + </p> + <p> + “I don't want to be a rider,” said Toby, sadly; “I only want to get back + home once more, an' then you'll see how much it 'll take to get me away + again.” + </p> + <p> + “Well,” said Ben, quietly, “be that as it may, while you're here the best + thing you can do is to take hold an' get ahead just as fast as you can; it + 'll make it a mighty sight easier for you while you're with the show, an' + it won't spoil any of your chances for runnin' away whenever the time + comes.” + </p> + <p> + Toby fully appreciated the truth of this remark, and he assured Ben that + he should do all in his power to profit by the instruction given, and to + please this new master who had been placed over him. + </p> + <p> + And with this promise he lay back on the seat and went to sleep, not to + awaken until the preparations were being made for the entree into the next + town, and Mr. Lord's harsh voice had cried out his name, with no gentle + tone, several times. + </p> + <p> + Toby's first lesson with Mr. Castle was the most pleasant one he had; for + after the boy had once been into the ring his master seemed to expect that + he could do everything which he was told to do, and when he failed in any + little particular the long lash of the whip would go curling around his + legs or arms, until the little fellow's body and limbs were nearly covered + with the blue and black stripes. + </p> + <p> + For three lessons only was the wooden upright used to keep him from + falling; after that he was forced to ride standing erect on the broad + wooden saddle, or pad, as it is properly called; and whenever he lost his + balance and fell there was no question asked as to whether or not he had + hurt himself, but he was mercilessly cut with the whip. + </p> + <p> + Messrs. Lord and Jacobs gained very much by comparison with Mr. Castle in + Toby's mind. He had thought that his lot could not be harder than it was + with them; but when he had experienced the pains of two or three of Mr. + Castle's lessons in horsemanship he thought that he would stay with the + candy venders all the season cheerfully rather than take six more lessons + of Mr. Castle. + </p> + <p> + Night after night he fell asleep from the sheer exhaustion of crying, as + he had been pouring out his woes in the old monkey's ears and laying his + plans to run away. Now more than ever was he anxious to get away, and yet + each day was taking him farther from home and consequently necessitating a + larger amount of money with which to start. As Old Ben did not give him as + much sympathy as Toby thought he ought to give—for the old man, + while he would not allow Mr. Job Lord to strike the boy if he was near, + thought it a necessary portion of the education for Mr. Castle to lash him + all he had a mind to—he poured out all his troubles in the old + monkey's ears, and kept him with him from the time he ceased work at night + until he was obliged to commence again in the morning. + </p> + <p> + The skeleton and his wife thought Toby's lot a hard one, and tried by + every means in their power to cheer the poor boy. Neither one of them + could say to Mr. Castle what they had said to Mr. Lord, for the rider was + a far different sort of a person and one whom they would not be allowed to + interfere with in any way. Therefore poor Toby was obliged to bear his + troubles and his whippings as best he might, with only the thought to + cheer him of the time when he could leave them all by running away. + </p> + <p> + But, despite all his troubles, Toby learned to ride faster than his + teacher had expected he would, and in three weeks he found little or no + difficulty in standing erect while his horse went around the ring at his + fastest gait. After that had been accomplished his progress was more + rapid, and he gave promise of be—coming a very good rider—a + fact which pleased both Mr. Castle and Mr. Lord very much, as they fancied + that in another year Toby would be the source of a very good income to + them. + </p> + <p> + The proprietor of the circus took considerable interest in Toby's + instruction, and promised Mr. Castle that Mademoiselle Jeannette and Toby + should do an act together in the performance just as soon as the latter + was sufficiently advanced. The boy's costume had been changed after he + could ride without falling off, and now while he was in the ring he wore + the same as that used by the regular performers. + </p> + <p> + The little girl had, after it was announced that she and Toby were to + perform together, been an attentive observer during the hour that Toby was + under Mr. Castle's direction, and she gave him many suggestions that were + far more valuable, and quicker to be acted upon, than those given by the + teacher himself. + </p> + <p> + “Tomorrow you two will go through the exercise together,” said Mr. Castle + to Toby and Ella, at the close of one of Toby's lessons, after he had + become so skillful that he could stand with ease on the pad, and even + advanced so far that he could jump through a hoop without falling more + than twice out of three times. + </p> + <p> + The little girl appeared highly delighted by this information, and + expressed her joy. + </p> + <p> + “It will be real nice,” she said to Toby, after Mr. Castle had left them + alone. “I can help you lots, and it won't be very long before we can do an + act all by ourselves in the performance, and then won't the people clap + their hands when we come in!” + </p> + <p> + “It 'll be better for you tomorrow than it will for me,” said Toby, + rubbing his legs sorrowfully, still feeling the sting of the whip. “You + see, Mr. Castle won't dare to whip you, an' he 'll make it all count on + me, 'cause he knows Mr. Lord likes to have him whip me.” + </p> + <p> + “But I sha'n't make any mistake,” said Ella, confidently, “and so you + won't have to be whipped on my account; and while I am on the horse you + can't be whipped, for he couldn't do it without whipping me, so you see + you won't get only half as much.” + </p> + <p> + Toby brightened up a little under the influence of this argument; but his + countenance fell again as he thought that his chances for getting away + from the circus were growing less each day. + </p> + <p> + “You see I want to get back to Uncle Dan'l an' Guilford,” he said, + confidentially; “I don't want to stay here a single minute.” + </p> + <p> + Ella opened her eyes in wide astonishment as she cried: “Don't want to + stay here? Why don't you go home, then?” + </p> + <p> + “'Cause Job Lord won't let me,” said Toby, wondering if it was possible + that his little companion did not know exactly what sort of a man his + master was. + </p> + <p> + Then he told her—after making her give him all kinds of promises, + including the ceremony of crossing her throat, that she would never tell a + single soul—that he had had many thoughts, and had formed all kinds + of plans for running away. He told her about losing his money, about his + friendship for the skeleton and the fat lady, and at last he confided in + her that he was intending to take the old monkey with him when he should + make the attempt. + </p> + <p> + She listened with the closest attention, and when he told her that his + little hoard had now reached the sum of seven dollars and ten cents—almost + as much as he had before—she said, eagerly: “I've got three little + gold dollars in my trunk, an' you shall have them all; they're my very + own, for mamma gave them to me to do just what I wanted to with them. But + I don't see how you can take Mr. Stubbs with you, for that would be + stealing.” + </p> + <p> + “No, it wouldn't, neither,” said Toby, stoutly. “Wasn't he give to me to + do just as I wanted to with? An' didn't the boss say he was all mine?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, I'd forgotten that,” said Ella, thoughtfully. “I suppose you can take + him; but he'll be awfully in the way, won't he?” + </p> + <p> + “No,” said Toby, anxious to say a good word for his pet; “he always does + just what I want him to, an' when I tell him what I'm tryin' to do he'll + be as good as anything. But I can't take your dollars.” + </p> + <p> + “Why not?” + </p> + <p> + “'Cause that wouldn't be right for a boy to let a girl littler than + himself help him: I'll wait till I get money enough of my own, an' then + I'll go.” + </p> + <p> + “But I want you to take my money, too; I want you to have it.” + </p> + <p> + “No, I can't take it,” said Toby, shaking his head resolutely as he put + the golden temptation from him; and then, as a happy thought occurred to + him, he said, quickly: “I tell you what to do with your dollars: you keep + them till you grow up to be a woman, an' when I'm a man I'll come, an' + then we'll buy a circus of our own. I think perhaps I'd like to be with a + circus if I owned one myself. We'll have lots of money then, an' can do + just what we want to.” + </p> + <p> + This idea seemed to please the little girl, and the two began to lay all + sorts of plans for that time when they should be man and woman, have lots + of money, and be able to do just what they wanted to. + </p> + <p> + They had been sitting on the edge of the newly made ring while they were + talking, and before they had half finished making plans for the future one + of the attendants came in to put things to order, and they were obliged to + leave their seats, she going to the hotel to get ready for the afternoon's + performance, and Toby to try to do such work as Mr. Job had laid out for + him. + </p> + <p> + Just ten weeks from the time Toby had first joined the circus Mr. Castle + informed him and Ella that they were to appear in public on the following + day. They had been practicing daily, and Toby had become so skillful that + both Mr. Castle and Mr. Lord saw that the time had come when he could be + made to earn some money for them. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0015" id="link2H_4_0015"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + XV. TOBY'S FRIENDS PRESENT HIM WITH A COSTUME + </h2> + <p> + During this time Toby's funds had accumulated rather slower than on the + first few days he was in the business, but he had saved eleven dollars, + and Mr. Lord had paid him five dollars of his salary, so that he had the + to him enormous sum of sixteen dollars; and he had about made up his mind + to make one effort for liberty when the news came that he was to ride in + public. + </p> + <p> + He had, in fact, been ready to run away any time within the past week; + but, as if they had divined his intentions, both Mr. Castle and Mr. Lord + had kept a very strict watch over him, one or the other keeping him in + sight from the time he got through with his labors at night until they saw + him on the cart with Old Ben. + </p> + <p> + “I was just gettin' ready to run away,” said Toby to Ella on the day Mr. + Castle gave his decision as to their taking part in the performance, and + while they were walking out of the tent, “an' I shouldn't wonder now if I + got away tonight.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, Toby!” exclaimed the girl, as she looked reproachfully at him, “after + all the work we've had to get ready, you won't go off and leave me before + we've had a chance to see what the folks will say when they see us + together?” + </p> + <p> + It was impossible for Toby to feel any delight at the idea of riding in + public, and he would have been willing to have taken one of Mr. Lord's + most severe whippings if he could have escaped from it; but he and Ella + had become such firm friends, and he had conceived such a boyish + admiration for her, that he felt as if he were willing to bear almost + anything for the sake of giving her pleasure. Therefore he said, after a + few moments' reflection: “Well, I won't go tonight, anyway, even if I have + the best chance that ever was. I'll stay one day more, anyhow, an' perhaps + I'll have to stay a good many.” + </p> + <p> + “That's a nice boy,” said Ella, positively, as Toby thus gave his + decision, “and I'll kiss you for it.” + </p> + <p> + Before Toby fully realized what she was about, almost before he had + understood what she said, she had put her arms around his neck and given + him a good sound kiss right on his freckled face. + </p> + <p> + Toby was surprised, astonished, and just a little bit ashamed. He had + never been kissed by a girl before—very seldom by anyone, save the + fat lady—and he hardly knew what to do or say. He blushed until his + face was almost as red as his hair, and this color had the effect of + making his freckles stand out with startling distinctness. Then he looked + carefully around to see if anyone had seen them. + </p> + <p> + “I never had a girl kiss me before,” said Toby, hesitatingly, “an' you see + it made me feel kinder queer to have you do it out here, where everybody + could see.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, I kissed you because I like you very much and because you are going + to stay and ride with me tomorrow,” she said, positively; and then she + added, slyly, “I may kiss you again, if you don't get a chance to run away + very soon.” + </p> + <p> + “I wish it wasn't for Uncle Dan'l an' the rest of the folks at home, an' + there wasn't any such men as Mr. Lord an' Mr. Castle, an' then I don't + know but I might want to stay with the circus, 'cause I like you awful + much.” + </p> + <p> + And as he spoke Toby's heart grew very tender toward the only girl friend + he had ever known. + </p> + <p> + By this time they had reached the door of the tent, and as they stepped + outside one of the drivers told them that Mr. Treat and his wife were very + anxious to see both of them in their tent. + </p> + <p> + “I don't believe I can go,” said Toby, doubtfully, as he glanced toward + the booth, where Mr. Lord was busy in attending to customers, and + evidently waiting for Toby to relieve him, so that he could go to his + dinner; “I don't believe Mr. Lord will let me.” + </p> + <p> + “Go and ask him,” said Ella, eagerly. “We won't be gone but a minute.” + </p> + <p> + Toby approached his employer with fear and trembling. He had never before + asked leave to be away from his work, even for a moment, and he had no + doubt but that his request would be refused with blows. + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Treat wants me to come in his tent for a minute. Can I go?” he asked, + in a timid voice, and in such a low tone as to render it almost inaudible. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Lord looked at him for an instant, and Toby was sure that he was + making up his mind whether to kick him or catch him by the collar and use + the rubber cane on him. But he had no such intention, evidently, for he + said, in a voice unusually mild, “Yes, an' you needn't come to work again + until it's time to go into the tent.” + </p> + <p> + Toby was almost alarmed at this unusual kindness, and it puzzled him so + much that he would have forgotten he had permission to go away if Ella had + not pulled him gently by the coat. + </p> + <p> + If he had heard a conversation between Mr. Lord and Mr. Castle that very + morning he would have understood why it was that Mr. Lord had so suddenly + become kind. Mr. Castle had told Job that the boy had really shown himself + to be a good rider, and that in order to make him more contented with his + lot, and to keep him from running away, he must be used more kindly, and + perhaps be taken from the candy business altogether, which latter advice + Mr. Lord did not look upon with favor, because of the large sales which + the boy made. + </p> + <p> + When they reached the skeleton's tent they found, to their surprise, that + no exhibition was being given at that hour, and Ella said, with some + concern: “How queer it is that the doors are not open! I do hope that they + are not sick.” + </p> + <p> + Toby felt a strange sinking at his heart as the possibility suggested + itself that one or both of his kind friends might be ill; for they had + both been so kind and attentive to him that he had learned to love them + very dearly. + </p> + <p> + But the fears of both the children were dispelled when they tried to get + in at the door and were met with the smiling skeleton himself, who said, + as he threw the canvas aside as far as if he were admitting his own + enormous Lilly: + </p> + <p> + “Come in, my friends, come in. I have had the exhibition closed for one + hour, in order that I might show my appreciation of my friend Mr. Tyler.” + </p> + <p> + Toby looked around in some alarm, fearing that Mr. Treat's friendship was + about to be displayed in one of his state dinners, which he had learned to + fear rather than enjoy. But as he saw no preparations for dinner he + breathed more freely and wondered what all this ceremony could possibly + mean. + </p> + <p> + Neither he nor Ella was long left in doubt, for as soon as they had + entered, Mrs. Treat waddled from behind the screen which served them as a + dressing room, with a bundle in her arms, which she handed to her husband. + </p> + <p> + He took it and, quickly mounting the platform, leaving Ella and Toby + below, he commenced to speak, with very many flourishes of his thin arms. + </p> + <p> + “My friends,” he began, as he looked down upon his audience of three, who + were listening in the following attitudes: Ella and Toby were standing + upon the ground at the foot of the platform, looking up with wide open, + staring eyes; and his fleshy wife was seated on a bench which had + evidently been placed in such a position below the speaker's stand that + she could hear and see all that was going on without the fatigue of + standing up, which, for one of her size, was really very hard work—“My + friends,” repeated the skeleton, as he held his bundle in front of him + with one hand and gesticulated with the other, “we all of us know that + tomorrow our esteemed and worthy friend Mr. Toby Tyler makes his first + appearance in any ring, and we all of us believe that he will soon become + a bright and shining light in the profession which he is so soon to + enter.” + </p> + <p> + The speaker was here interrupted by loud applause from his wife, and he + profited by the opportunity to wipe a stray drop of perspiration from his + fleshless face. Then, as the fat lady ceased the exertion of clapping her + hands, he continued: + </p> + <p> + “Knowing that our friend Mr. Tyler was being instructed, preparatory to + dazzling the public with his talents, my wife and I began to prepare for + him some slight testimonial of our esteem; and, being informed by Mr. + Castle some days ago of the day on which he was to make his first + appearance before the public, we were enabled to complete our little gift + in time for the great and important event.” + </p> + <p> + Here the skeleton paused to take a breath, and Toby began to grow more + uncomfortably red in the face. Such praise made him feel very awkward. + </p> + <p> + “I hold in this bundle,” continued Mr. Treat as he waved the package on + high, “a costume for our bold and worthy equestrian, and a sash to match + for his beautiful and accomplished companion. In presenting these little + tokens my wife (who has embroidered every inch of the velvet herself) and + I feel proud to know that, when the great and auspicious occasion occurs + tomorrow, the worthy Mr. Tyler will step into the ring in a costume which + we have prepared expressly for him; and thus, when he does himself honor + by his performance and earns the applause of the multitude, he will be + doing honor and doing applause for the work of our hands—my wife + Lilly and myself. Take them, my boy; and when you array yourself in them + tomorrow you will remember that the only living skeleton, and the wonder + of the nineteenth century in the shape of the mammoth lady, are present in + their works if not in their persons.” + </p> + <p> + As he finished speaking Mr. Treat handed the bundle to Toby, and then + joined in the applause which was being given by Mrs. Treat and Ella. + </p> + <p> + Toby unrolled the package, and found that it contained a circus rider's + costume of pink tights and blue velvet trunks, collar and cuffs, + embroidered in white and plentifully spangled with silver. In addition was + a wide blue sash for Ella, embroidered to correspond with Toby's costume. + </p> + <p> + The little fellow was both delighted with the gift and at a loss to know + what to say in response. He looked at the costume over and over again, and + the tears of gratitude that these friends should have been so good to him + came into his eyes. He saw, however, that they were expecting him to say + something in reply, and, laying the gift on the platform, he said to the + skeleton and his wife: + </p> + <p> + “You've been so good to me ever since I've been with the circus that I + wish I was big enough to say somethin' more than that I'm much obliged, + but I can't. One of these days, when I'm a man, I'll show you how much I + like you, an' then you won't be sorry that you was good to such a poor + little runaway boy as I am.” + </p> + <p> + Here the skeleton broke in with such loud applause and so many cries of + “Hear! hear!” that Toby grew still more confused, and forgot entirely what + he was intending to say next. + </p> + <p> + “I want you to know how much obliged I am,” he said, after much + hesitation, “an' when I wear 'em I'll ride just the best I know how, even + if I don't want to, an' you sha'n't be sorry that you gave them to me.” + </p> + <p> + As Toby concluded he made a funny little awkward bow, and then seemed to + be trying to hide himself behind a chair from the applause which was given + so generously. + </p> + <p> + “Bless your dear little heart!” said the fat lady, after the confusion had + somewhat subsided. “I know you will do your best, anyway, and I'm glad to + know that you're going to make your first appearance in something that + Samuel and I made for you.” + </p> + <p> + Ella was quite as well pleased with her sash as Toby was with his costume, + and thanked Mr. and Mrs. Treat in a pretty little way that made Toby wish + he could say anything half so nicely. + </p> + <p> + The hour which the skeleton had devoted for the purpose of the + presentation and accompanying speeches having elapsed, it was necessary + that Ella and Toby should go and that the doors of the exhibition be + opened at once, in order to give any of the public an opportunity of + seeing what the placards announced as two of the greatest curiosities on + the face of the globe. + </p> + <p> + That day, while Toby performed his arduous labors, his heart was very + light, for the evidences which the skeleton and his wife had given of + their regard for him were very gratifying. He determined that he would do + his very best to please so long as he was with the circus, and then, when + he got a chance to run away, he would do so, but not until he had said + goodby to Mr. and Mrs. Treat and thanked them again for their interest in + him. + </p> + <p> + When he had finished his work in the tent that night Mr. Lord said to him, + as he patted him on the back in the most fatherly fashion, and as if he + had never spoken a harsh word to him, “You can't come in here to sell + candy now that you are one of the performers, my boy; an' if I can find + another boy tomorrow you won't have to work in the booth any longer, an' + your salary of a dollar a week will go on just the same, even if you don't + have anything to do but to ride.” + </p> + <p> + This was a bit of news that was as welcome to Toby as it was unexpected, + and he felt more happy then than he had for the ten weeks that he had been + traveling under Mr. Lord's cruel mastership. + </p> + <p> + But there was one thing that night that rather damped his joy, and that + was that he noticed that Mr. Lord was unusually careful to watch him, not + even allowing him to go outside the tent without following. He saw at once + that, if he was to have a more easy time, his chances for running away + were greatly diminished, and no number of beautiful costumes would have + made him content to stay with the circus one moment longer than was + absolutely necessary. + </p> + <p> + That night he told Old Ben the events of the day, and expressed the hope + that he might acquit himself creditably when he made his first appearance + on the following day. + </p> + <p> + Ben sat thoughtfully for some time, and then, making all the preparations + which Toby knew so well signified a long bit of advice, he said: “Toby, my + boy, I've been with a circus, man an' boy, nigh to forty years, an' I've + seen lots of youngsters start in just as you re goin' to start in + tomorrow; but the most of them petered out, because they got to knowin' + more 'n them that learned 'em did. Now, you remember what I say, an' + you'll find it good advice: whatever business you get into, don't think + you know all about it before you've begun. Remember that you can always + learn somethin', no matter how old you are, an' keep your eyes an' ears + open, an' your tongue between your teeth, an' you'll amount to somethin', + or my name hain't Ben.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0016" id="link2H_4_0016"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + XVI. TOBY'S FIRST APPEARANCE IN THE RING + </h2> + <p> + When the circus entered the town which had been selected as the place + where Toby was to make his debut as a circus rider the boy noticed a new + poster among the many glaring and gaudy bills which set forth the varied + and numerous attractions that were to be found under one canvas for a + trifling admission fee, and he noticed it with some degree of interest, + not thinking for a moment that it had any reference to him. + </p> + <p> + It was printed very much as follows: + </p> + <p> + MADEMOISELLE JEANNETTE AND MONSIEUR AJAX, + </p> + <p> + two of the youngest equestrians in the world, will perform their graceful, + dashing, and daring act entitled + </p> + <p> + THE TRIUMPH OF THE INNOCENTS! + </p> + <p> + This is the first appearance of these daring young riders together since + their separation in Europe last season, and their performance in this town + will have a new and novel interest. + </p> + <p> + See MADEMOISELLE JEANNETTE AND MONSIEUR AJAX + </p> + <p> + “Look there!” said Toby to Ben, as he pointed out the poster, which was + printed in very large letters, with gorgeous coloring, and surmounted by a + picture of two very small people performing all kinds of impossible feats + on horseback. “They've got someone else to ride with Ella today. I wonder + who it can be?” + </p> + <p> + Ben looked at Toby for a moment, as if to assure himself that the boy was + in earnest in asking the question, and then he relapsed into the worst fit + of silent laughing that Toby had ever seen. After he had quite recovered + he asked: “Don't you know who Monsieur Ajax is? Hain't you never seen + him?” + </p> + <p> + “No,” replied Toby, at a loss to understand what there was so very funny + in his very natural question. “I thought that I was goin' to ride with + Ella.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, that's you!” almost screamed Ben, in delight. “Monsieur Ajax means + you—didn't you know it? You don't suppose they would go to put 'Toby + Tyler' on the bills, do you? How it would look!—'Mademoiselle + Jeannette an' Monsieur Toby Tyler'!” + </p> + <p> + Ben was off in one of his laughing spells again; and Toby sat there, stiff + and straight, hardly knowing whether to join in the mirth or to get angry + at the sport which had been made of his name. + </p> + <p> + “I don't care,” he said, at length. “I'm sure I think Toby Tyler sounds + just as well as Monsieur Ajax, an' I'm sure it fits me a good deal + better.” + </p> + <p> + “That may be,” said Ben, soothingly; “but you see it wouldn't go down so + well with the public. They want furrin riders, an' they must have 'em, + even if it does spoil your name.” + </p> + <p> + Despite the fact that he did not like the new name that had been given + him, Toby could not but feel pleased at the glowing terms in which his + performance was set off; but he did not at all relish the lie that was + told about his having been with Ella in Europe, and he would have been + very much better pleased if that portion of it had been left off. + </p> + <p> + During the forenoon he did not go near Mr. Lord nor his candy stand, for + Mr. Castle kept him and Ella busily engaged in practicing the feat which + they were to perform in the afternoon, and it was almost time for the + performance to begin before they were allowed even to go to their dinner. + </p> + <p> + Ella, who had performed several years, was very much more excited over the + coming debut than Toby was, and the reason why he did not show more + interest was, probably, because of his great desire to leave the circus as + soon as possible, and during that forenoon he thought very much more of + how he should get back to Guilford and Uncle Daniel than he did of how he + should get along when he stood before the audience. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Castle assisted his pupil to dress, and when that was done to his + entire satisfaction he said, in a stern voice, “Now you can do this act + all right, and if you slip up on it and don't do it as you ought to, I'll + give you such a whipping when you come out of the ring that you'll think + Job was only fooling with you when he tried to whip you.” + </p> + <p> + Toby had been feeling reasonably cheerful before this, but these words + dispelled all his cheerful thoughts, and he was looking more disconsolate + when Old Ben came into the dressing tent. + </p> + <p> + “All ready are you, my boy?” said the old man, in his cheeriest voice. + “Well, that's good, an' you look as nice as possible. Now remember what I + told you last night, Toby, an' go in there to do your level best an' make + a name for yourself. Come out here with me and wait for the young lady.” + </p> + <p> + These cheering words of Ben's did Toby as much good as Mr. Castle's had + the reverse, and as he stepped out of the dressing room to the place where + the horses were being saddled Toby resolved that he would do his very best + that afternoon, if for no other reason than to please his old friend. + </p> + <p> + Toby was not naturally what might be called a pretty boy, for his short + red hair and his freckled face prevented any great display of beauty; but + he was a good, honest looking boy, and in his tasteful costume looked very + nice indeed—so nice that, could Mrs. Treat have seen him just then, + she would have been very proud of her handiwork and hugged him harder than + ever. + </p> + <p> + He had been waiting but a few moments when Ella came from her dressing + room, and Toby was much pleased when he saw by the expression of her face + that she was perfectly satisfied with his appearance. + </p> + <p> + “We'll both do just as well as we can,” she whispered to him, “and I know + the people will like us and make us come back after we get through. And if + they do mamma says she'll give each one of us a gold dollar.” + </p> + <p> + She had taken hold of Toby's hand as she spoke, and her manner was so + earnest and anxious that Toby was more excited than he ever had been about + his debut; and, had he gone into the ring just at that moment, the chances + are that he would have surprised even his teacher by his riding. + </p> + <p> + “I'll do just as well as I can,” said Toby, in reply to his little + companion, “an' if we earn the dollars I'll have a hole bored in mine, an' + you shall wear it around your neck to remember me by.” + </p> + <p> + “I'll remember you without that,” she whispered; “and I'll give you mine, + so that you shall have so much the more when you go to your home.” + </p> + <p> + There was no time for further conversation, for Mr. Castle entered just + then to tell them that they must go in in another moment. The horses were + all ready—a black one for Toby, and a white one for Ella—and + they stood champing their bits and pawing the earth in their impatience + until the silver bells with which they were decorated rang out quick, + nervous little chimes that accorded very well with Toby's feelings. + </p> + <p> + Ella squeezed Toby's hand as they stood waiting for the curtain to be + raised that they might enter, and he had just time to return it when the + signal was given, and almost before he was aware of it they were standing + in the ring, kissing their hands to the crowds that packed the enormous + tent to its utmost capacity. + </p> + <p> + Thanks to the false announcement about the separation of the children in + Europe and their reunion in this particular town, the applause was long + and loud, and before it had died away Toby had time to recover a little + from the queer feeling which this sea of heads gave him. + </p> + <p> + He had never seen such a crowd before, except as he had seen them as he + walked around at the foot of the seats, and then they had simply looked + like so many human beings; but as he saw them now from the ring they + appeared like strange rows of heads without bodies, and he had hard work + to keep from running back behind the curtain whence he had come. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Castle acted as the ringmaster this time, and after he had introduced + them—very much after the fashion of the posters—and the clown + had repeated some funny joke, the horses were led in and they were + assisted to mount. + </p> + <p> + “Don't mind the people at all,” said Mr. Castle, in a low voice, “but ride + just as if you were alone here with me.” + </p> + <p> + The music struck up, the horses cantered around the ring, and Toby had + really started as a circus rider. + </p> + <p> + “Remember,” said Ella to him, in a low tone, just as the horses started, + “you told me that you would ride just as well as you could, and we must + earn the dollars mamma promised.” + </p> + <p> + It seemed to Toby at first as if he could not stand up, but by the time + they had ridden around the ring once, and Ella had again cautioned him + against making any mistake, for the sake of the money which they were + going to earn, he was calm and collected enough to carry out his part of + the “act” as well as if he had been simply taking a lesson. + </p> + <p> + The act consisted in their riding side by side, jumping over banners and + through hoops covered with paper, and then the most difficult portion + began. + </p> + <p> + The saddles, were taken off the horses, and they were to ride first on one + horse and then on the other, until they concluded their performance by + riding twice around the ring side by side, standing on their horses, each + one with a hand on the other's shoulder. + </p> + <p> + All this was successfully accomplished without a single error, and when + they rode out of the ring the applause was so great as to leave no doubt + but that they would be recalled and thus earn the promised money. + </p> + <p> + In fact, they had hardly got inside the curtain when one of the attendants + called to them, and before they had time even to speak to each other they + were in the ring again, repeating the last portion of their act. + </p> + <p> + When they came out of the ring for the second time they found Old Ben, the + skeleton, the fat lady, and Mr. Job Lord waiting to welcome them; but + before anyone could say a word Ella had stood on tiptoe again and given + Toby just such another kiss as she did when he told her that he would + surely stay long enough to appear in the ring with her once. + </p> + <p> + “That's because you rode so well and helped me so much,” she said, as she + saw Toby's cheeks growing a fiery red; and then she turned to those who + were waiting to greet her. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Treat took her in her enormous arms, and, having kissed her, put her + down quickly, and clasped Toby as if he had been a very small walnut and + her arms a very large pair of nutcrackers. + </p> + <p> + “Bless the boy!” she exclaimed, as she kissed him again and again with an + energy and force that made her kisses sound like the crack of the whip and + caused the horses to stamp in affright. “I knew he'd amount to something + one of these days, an' Samuel an' I had to come out, when business was + dull, just to see how he got along.” + </p> + <p> + It was some time before she would unloose him from her motherly embrace, + and when she did the skeleton grasped him by the hand and said, in the + most pompous and affected manner: + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Tyler, we're proud of you, and when we saw that costume of yours, + that my Lilly embroidered with her own hands, we was both proud of it and + what it contained. You're a great rider, my boy, a great rider, and you + 'll stand at the head of the profession some day, if you only stick to + it.” + </p> + <p> + “Thank you, sir,” was all Toby had time to say before Old Ben had him by + the hand, and the skeleton was pouring out his congratulations in little + Miss Ella's ear. + </p> + <p> + “Toby, my boy, you did well, an' now you'll amount to something, if you + only remember what I told you last night,” said Ben, as he looked upon the + boy whom he had come to think of as his protege, with pride. “I never seen + anybody of your age do any better; an' now, instead of bein' only a candy + peddler, you're one of the stars of the show.” + </p> + <p> + “Thank you, Ben,” was all that Toby could say, for he knew that his old + friend meant every word that he said, and it pleased him so much that he + could say no more than “Thank you” in reply. + </p> + <p> + “I feel as if your triumph was mine,” said Mr. Lord, looking benignly at + Toby from out his crooked eye, and assuming the most fatherly tone at his + command; “I have learned to look upon you almost as my own son, and your + success is very gratifying to me.” + </p> + <p> + Toby was not at all flattered by this last praise. If he had never seen + Mr. Lord before, he might, and probably would, have been deceived by his + words; but he had seen him too often, and under too many painful + circumstances, to be at all swindled by his words. + </p> + <p> + Toby was very much pleased with his success and by the praise he received + from all, and when the proprietor of the circus came along, patted him on + the head, and told him that he rode very nicely, he was quite happy, until + he chanced to see the greedy twinkle in Mr. Lord's eye, and then he knew + that all this success and all this praise were only binding him faster to + the show which he was so anxious to escape from; his pleasure vanished + very quickly, and in its stead came a bitter, homesick feeling which no + amount of praise could banish. + </p> + <p> + It was Old Ben who helped him to undress after the skeleton and the fat + lady had gone to their tent and Ella had gone to dress for her appearance + with her mother, for now she was obliged to ride twice at each + performance. When Toby was in ordinary clothes again Ben said: + </p> + <p> + “Now that you're one of the performers, Toby, you won't have to sell candy + any more, an' you'll have the most of your time to yourself, so let's you + an' I go out an' see the town.” + </p> + <p> + “Don't you s'pose Mr. Lord expects me to go to work for him again today?” + </p> + <p> + “An' s'posin' he does?” said Ben, with a chuckle. “You don't s'pose the + boss would let any one that rides in the ring stand behind Job Lord's + counter, do you? You can do just as you have a mind to, my boy, an' I say + to you, let's go out an' see the town. What do you say to it?” + </p> + <p> + “I'd like to go first rate, if I dared to,” replied Toby, thinking of the + many whippings he had received for far less than that which Ben now + proposed he should do. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, I'll take care that Job don't bother you, so come along”; and Ben + started out of the tent, and Toby followed, feeling considerably + frightened at this first act of disobedience against his old master. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0017" id="link2H_4_0017"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + XVII. OFF FOR HOME! + </h2> + <p> + During this walk Toby learned many things that were of importance to him, + so far as his plan for running away was concerned. In the first place, he + gleaned from the railway posters that were stuck up in the hotel to which + they went that he could buy a ticket for Guilford for seven dollars, and + also that, by going back to the town from which they had come, he could go + to Guilford by steamer for five dollars. + </p> + <p> + By returning to this last town—and Toby calculated that the fare on + the stage back there could not be more than a dollar—he would have + ten dollars left, and that surely ought to be sufficient to buy food + enough for two days for the most hungry boy that ever lived. + </p> + <p> + When they returned to the circus grounds the performance was over, and Mr. + Lord in the midst of the brisk trade which he usually had after the + afternoon performance, and yet, so far from scolding Toby for going away, + he actually smiled and bowed at him as he saw him go by with Ben. + </p> + <p> + “See there, Toby,” said the old driver to the boy, as he gave him a + vigorous poke in the ribs and then went off into one of his dreadful + laughing spells—“see what it is to be a performer an' not workin' + for such an old fossil as Job is! He'll be so sweet to you now that sugar + won't melt in his mouth, an' there's no chance of his ever attemptin' to + whip you again.” + </p> + <p> + Toby made no reply, for he was too busily engaged thinking of something + which had just come into his mind to know that his friend had spoken. + </p> + <p> + But as Old Ben hardly knew whether the boy had answered him or not, owing + to his being obliged to struggle with his breath lest he should lose it in + the second laughing spell that attacked him, the boy's thoughtfulness was + not particularly noticed. + </p> + <p> + Toby walked around the show grounds for a little while with his old + friend, and then the two went to supper, where Toby performed quite as + great wonders in the way of eating as he had in the afternoon by riding. + </p> + <p> + As soon as the supper was over he quietly slipped away from Old Ben, and + at once paid a visit to Mr. and Mrs. Treat, whom he found cozily engaged + in their supper behind the screen. + </p> + <p> + They welcomed Toby most cordially, and, despite his assertions that he had + just finished a very hearty meal, the fat lady made him sit down to the + box which served as table, and insisted on his trying some of her + doughnuts. + </p> + <p> + Under all these pressing attentions it was some time before Toby found a + chance to say that which he had come to say, and when he did he was almost + at a loss how to proceed; but at last he commenced by starting abruptly on + his subject with the words, “I've made up my mind to leave tonight.” + </p> + <p> + “Leave tonight?” repeated the skeleton, inquiringly, not for a moment + believing that Toby could think of running away after the brilliant + success he had just made. “What do you mean, Toby?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, you know that I've been wantin' to get away from the circus,” said + Toby, a little impatient that his friend should be so wonderfully stupid, + “an' I think that I'll have as good a chance now as ever I shall, so I'm + goin' to try it.” + </p> + <p> + “Bless us!” exclaimed the fat lady, in a gasping way. “You don't mean to + say that you're goin' off just when you've started in the business so + well? I thought you'd want to stay after you'd been so well received this + afternoon.” + </p> + <p> + “No,” said Toby—and one quick little sob popped right up from his + heart and out before he was aware of it—“I learned to ride because I + had to, but I never give up runnin' away. I must see Uncle Dan'l, an' tell + him how sorry I am for what I did; an' if he won't have anything to say to + me I'll come back; but if he'll let me I'll stay there, an' I'll be so + good that by 'n' by he'll forget that I run off an' left him without + sayin' a word.” + </p> + <p> + There was such a touch of sorrow in his tones, so much pathos in his way + of speaking, that good Mrs. Treat's heart was touched at once; and putting + her arms around the little fellow, as if to shield him from some harm, she + said, tenderly: “And so you shall go, Toby, my boy; but if you ever want a + home or anybody to love you come right here to us, and you'll never be + sorry. So long as Sam keeps thin and I fat enough to draw the public you + never need say that you're homeless, for nothing would please us better + than to have you come to live with us.” + </p> + <p> + For reply Toby raised his head and kissed her on the cheek, a proceeding + which caused her to squeeze him harder than ever. + </p> + <p> + During this conversation the skeleton had remained very thoughtful. After + a moment or two he got up from his seat, went outside the tent, and + presently returned with a quantity of silver ten cent pieces in his hand. + </p> + <p> + “Here, Toby,” he said—and it was to be seen that he was really too + much affected even to attempt one of his speeches—“it's right that + you should go, for I've known what it is to feel just as you do. What + Lilly said about your having a home with us I say, an' here's five dollars + that I want you to take to help you along.” + </p> + <p> + At first Toby stoutly refused to take the money; but they both insisted to + such a degree that he was actually forced to, and then he stood up to go. + </p> + <p> + “I'm goin' to try to slip off after Job packs up the outside booth, if I + can,” he said, “an' it was to say goodby that I come around here.” + </p> + <p> + Again Mrs. Treat took the boy in her arms, as if it were one of her own + children who was leaving her, and as she stroked his hair back from his + forehead she said: “Don't forget us, Toby, even if you never do see us + again; try an' remember how much we cared for you, an' how much comfort + you're taking away from us when you go; for it was a comfort to see you + around, even if you wasn't with us very much. Don't forget us, Toby, an' + if you ever get the chance, come an' see us. Goodby, Toby, goodby.” And + the kind hearted woman kissed him again and again, and then turned her + back resolutely upon him, lest it should be bad luck to him if she again + saw him after saying goodby. + </p> + <p> + The skeleton's parting was not quite so demonstrative. He clasped Toby's + hand with one set of his fleshless fingers, while with the other he wiped + one or two suspicious looking drops of moisture from his eyes as he said: + “I hope you'll get along all right, my boy, and I believe you will. You + will get home to Uncle Daniel and be happier than ever, for now you know + what it is to be entirely without a home. Be a good boy, mind your uncle, + go to school, and one of these days you'll make a good man. Goodby, my + boy.” + </p> + <p> + The tears were now streaming down Toby's face very rapidly; he had not + known, in his anxiety to get home, how very much he cared for this + strangely assorted couple, and now it made him feel very miserable and + wretched that he was going to leave them. He tried to say something more, + but the tears choked his utterance and he left the tent quickly to prevent + himself from breaking down entirely. + </p> + <p> + In order that his grief might not be noticed and the cause of it + suspected, Toby went out behind the tent, and, sitting there on a stone, + he gave way to the tears which he could no longer control. + </p> + <p> + While he was thus engaged, heeding nothing which passed around him, he was + startled by a cheery voice which cried: “Halloo! down in the dumps again? + What is the matter now, my bold equestrian?” + </p> + <p> + Looking up, he saw Ben standing before him, and he wiped his eyes hastily, + for here was another from whom he must part and to whom a goodby must be + spoken. + </p> + <p> + Looking around to make sure that no one was within hearing, he went up + very close to the old driver and said, in almost a whisper: “I was feelin' + bad 'cause I just come from Mr. and Mrs. Treat, an' I've been sayin' + goodby to them. I'm goin' to run away tonight.” + </p> + <p> + Ben looked at him for a moment, as if he doubted whether the boy knew + exactly what he was talking about, and then said, “So you still want to go + home, do you?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh yes, Ben, so much,” was the reply, in a tone which expressed how dear + to him was the thought of being in his old home once more. + </p> + <p> + “All right, my boy; I won't say one word ag'in' it, though it do seem too + bad, after you've turned out to be such a good rider,” said the old man, + thoughtfully. “It's better for you, I know; for a circus hain't no place + for a boy, even if he wants to stay, an' I can't say but I'm glad you're + still determined to go.” + </p> + <p> + Toby felt relieved at the tone of this leave taking. He had feared that + Old Ben, who thought a circus rider was almost on the topmost round of + fortune's ladder, would have urged him to stay, since he had made his + debut in the ring, and he was almost afraid that he might take some steps + to prevent his going. + </p> + <p> + “I wanted to say goodby now,” said Toby, in a choking voice, “'cause + perhaps I sha'n't see you again. + </p> + <p> + “Goodby, my boy,” said Ben as he took the boy's hand in his. “Don't forget + this experience you've had in runnin' away; an if ever the time comes that + you feel as if you wanted to know that you had a friend, think of Old Ben, + an' remember that his heart beats just as warm for you as if he was your + father. Goodby, my boy, goodby, an' may the good God bless you!” + </p> + <p> + “Goodby, Ben,” said Toby; and then, as the old driver turned and walked + away, wiping something from his eye with the cuff of his sleeve, Toby gave + full vent to his tears and wondered why it was that he was such a + miserable little wretch. + </p> + <p> + There was one more goodby to be said, and that Toby dreaded more than all + the others. It was to Ella. He knew that she would feel badly to have him + go, because she liked to ride the act with him that gave them such + applause, and he felt certain that she would urge him to stay. + </p> + <p> + Just then the thought of another of his friends—one who had not yet + been warned of what very important matter was to occur—came to his + mind, and he hastened toward the old monkey's cage. His pet was busily + engaged in playing with some of the younger members of his family, and for + some moments could not be induced to come to the bars of the cage. + </p> + <p> + At last, however, Toby did succeed in coaxing him forward, and then, + taking him by the paw and drawing him as near as possible, Toby whispered, + “We're goin' to run away tonight, Mr. Stubbs, an' I want you to be all + ready to go the minute I come for you.” + </p> + <p> + The old monkey winked both eyes violently, and then showed his teeth to + such an extent that Toby thought he was laughing at the prospect, and he + said, a little severely, “If you had as many friends as I have got in the + circus you wouldn't laugh when you was goin' to leave them. Of course I've + got to go, an' I want to go; but it makes me feel bad to leave the + skeleton, an' the fat woman, an Old Ben, an' little Ella. But I mustn't + stand here. You be ready when I come for you, an' by mornin' we'll be so + far off that Mr. Lord nor Mr. Castle can't catch us.” + </p> + <p> + The old monkey went toward his companions, as if he were in high glee at + the trip before him, and Toby went into the dressing tent to prepare for + the evening's performance—which was about to commence. + </p> + <p> + It appeared to the boy as if everyone was unusually kind to him that + night, and, feeling sad at leaving those in the circus who had befriended + him, Toby was unusually attentive to everyone around him. He ran on some + trifling errand for one, helped another in his dressing, and in a dozen + kind ways seemed as if trying to atone for leaving them secretly. + </p> + <p> + When the time came for him to go into the ring and he met Ella, bright and + happy at the thought of riding with him and repeating her triumphs of the + afternoon, nothing save the thought of how wicked he had been to run away + from good old Uncle Daniel, and a desire to right that wrong in some way, + prevented him from giving up his plan of going back. + </p> + <p> + The little girl observed his sadness, and she whispered, “Has anyone been + whipping you, Toby?” + </p> + <p> + Toby shook his head. He had thought that he would tell her what he was + about to do just before they went into the ring, but her kind words seemed + to make that impossible, and he had said nothing when the blare of the + trumpets, the noisy demonstrations of the audience, and the announcement + of the clown that the wonderful children riders were now about to appear, + ushered them into the ring. + </p> + <p> + If Toby had performed well in the afternoon, he accomplished wonders on + this evening, and they were called back into the ring, not once, but + twice; and when finally they were allowed to retire everyone behind the + curtain overwhelmed them with praise. + </p> + <p> + Ella was so profuse with her kind words, her admiration for what Toby had + done, and so delighted at the idea that they were to ride together, that + even then the boy could not tell her what he was going to do, but went + into his dressing room, resolving that he would tell her all when they + both had finished dressing. + </p> + <p> + Toby made as small a parcel as possible of the costume which Mr. and Mrs. + Treat had given him—for he determined that he would take it with him—and, + putting it under his coat, went out to wait for Ella. As she did not come + out as soon as he expected, he asked someone to tell her that he wanted to + see her, and he thought to himself that when she did come she would be in + a hurry and could not stop long enough to make any very lengthy objections + to his leaving. + </p> + <p> + But she did not come at all—her mother sent out word that Toby could + not see her until after the performance was over, owing to the fact that + it was now nearly time for her to go into the ring, and she was not + dressed yet. + </p> + <p> + Toby was terribly disappointed. He knew that it would not be safe for him + to wait until the close of the performance if he were intending to run + away that night, and he felt that he could not go until he had said a few + last words to her. + </p> + <p> + He was in a great perplexity, until the thought came to him that he could + write a goodby to her, and by this means any unpleasant discussion would + be avoided. + </p> + <p> + After some little difficulty he procured a small piece of not very clean + paper and a very short bit of lead pencil, and, using the top of one of + the wagons, as he sat on the seat, for a desk, he indited the following + epistle: + </p> + <p> + deaR ella I Am goin to Run away two night, & i want two say good by to + yu & your mother. i am Small & unkle Danil says i dont mount two + much, but i am old enuf two know that you have bin good two me, & when + i Am a man i will buy you a whole cirkus, and we Will ride together. dont + forgit me & i wont yu in haste + </p> + <p> + Toby Tyler. + </p> + <p> + Toby had no envelope in which to seal this precious letter, but he felt + that it would not be seen by prying eyes and would safely reach its + destination if he intrusted it to Old Ben. + </p> + <p> + It did not take him many moments to find the old driver, and he said, as + he handed him the letter, “I didn't see Ella to tell her I was goin', so I + wrote this letter, an' I want to know if you will give it to her?” + </p> + <p> + “Of course I will. But see here, Toby”—and Ben caught him by the + sleeve and led him aside where he would not be overheard—“have you + got enough money to take you home? for if you haven't I can let you have + some.” And Ben plunged his hand into his capacious pocket, as if he was + about to withdraw from there the entire United States Treasury. + </p> + <p> + Toby assured him that he had sufficient for all his wants; but the old man + would not be satisfied until he had seen for himself, and then, taking + Toby's hand again, he said: “Now, my boy, it won't do for you to stay + around here any longer. Buy something to eat before you start, an' go into + the woods for a day or two before you take the train or steamboat. + </p> + <p> + “You're too big a prize for Job or Castle to let you go without a word, + an' they'll try their level best to find you. Be careful, now, for if they + should catch you, goodby any more chances to get away. There”—and + here Ben suddenly lifted him high from the ground and kissed him—“now + get away as fast as you can.” + </p> + <p> + Toby pressed the old man's hand affectionately, and then, without trusting + himself to speak, walked swiftly out toward the entrance. + </p> + <p> + He resolved to take Ben's advice and go into the woods for a short time, + and therefore he must buy some provisions before he started. + </p> + <p> + As he passed the monkeys' cage he saw his pet sitting near the bars, and + he stopped long enough to whisper, “I'll be back in ten minutes, Mr. + Stubbs, an' you be all ready then.” + </p> + <p> + Then he went on, and just as he got near the entrance one of the men told + him that Mrs. Treat wished to see him. + </p> + <p> + Toby could hardly afford to spare the time just then, but he would + probably have obeyed the summons if he had known that by so doing he would + be caught, and he ran as fast as his little legs would carry him toward + the skeleton's tent. + </p> + <p> + The exhibition was open, and both the skeleton, and his wife were on the + platform when Toby entered; but he crept around at the back and up behind + Mrs. Treat's chair, telling her as he did so that he had just received her + message and that he must hurry right back, for every moment was important + then to him. + </p> + <p> + “I put up a nice lunch for you,” she said as she kissed him, “and you'll + find it on the top of the biggest trunk. Now go; and if my wishes are of + any good to you, you will get to your uncle Daniel's house without any + trouble. Goodby again, little one.” + </p> + <p> + Toby did not dare to trust himself any longer where everyone was so kind + to him. He slipped down from the platform as quickly as possible, found + the bundle—and a good sized one it was, too—without any + difficulty, and went back to the monkeys' cage. + </p> + <p> + As orders had been given by the proprietor of the circus that the boy + should do as he had a mind to with the monkey, he called Mr. Stubbs; and + as he was in the custom of taking him with him at night, no one thought + that it was anything strange that he should take him from the cage now. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Lord or Mr. Castle might possibly have thought it queer had either of + them seen the two bundles which Toby carried, but, fortunately for the + boy's scheme, they both believed that he was in the dressing tent, and + consequently thought that he was perfectly safe. + </p> + <p> + Toby's hand shook so that he could hardly undo the fastening of the cage, + and when he attempted to call the monkey to him his voice sounded so + strange and husky that it startled him. + </p> + <p> + The old monkey seemed to prefer sleeping with Toby rather than with those + of his kind in the cage; and as the boy took him with him almost every + night, he came on this particular occasion as soon as Toby called, + regardless of the strange sound of his master's voice. + </p> + <p> + With his bundles under his arm and the monkey on his shoulder, with both + paws tightly clasped around his neck, Toby made his way out of the tent + with beating heart and bated breath. + </p> + <p> + Neither Mr. Lord, Castle, nor Jacobs were in sight, and everything seemed + favorable for his flight. During the afternoon he had carefully noted the + direction of the woods, and he started swiftly toward them now, stopping + only long enough, as he was well clear of the tents, to say, in a whisper: + </p> + <p> + “Goodby, Mr. Treat, an' Mrs. Treat, an' Ella, an' Ben. Sometime, when I'm + a man, I'll come back an' bring you lots of nice things, an' I'll never + forget you—never. When I have a chance to be good to some little boy + that felt as bad as I did I'll do it, an' tell him that it was you did it. + Goodby.” + </p> + <p> + Then, turning around, he ran toward the woods as swiftly as if his escape + had been discovered and the entire company were in pursuit. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0018" id="link2H_4_0018"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + XVIII. A DAY OF FREEDOM + </h2> + <p> + Toby ran at the top of his speed over the rough road; and the monkey, + jolted from one side to the other, clutched his paws more tightly around + the boy's neck, looking around into his face as if to ask what was the + meaning of this very singular proceeding. + </p> + <p> + When he was so very nearly breathless as to be able to run no more, but + was forced to walk, Toby looked behind him, and there he could see the + bright lights of the circus and hear the strains of the music as he had + heard them on the night when he was getting ready to run away from Uncle + Daniel; and those very sounds, which reminded him forcibly of how + ungrateful he had been to the old man who had cared for him when there was + no one else in the world who would do so, made it more easy for him to + leave those behind who had been so kind to him when he stood so much in + need of kindness. + </p> + <p> + “We are goin' home, Mr. Stubbs!” he said, exultantly, to the monkey—“home + to Uncle Dan'l an' the boys; an' won't you have a good time when we get + there! You can run all over the barn, an' up in the trees, an' do just + what you want to, an' there'll be plenty of fellows to play with you. You + don't know half how good a place Guilford is, Mr. Stubbs.” + </p> + <p> + The monkey chattered away as if he were anticipating lots of fun on his + arrival at Toby's home, and the boy chattered back, his spirits rising at + every step which took him farther away from the collection of tents where + he had spent so many wretched hours. + </p> + <p> + A brisk walk of half an hour sufficed to take Toby to the woods, and after + some little search he found a thick clump of bushes in which he concluded + he could sleep without the risk of being seen by anyone who might pass + that way before he should be awake in the morning. + </p> + <p> + He had not much choice in the way of a bed, for it was so dark in the + woods that it was impossible to collect moss or leaves to make a soft + resting place, and the few leaves and pine boughs which he did gather made + his place for sleeping but very little softer. + </p> + <p> + But during the ten weeks that Toby had been with the circus his bed had + seldom been anything softer than the seat of the wagon, and it troubled + him very little that he was to sleep with nothing but a few leaves between + himself and the earth. + </p> + <p> + Using the bundle in which was his riding costume for a pillow, and placing + the lunch Mrs. Treat had given him near by, where the monkey could not get + at it conveniently, he cuddled Mr. Stubbs up to his bosom and lay down to + sleep. + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Lord won't wake us up in the mornin' an' swear at us for not washin' + the tumblers,” said Toby, in a tone of satisfaction, to the monkey; “an' + we won't have to go into the tent tomorrow an' sell sick lemonade an' poor + peanuts. But”—and here his tone changed to one of sorrow—“there'll + be some there that 'll be sorry not to see us in the mornin', Mr. Stubbs, + though they'll be glad to know that we got away all right. But won't Mr. + Lord swear, an' won't Mr. Castle crack his whip, when they come to look + round for us in the mornin' an' find that we hain't there!” + </p> + <p> + The reply which the monkey made to this was to nestle his head closer + under Toby's coat, and to show, in the most decided manner, that he was + ready to go to sleep. + </p> + <p> + And Toby was quite as ready to go to sleep as he was. He had worked hard + that day, but the excitement of escaping had prevented him from realizing + his fatigue until after he had lain down; and almost before he had got + through congratulating himself upon the ease with which he had gotten free + both he and the monkey were as sound asleep as if they had been tucked up + in the softest bed that was ever made. + </p> + <p> + Toby's very weariness was a friend to him that night, for it prevented him + from waking; which, if he had done so, might have been unpleasant when he + fully realized that he was all alone in the forest, and the sounds that + are always heard in the woods might have frightened him just the least + bit. + </p> + <p> + The sun was shining directly in his face when Toby awoke on the following + morning, and the old monkey was still snugly nestled under his coat. He + sat up rather dazed at first, and then, as he fully realized that he was + actually free from all that had made his life such a sad and hard one for + so many weeks, he shouted aloud, reveling in his freedom. + </p> + <p> + The monkey, awakened by Toby's cries, started from his sleep in affright + and jumped into the nearest tree, only to chatter, jump, and swing from + the boughs when he saw that there was nothing very unusual going on, save + that he and Toby were out in the woods again, where they could have no end + of a good time and do just as they liked. + </p> + <p> + After a few moments spent in a short jubilee at their escape Toby took the + monkey on his shoulder and the bundles under his arm again, and went + cautiously out to the edge of the thicket, where he could form some idea + as to whether or no they were pursued. + </p> + <p> + He had entered the woods at the brow of a small hill when he had fled so + hastily on the previous evening, and, looking down, he could see the spot + whereon the tents of the circus had been pitched, but not a sign of them + was now visible. He could see a number of people walking around, and he + fancied that they looked up every now and then to where he stood concealed + by the foliage. + </p> + <p> + This gave him no little uneasiness, for he feared that Mr. Lord or Mr. + Castle might be among the number, and he believed that they would begin a + search for him at once, and that the spot where their attention would + first be drawn was exactly where he was then standing. + </p> + <p> + “This won't do, Mr. Stubbs,” he said, as he pushed the monkey higher up on + his shoulder and started into the thickest part of the woods; “we must get + out of this place an' go farther down, where we can hide till tomorrow + mornin'. Besides, we must find some water where we can wash our faces.” + </p> + <p> + The old monkey would hardly have been troubled if they had not got their + faces washed for the next month to come; but he grinned and talked as Toby + trudged along, attempting to catch hold of the leaves as they were passed, + and in various other ways impeding his master's progress, until Toby was + obliged to give him a most severe scolding in order to make him behave + himself in anything like a decent manner. + </p> + <p> + At last, after fully half an hour's rapid walking, Toby found just the + place he wanted in which to pass the time he concluded it would be + necessary to spend before he dare venture out to start for home. + </p> + <p> + It was a little valley entirely filled by trees, which grew so thickly, + save in one little spot, as to make it almost impossible to walk through. + The one clear spot was not more than ten feet square, but it was just at + the edge of a swiftly running brook; and a more beautiful or convenient + place for a boy and a monkey to stop who had no tent, nor means to build + one, could not well be imagined. + </p> + <p> + Toby's first act was to wash his face, and he tried to make the monkey do + the same; but Mr. Stubbs had no idea of doing any such foolish thing. He + would come down close to the edge of the water and look in; but the moment + that Toby tried to make him go in he would rush back among the trees, + climb out on some slender bough, and then swing himself down by the tail, + and chatter away as if making sport of his young master for thinking that + he would be so foolish as to soil his face with water. + </p> + <p> + After Toby had made his toilet he unfastened the bundle which the fat lady + had given him, for the purpose of having breakfast. As much of an eater as + Toby was, he could not but be surprised at the quantity of food which Mrs. + Treat called a lunch. There were two whole pies and half of another, as + many as two dozen doughnuts, several large pieces of cheese, six + sandwiches, with a plentiful amount of meat, half a dozen biscuits, nicely + buttered, and a large piece of cake. + </p> + <p> + The monkey had come down from the tree as soon as he saw Toby untying the + bundle, and there was quite as much pleasure depicted on his face, when he + saw the good things that were spread out before him, as there was on + Toby's; and he showed his thankfulness at Mrs. Treat's foresight by + suddenly snatching one of the doughnuts and running with it up the tree, + where he knew Toby could not follow. + </p> + <p> + “Now look here, Mr. Stubbs!” said Toby, sternly, “you can have all you + want to eat, but you must take it in a decent way, an' not go to cuttin' + up any such shines as that.” + </p> + <p> + And after giving this command—which, by the way, was obeyed just + about as well as it was understood—Toby devoted his time to his + breakfast, and he reduced the amount of eatables very considerably before + he had finished. + </p> + <p> + Toby cleared off his table by gathering the food together and putting it + back into the paper as well as possible, and then he sat down to think + over the situation and to decide what he had better do. + </p> + <p> + He felt rather nervous about venturing out when it was possible for Mr. + Lord or Mr. Castle to get hold of him again; and as the weather was yet + warm during the night, his camping place everything that could be desired, + and the stock of food likely to hold out, he concluded that he had better + remain there for two days at least, and then he would be reasonably sure + that if either of the men whom he so dreaded to see had remained behind + for the purpose of catching him, he would have got tired out and gone on. + </p> + <p> + This point decided upon, the next was to try to fix up something soft for + a bed. He had his pocketknife with him, and in his little valley were pine + and hemlock trees in abundance. From the tips of their branches he knew + that he could make a bed as soft and fragrant as any that could be thought + of, and he set to work at once, while Mr. Stubbs continued his antics + above his head. + </p> + <p> + After about two hours' steady work he had cut enough of the tender + branches to make himself a bed into which he and the monkey could burrow + and sleep as comfortably as if they were in the softest bed in Uncle + Daniel's house. + </p> + <p> + When Toby first began to cut the boughs he had an idea that he might + possibly make some sort of a hut; but the two hours' work had blistered + his hands, and he was perfectly ready to sit down and rest, without the + slightest desire for any other kind of a hut than that formed by the trees + themselves. + </p> + <p> + Toby imagined that in that beautiful place he could, with the monkey, stay + contented for any number of days; but after he had rested a time, played + with his pet a little, and eaten just a trifle more of the lunch, the time + passed so slowly that he soon made up his mind to run the risk of meeting + Mr. Lord or Mr. Castle again by going out of the woods the first thing the + next morning. + </p> + <p> + Very many times before the sun set that day was Toby tempted to run the + risk that night, for the sake of the change, if no more; but as he thought + the matter over he saw how dangerous such a course would be and he forced + himself to wait. + </p> + <p> + That night he did not sleep as soundly as on the previous one, for the + very good reason that he was not as tired. He awoke several times; and the + noise of the night birds alarmed him to such an extent that he was obliged + to awaken the old monkey for company. + </p> + <p> + But the night passed despite his fears, as all nights will, whether a boy + is out in the woods alone or tucked up in his own little bed at home. In + the morning Toby made all possible haste to get away, for each moment that + he stayed now made him more impatient to be moving toward home. + </p> + <p> + He washed himself as quickly as possible, ate his breakfast with the most + unseemly haste, and, taking up his bundles and the monkey, once more + started, as he supposed, in the direction from which he had entered the + woods. + </p> + <p> + Toby walked briskly along, in the best possible spirits, for his running + away was now an accomplished fact, and he was going toward Uncle Daniel + and home just as fast as possible. He sang “Old Hundred” through five or + six times by way of showing his happiness. It is quite likely that he + would have sung something a little more lively had he known anything else; + but “Old Hundred” was the extent of his musical education, and he kept + repeating that, which was quite as satisfactory as if he had been able to + go through with every opera that was ever written. + </p> + <p> + The monkey would jump from his shoulder into the branches above, run along + on the trees for a short distance, and then wait until Toby came along, + when he would drop down on his shoulder suddenly, and in every other way + of displaying monkey delight he showed that he was just as happy as it was + possible. + </p> + <p> + Toby trudged on in this contented way for nearly an hour, and every moment + expected to step out to the edge of the woods, where he could see houses + and men once more. But instead of doing so the forest seemed to grow more + dense, and nothing betokened his approach to the village. There was a + great fear came into Toby's heart just then, and for a moment he halted in + helpless perplexity. His lips began to quiver, his face grew white, and + his hand trembled so that the old monkey took hold of one of his fingers + and looked at it wonderingly. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0019" id="link2H_4_0019"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + XIX. MR STUBBS'S MISCHIEF, AND HIS SAD FATE + </h2> + <p> + Toby had begun to realize that he was lost in the woods, and the thought + was sufficient to cause alarm in the mind of one much older than the boy. + He said to himself that he would keep on in the direction he was then + traveling for fifteen minutes; and as he had no means of computing the + time he sat down on a log, took out the bit of pencil with which he had + written the letter to Ella, and multiplied sixty by fifteen. He knew that + there were sixty seconds to the minute, and that he could ordinarily count + one to each second; therefore, when he learned that there were nine + hundred seconds in fifteen minutes he resolved to walk as nearly straight + ahead as possible until he should have counted that number. + </p> + <p> + He walked on, counting as regularly as he could, and thought to himself + that he never before realized how long fifteen minutes were. + </p> + <p> + It really seemed to him that an hour had passed before he finished + counting, and then when he stopped there were no more signs that he was + near a clearing than there had been before he started. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, Mr. Stubbs, we're lost! we're lost!” he cried, as he laid his cheek + on the monkey's head and gave way to the lonesome grief that came over + him. “What shall we do? Perhaps we won't ever find our way out, but will + die here, an' then Uncle Dan'l won't ever know how sorry I was that I ran + away.” + </p> + <p> + Then Toby lay right down on the ground and cried so hard that the monkey + acted as if it were frightened, and tried to turn the boy's face over, and + finally leaned down and licked Toby's ear. + </p> + <p> + This little act, which seemed so much like a kiss, caused Toby to feel no + small amount of comfort, and he sat up again, took the monkey in his arms, + and began seriously to discuss some definite plan of action. + </p> + <p> + “It won't do to keep on the way we've been goin', Mr. Stubbs,” said Toby, + as he looked full in his pet's face—and the old monkey sat as still + and looked as grave as it was possible for him to look and sit—“for + we must be going into the woods deeper. Let's start off this way”—and + Toby pointed at right angles with the course they had been pursuing—“an' + keep right on that way till we come to something, or till we drop right + down an' die.” + </p> + <p> + It is fair to presume that the old monkey agreed to Toby's plan; for + although he said nothing in favor of it, he certainly made no objections + to it, which to Toby was the same as if his companion had assented to it + in the plainest English. + </p> + <p> + Both the bundles and the monkey were rather a heavy load for a small boy + like Toby to carry; but he clung manfully to them, walked resolutely on, + without looking to the right or to the left, glad when the old monkey + would take a run among the trees, for then he would be relieved of his + weight, and glad when he returned, for then he had his company, and that + repaid him for any labor which he might have to perform. + </p> + <p> + Toby was in a hard plight as it was; but without the old monkey for a + companion he would have thought his condition was a hundred times worse, + and would hardly have had the courage to go on as he was going. + </p> + <p> + On and on he walked, until it seemed to him that he could really go no + farther, and yet he could see no signs which indicated the end of the + woods, and at last he sank upon the ground, too tired to walk another + step, saying to the monkey—who was looking as if he would like to + know the reason of this pause, “It's no use, Mr. Stubbs, I've got to sit + down here an' rest awhile anyhow; besides, I'm awfully hungry.” + </p> + <p> + Then Toby commenced to eat his dinner, and to give the monkey his, until + the thought came to him that he neither had any water nor did he know + where to find it, and then, of course, he immediately became so thirsty + that it was impossible for him to eat any more. + </p> + <p> + “We can't stand this,” moaned Toby to the monkey; “we've got to have + something to drink, or else we can't eat all these sweet things, an' I'm + so tired that I can't go any farther. Don't let's eat dinner now, but + let's stay here an' rest, an' then we can keep on an' look for water.” + </p> + <p> + Toby's resting spell was a long one, for as soon as he stretched himself + out on the ground he was asleep from actual exhaustion, and did not awaken + until the sun was just setting, and then he saw that, hard as his troubles + had been before, they were about to become, or in fact had become, worse. + </p> + <p> + He had paid no attention to his bundles when he lay down, and when he + awoke he was puzzled to make out what it was that was strewn around the + ground so thickly. + </p> + <p> + He had looked at it but a very short time when he saw that it was what had + been the lunch he had carried so far. After having had the sad experience + of losing his money he understood very readily that the old monkey had + taken the lunch while he slept, and had amused himself by picking it apart + into the smallest particles possible, and then strewn them around on the + ground where he now saw them. + </p> + <p> + Toby looked at them in almost speechless surprise, and then he turned to + where the old monkey lay, apparently asleep; but as the boy watched him + intently he could see that the cunning animal was really watching him out + of one half closed eye. + </p> + <p> + “Now you have killed us, Mr. Stubbs,” wailed Toby. “We never can find our + way out of here; an' now we hain't got anything to eat, and by tomorrow we + shall be starved to death. Oh dear! wasn't you bad enough when you threw + all the money away, so you had to go an' do this just when we was in awful + trouble?” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Stubbs now looked up as if he had just been awakened by Toby's grief, + looked around him leisurely as if to see what could be the matter, and + then, apparently seeing for the first time the crumbs that were lying + around on the ground, took up some and examined them intently. + </p> + <p> + “Now don't go to makin' believe that you don't know how they come there,” + said Toby, showing anger toward his pet for the first time. “You know it + was you who did it, for there wasn't anyone else here, an' you can't fool + me by lookin' so surprised.” + </p> + <p> + It seemed as if the monkey had come to the conclusion that his little plan + of ignorance wasn't the most perfect success, for he walked meekly toward + his young master, climbed up on his shoulder, and sat there kissing his + ear or looking down into his eyes, until the boy could resist the mute + appeal no longer, and took him into his arms and hugged him closely as he + said: + </p> + <p> + “It can't be helped now, I s'pose, an' we shall have to get along the best + way we can; but it was awful wicked of you, Mr. Stubbs, an I don't know + what we're goin' to do for something to eat.” + </p> + <p> + While the destructive fit was on him the old monkey had not spared the + smallest bit' of food, but had picked everything into such minute shreds + that none of it could be gathered up, and everything was surely wasted. + </p> + <p> + While Toby sat bemoaning his fate and trying to make out what was to be + done for food, the darkness, which had just begun to gather when he first + awoke, now commenced to settle around, and he was obliged to seek for some + convenient place in which to spend the night before it became so dark as + to make the search impossible. + </p> + <p> + Owing to the fact that he had slept nearly the entire afternoon, and also + rendered wakeful by the loss he had just sustained, Toby lay awake on the + hard ground, with the monkey on his arm, hour after hour, until all kinds + of fancies came to him, and in every sound feared he heard someone from + the circus coming to capture him, or some wild beast intent on picking his + bones. + </p> + <p> + The cold sweat of fear stood out on his brow, and he hardly dared to + breathe, much more to speak, lest the sound of his voice should betray his + whereabouts and thus bring his enemies down upon him. The minutes seemed + like hours, and the hours like days, as he lay there, listening fearfully + to every one of the night sounds of the forest; and it seemed to him that + he had been there very many hours when at last he fell asleep and was thus + freed from his fears. + </p> + <p> + Bright and early on the following morning Toby was awake, and as he came + to a realizing sense of all the dangers and trouble that surrounded him he + was disposed to give way again to his sorrow; but he said resolutely to + himself, “It might be a good deal worse than it is, an' Mr. Stubbs an' I + can get along one day without anything to eat; an' perhaps by night we + shall be out of the woods, an' then what we get will taste good to us.” + </p> + <p> + He began his walk—which possibly might not end that day—manfully, + and his courage was rewarded by soon reaching a number of bushes that were + literally loaded down with blackberries. From these he made a hearty meal, + and the old monkey fairly reveled in them, for he ate all he possibly + could, and then stowed enough in his cheeks to make a good sized luncheon + when he should be hungry again. + </p> + <p> + Refreshed very much by his breakfast of fruit, Toby again started on his + journey with renewed vigor, and the world began to look very bright to + him. He had not thought that he might find berries when the thoughts of + starvation came into his mind, and, now that his hunger was satisfied, he + began to believe that he might possibly be able to live, perhaps for + weeks, in the woods solely upon what he might find growing there. + </p> + <p> + Shortly after he had breakfast he came upon a brook, which he thought was + the same upon whose banks he had encamped the first night he spent in the + woods, and, pulling off his clothes, he waded into the deepest part and + had a most refreshing bath, although the water was rather cold. + </p> + <p> + Not having any towels with which to dry himself, he was obliged to sit in + the sun until the moisture had been dried from his skin and he could put + his clothes on once more. Then he started out on his walk again, feeling + that sooner or later he would come out all right. + </p> + <p> + All this time he had been traveling without any guide to tell him whether + he was going straight ahead or around in a circle, and he now concluded to + follow the course of the brook, believing that that would lead him out of + the forest some time. + </p> + <p> + During the afternoon he walked steadily, but not so fast that he would get + exhausted quickly, and when by the position of the sun he judged that it + was noon he lay down on a mossy bank to rest. + </p> + <p> + He was beginning to feel sad again. He had found no more berries, and the + elation which had been caused by his breakfast and his bath was quickly + passing away. The old monkey was in a tree almost directly above his head, + stretched out on one of the limbs in the most contented manner possible; + and as Toby watched him, and thought of all the trouble he had caused by + wasting the food, thoughts of starvation again came into his mind, and he + believed that he should not live to see Uncle Daniel again. + </p> + <p> + Just as he was feeling the most sad and lonely, and where thoughts of + death from starvation were most vivid in his mind, he heard the barking of + a dog, which sounded close at hand. + </p> + <p> + His first thought was that at last he was saved, and he was just starting + to his feet to shout for help when he heard the sharp report of a gun and + an agonizing cry from the branches above, and the old monkey fell to the + ground with a thud that told he had received his death wound. + </p> + <p> + All this had taken place so quickly that Toby did not at first comprehend + the extent of the misfortune which had overtaken him; but a groan from the + poor monkey, as he placed one little brown paw to his breast, from which + the blood was flowing freely, and looked up into his master's face with a + most piteous expression, showed the poor little boy what a great trouble + it was which had now come. + </p> + <p> + Poor Toby uttered a loud cry of agony, which could not have been more full + of anguish had he received the ball in his own breast, and, flinging + himself by the side of the dying monkey, he gathered him close to his + breast, regardless of the blood that poured over him, and, stroking + tenderly the little head that had nestled so often in his bosom, said, + over and over again, as the monkey uttered short moans of agony: “Who + could have been so cruel? Who could have been so cruel?” + </p> + <p> + Toby's tears ran like rain down his face, and he kissed his dying pet + again and again, as if he would take all the pain to himself. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, if you could only speak to me!” he cried, as he took one of the poor + monkey's paws in his hand, and, finding that it was growing cold with the + chill of death, put it on his neck to warm it. “How I love you, Mr. + Stubbs! An' now you're goin' to die an leave me! Oh, if I hadn't spoken + cross to you yesterday, an' if I hadn't a'most choked you the day that we + went to the skeleton's to dinner! Forgive me for ever bein' bad to you, + won't you, Mr. Stubbs?” + </p> + <p> + As the monkey's groans increased in number, but diminished in force, Toby + ran to the brook, filled his hands with water, and held it to the poor + animal's mouth. + </p> + <p> + He lapped the water quickly and looked up with a human look of gratitude + in his eyes, as if thanking his master for that much relief. Then Toby + tried to wash the blood from his breast; but it flowed quite as fast as he + could wash it away, and he ceased his efforts in that direction, and paid + every attention to making his friend and pet more comfortable. He took off + his jacket and laid it on the ground for the monkey to lie upon; picked a + quantity of large green leaves as a cooling rest for his head, and then + sat by his side, holding his paws and talking to him with the most tender + words his lips—quivering with sorrow as they were—could + fashion. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0020" id="link2H_4_0020"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + XX. HOME AND UNCLE DANIEL + </h2> + <p> + Meanwhile the author of all this misery had come upon the scene. He was a + young man, whose rifle and well filled game bag showed that he had been + hunting, and his face expressed the liveliest sorrow for what he had so + unwittingly done. + </p> + <p> + “I didn't know I was firing at your pet,” he said to Toby as he laid his + hand on his shoulder and endeavored to make him look up. “I only saw a + little patch of fur through the trees, and, thinking it was some wild + animal, I fired. Forgive me, won't you, and let me put the poor brute out + of his misery?” + </p> + <p> + Toby looked up fiercely at the murderer of his pet and asked, savagely: + “Why don't you go away? Don't you see that you have killed Mr. Stubbs, an' + you'll be hung for murder?” + </p> + <p> + “I wouldn't have done it under any circumstances,” said the young man, + pitying Toby's grief most sincerely. “Come away and let me put the poor + thing out of its agony.” + </p> + <p> + “How can you do it?” asked Toby, bitterly. “He's dying already.” + </p> + <p> + “I know it, and it will be a kindness to put a bullet through his head.” + </p> + <p> + If Toby had been big enough, perhaps there might really have been a murder + committed, for he looked up at the man who so coolly proposed to kill the + poor monkey after he had already received his death wound that the young + man stepped back quickly, as if really afraid that in his desperation the + boy might do him some injury. + </p> + <p> + “Go 'way off,” said Toby, passionately, “an' don't ever come here again. + You've killed all I ever had in this world of my own to love me, an' I + hate you—I hate you!” + </p> + <p> + Then, turning again to the monkey, he put his hands on each side of his + head, and, leaning down, kissed the little brown lips as tenderly as a + mother would kiss her child. + </p> + <p> + The monkey was growing more and more feeble, and when Toby had shown this + act of affection he reached up his tiny paws, grasped Toby's finger, half + raised himself from the ground, and then with a convulsive struggle fell + back dead, while the tiny fingers slowly relaxed their hold of the boy's + hand. + </p> + <p> + Toby feared that it was death, and yet hoped that he was mistaken; he + looked into the half open, fast glazing eyes, put his hand over his heart, + to learn if it were still beating; and, getting no responsive look from + the dead eyes, feeling no heart throbs from under that gory breast, he + knew that his pet was really dead, and flung himself by his side in all + the childish abandonment of grief. + </p> + <p> + He called the monkey by name, implored him to look at him, and finally + bewailed that he had ever left the circus, where at least his pet's life + was safe, even if his own back received its daily flogging. + </p> + <p> + The young man, who stood a silent spectator of this painful scene, + understood everything from Toby's mourning. He knew that a boy had run + away from the circus, for Messrs. Lord and Castle had stayed behind one + day, in the hope of capturing the fugitive, and they had told their own + version of Toby's flight. + </p> + <p> + For nearly an hour Toby lay by the dead monkey's side, crying as if his + heart would break, and the young man waited until his grief should have + somewhat exhausted itself, and then approached the boy again. + </p> + <p> + “Won't you believe that I didn't mean to do this cruel thing?” he asked, + in a kindly voice. “And won't you believe that I would do anything in my + power to bring your pet back to life?” + </p> + <p> + Toby looked at him a moment earnestly, and then said, slowly, “Yes, I'll + try to.” + </p> + <p> + “Now will you come with me, and let me talk to you? For I know who you + are, and why you are here.” + </p> + <p> + “How do you know that?” + </p> + <p> + “Two men stayed behind after the circus had left, and they hunted + everywhere for you.” + </p> + <p> + “I wish they had caught me,” moaned Toby; “I wish they had caught me, for + then Mr. Stubbs wouldn't be here dead.” + </p> + <p> + And Toby's grief broke out afresh as he again looked at the poor little + stiff form that had been a source of so much comfort and joy to him. + </p> + <p> + “Try not to think of that now, but think of yourself and of what you will + do,” said the man, soothingly, anxious to divert Toby's mind from the + monkey's death as much as possible. + </p> + <p> + “I don't want to think of myself, and I don't care what I'll do,” sobbed + the boy, passionately. + </p> + <p> + “But you must; you can't stay here always, and I will try to help you to + get home, or wherever it is you want to go, if you will tell me all about + it.” + </p> + <p> + It was some time before Toby could be persuaded to speak or think of + anything but the death of his pet; but the young man finally succeeded in + drawing his story from him, and then tried to induce him to leave that + place and accompany him to town. + </p> + <p> + “I can't leave Mr. Stubbs,” said the boy, firmly; “he never left me the + night I got thrown out of the wagon an' he thought I was hurt.” + </p> + <p> + Then came another struggle to induce him to bury his pet; and finally + Toby, after realizing the fact that he could not carry a dead monkey with + him, agreed to it; but he would not allow the young man to help him in any + way, or even to touch the monkey's body. + </p> + <p> + He dug a grave under a little fir tree near by, and lined it with wild + flowers and leaves, and even then hesitated to cover the body with the + earth. At last he bethought himself of the fanciful costume which the + skeleton and his wife had given him, and in this he carefully wrapped his + dead pet. He had not one regret at leaving the bespangled suit, for it was + the best he could command, and surely nothing could be too good for Mr. + Stubbs. + </p> + <p> + Tenderly he laid him in the little grave, and, covering the body with + flowers, said, pausing a moment before he covered it over with earth, and + while his voice was choked with emotion: “Goodby, Mr. Stubbs, goodby! I + wish it had been me instead of you that died, for I'm an awful sorry + little boy, now that you're dead!” + </p> + <p> + Even after the grave had been filled, and a little mound made over it, the + young man had the greatest difficulty to persuade Toby to go with him; and + when the boy did consent to go at last he walked very slowly away, and + kept turning his head to look back just so long as the little grave could + be seen. + </p> + <p> + Then, when the trees shut it completely out from sight, the tears + commenced again to roll down Toby's cheeks, and he sobbed out: “I wish I + hadn't left him. Oh, why didn't I make him lie down by me? an' then he'd + be alive now; an' how glad he'd be to know that we was getting out of the + woods at last!” + </p> + <p> + But the man who had caused Toby this sorrow talked to him about other + matters, thus taking his mind from the monkey's death as much as possible, + and by the time the boy reached the village he had told his story exactly + as it was, without casting any reproaches on Mr. Lord, and giving himself + the full share of censure for leaving his home as he did. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Lord and Mr. Castle had remained in the town but one day, for they + were told that a boy had taken the night train that passed through the + town about two hours after Toby had escaped, and they had set off at once + to act on that information. + </p> + <p> + Therefore Toby need have no fears of meeting either of them just then, and + he could start on his homeward journey in peace. + </p> + <p> + The young man who had caused the monkey's death tried first to persuade + Toby to remain a day or two with him, and, failing in that, he did all he + could toward getting the boy home as quickly and safely as possible. He + insisted on paying for his ticket on the steamboat, although Toby did all + he could to prevent him, and he even accompanied Toby to the next town, + where he was to take the steamer. + </p> + <p> + He had not only paid for Toby's ticket, but he had paid for a stateroom + for him; and when the boy said that he could sleep anywhere, and that + there was no need of such expense, the man replied: “Those men who were + hunting for you have gone down the river, and will be very likely to + search the boat, when they discover that they started on the wrong scent. + They will never suspect that you have got a stateroom; and if you are + careful to remain in it during the trip you will get through safely.” + </p> + <p> + Then, when the time came for the steamer to start, the young man said to + Toby: “Now, my boy, you won't feel hard at me for shooting the monkey, + will you? I would have done anything to bring him back to life, but, as I + could not do that, helping you to get home was the next best thing I could + do.” + </p> + <p> + “I know you didn't mean to shoot Mr. Stubbs,” said Toby, with moistening + eyes as he spoke of his pet, “an' I'm sorry I said what I did to you in + the woods.” + </p> + <p> + Before there was time to say any more the warning whistle was sounded, the + plank pulled in, the great wheels commenced to revolve, and Toby was + really on his way to Uncle Daniel and Guilford. + </p> + <p> + It was then but five o'clock in the afternoon, and he could not expect to + reach home until two or three o'clock in the afternoon of the next day; + but he was in a tremor of excitement as he thought that he should walk + through the streets of Guilford once more, see all the boys, and go home + to Uncle Daniel. + </p> + <p> + And yet, whenever he thought of that home, of meeting those boys, of going + once more to all those old familiar places, the memory of all that he had + planned when he should take the monkey with him would come into his mind + and damp even his joy, great as it was. + </p> + <p> + That night he had considerable difficulty in falling asleep, but did + finally succeed in doing so; and when he awoke the steamer was going up + the river, whose waters seemed like an old friend, because they had flowed + right down past Guilford on their way to the sea. + </p> + <p> + At each town where a landing was made Toby looked eagerly out on the pier, + thinking that by chance someone from his home might be there and he would + see a familiar face again. But all this time he heeded the advice given + him and remained in his room, where he could see and not be seen; and it + was well for him that he did so, for at one of the landings he saw both + Mr. Lord and Mr. Castle come on board the boat. + </p> + <p> + Toby's heart beat fast and furious, and he expected every moment to hear + them at the door, demanding admittance, for it seemed to him that they + must know exactly where he was secreted. + </p> + <p> + But no such misfortune occurred. The men had evidently only boarded the + boat to search for the boy, for they landed again before the steamer + started, and Toby had the satisfaction of seeing their backs as they + walked away from the pier. It was some time before he recovered from the + fright which the sight of them gave him; but when he did his thoughts and + hopes far outstripped the steamer, which, it seemed, was going so slowly, + and he longed to see Guilford with an impatience that could hardly be + restrained. + </p> + <p> + At last he could see the spire of the little church on the hill, and when + the steamer rounded the point, affording a full view of the town, and + sounded her whistle as a signal for those on the shore to come to the + pier, Toby could hardly restrain himself from jumping up and down and + shouting in his delight. + </p> + <p> + He was at the gangplank ready to land fully five minutes before the + steamer was anywhere near the wharf, and when he recognized the first face + on the pier what a happy boy he was! + </p> + <p> + He was at home! The dream of the past ten weeks was at length realized, + and neither Mr. Lord nor Mr. Castle had any terrors for him now. + </p> + <p> + He ran down the gangplank before it was ready, and clasped every boy he + saw there round the neck, and would have kissed them if they had shown an + inclination to let him do so. + </p> + <p> + Of course he was overwhelmed with questions, but before he would answer + any he asked for Uncle Daniel and the others at home. + </p> + <p> + Some of the boys ventured to predict that Toby would get a jolly good + whipping for running away, and the only reply which the happy Toby made to + that was: + </p> + <p> + “I hope I will, an' then I'll feel as if I had kinder paid for runnin' + away. If Uncle Dan'l will only let me stay with him again he may whip me + every mornin', an' I won't open my mouth to holler.” + </p> + <p> + The boys were impatient to hear the story of Toby's travels, but he + refused to tell it them, saying: + </p> + <p> + “I'll go home, an' if Uncle Dan'l forgives me for bein' so wicked I'll sit + down this afternoon an' tell you all you want to know about the circus.” + </p> + <p> + Then, far more rapidly than he had run away from it, Toby ran toward the + home which he had called his ever since he could remember, and his heart + was full almost to bursting as he thought that perhaps he would be told + that he had forfeited all claim to it, and that he could never more call + it “home” again. + </p> + <p> + When he entered the old familiar sitting room Uncle Daniel was seated near + the window, alone, looking out wistfully—as Toby thought—across + the fields of yellow waving grain. + </p> + <p> + Toby crept softly in, and, going up to the old man, knelt down and said, + very humbly, and with his whole soul in the words, “Oh, Uncle Dan'l! if + you'll only forgive me for bein' wicked an' runnin' away, an' let me stay + here again—for it's all the home I ever had—I'll do everything + you tell me to, an never whisper in meetin' or do anything bad.” + </p> + <p> + And then he waited for the words which would seal his fate. They were not + long in coming. + </p> + <p> + “My poor boy,” said Uncle Daniel, softly, as he stroked Toby's refractory + red hair, “my love for you was greater than I knew, and when you left me I + cried aloud to the Lord as if it had been my own flesh and blood that had + gone afar from me. Stay here, Toby, my son, and help to support this poor + old body as it goes down into the dark valley of the shadow of death; and + then, in the bright light of that glorious future, Uncle Daniel will wait + to go with you into the presence of Him who is ever a father to the + fatherless.” + </p> + <p> + And in Uncle Daniel's kindly care we may safely leave Toby Tyler. + </p> + <p> + THE END <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Toby Tyler, by James Otis + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TOBY TYLER *** + +***** This file should be named 7478-h.htm or 7478-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/7/4/7/7478/ + +Produced by Martin Robb, and David Widger + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Toby Tyler + +Author: James Otis + +Release Date: February, 2005 [EBook #7478] +Posting Date: July 22, 2009 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TOBY TYLER *** + + + + +Produced by Martin Robb + + + + + + +TOBY TYLER + +or + +TEN WEEKS WITH A CIRCUS + +By James Otis + + + + +I. TOBY'S INTRODUCTION TO THE CIRCUS + + +"Wouldn't you give more 'n six peanuts for a cent?" was a question asked +by a very small boy, with big, staring eyes, of a candy vender at a +circus booth. And as he spoke he looked wistfully at the quantity of +nuts piled high up on the basket, and then at the six, each of which now +looked so small as he held them in his hand. + +"Couldn't do it," was the reply of the proprietor of the booth, as he +put the boy's penny carefully away in the drawer. + +The little fellow looked for another moment at his purchase, and then +carefully cracked the largest one. + +A shade--and a very deep shade it was--of disappointment passed over his +face, and then, looking up anxiously, he asked, "Don't you swap 'em when +they're bad?" + +The man's face looked as if a smile had been a stranger to it for a long +time; but one did pay it a visit just then, and he tossed the boy two +nuts, and asked him a question at the same time. "What is your name?" + +The big brown eyes looked up for an instant, as if to learn whether +the question was asked in good faith, and then their owner said, as he +carefully picked apart another nut, "Toby Tyler." + +"Well, that's a queer name." + +"Yes, I s'pose so, myself; but, you see, I don't expect that's the +name that belongs to me. But the fellers call me so, an' so does Uncle +Dan'l." + +"Who is Uncle Daniel?" was the next question. In the absence of other +customers the man seemed disposed to get as much amusement out of the +boy as possible. + +"He hain't my uncle at all; I only call him so because all the boys do, +an' I live with him." + +"Where's your father and mother?" + +"I don't know," said Toby, rather carelessly. "I don't know much about +'em, an' Uncle Dan'l says they don't know much about me. Here's another +bad nut; goin' to give me two more?" + +The two nuts were given him, and he said, as he put them in his pocket +and turned over and over again those which he held in his hand: "I +shouldn't wonder if all of these was bad. S'posen you give me two for +each one of 'em before I crack 'em, an' then they won't be spoiled so +you can't sell 'em again." + +As this offer of barter was made, the man looked amused, and he asked, +as he counted out the number which Toby desired, "If I give you these, +I suppose you'll want me to give you two more for each one, and you'll +keep that kind of a trade going until you get my whole stock?" + +"I won't open my head if every one of em's bad." + +"All right; you can keep what you've got, and I'll give you these +besides; but I don't want you to buy any more, for I don't want to do +that kind of business." + +Toby took the nuts offered, not in the least abashed, and seated himself +on a convenient stone to eat them, and at the same time to see all that +was going on around him. The coming of a circus to the little town of +Guilford was an event, and Toby had hardly thought of anything else +since the highly colored posters had first been put up. It was yet quite +early in the morning, and the tents were just being erected by the men. +Toby had followed, with eager eyes, everything that looked as if it +belonged to the circus, from the time the first wagon had entered the +town until the street parade had been made and everything was being +prepared for the afternoon's performance. + +The man who had made the losing trade in peanuts seemed disposed to +question the boy still further, probably owing to the fact that he had +nothing better to do. + +"Who is this Uncle Daniel you say you live with? Is he a farmer?" + +"No; he's a deacon, an' he raps me over the head with the hymn book +whenever I go to sleep in meetin', an' he says I eat four times as much +as I earn. I blame him for hittin' so hard when I go to sleep, but I +s'pose he's right about my eatin'. You see," and here his tone grew both +confidential and mournful, "I am an awful eater, an' I can't seem to +help it. Somehow I'm hungry all the time. I don't seem ever to get +enough till carrot time comes, an' then I can get all I want without +troublin' anybody." + +"Didn't you ever have enough to eat?" + +"I s'pose I did; but you see Uncle Dan'l he found me one mornin' on his +hay, an' he says I was cryin' for something to eat then, an' I've kept +it up ever since. I tried to get him to give me money enough to go into +the circus with; but he said a cent was all he could spare these hard +times, an' I'd better take that an' buy something to eat with it, for +the show wasn't very good, anyway. I wish peanuts wasn't but a cent a +bushel." + +"Then you would make yourself sick eating them." + +"Yes, I s'pose I should; Uncle Dan'l says I'd eat till I was sick, if I +got the chance; but I'd like to try it once." + +He was a very small boy, with a round head covered with short red hair, +a face as speckled as any turkey's egg, but thoroughly good natured +looking; and as he sat there on the rather sharp point of the rock, +swaying his body to and fro as he hugged his knees with his hands, and +kept his eyes fastened on the tempting display of good things before +him, it would have been a very hard hearted man who would not have given +him something. + +But Mr. Job Lord, the proprietor of the booth, was a hard hearted man, +and he did not make the slightest advance toward offering the little +fellow anything. + +Toby rocked himself silently for a moment, and then he said, +hesitatingly, "I don't suppose you'd like to sell me some things, an' +let me pay you when I get older, would you?" + +Mr. Lord shook his head decidedly at this proposition. + +"I didn't s'pose you would," said Toby, quickly; "but you didn't seem +to be selling anything, an' I thought I'd just see what you'd say +about it." And then he appeared suddenly to see something wonderfully +interesting behind him, which served as an excuse to turn his reddening +face away. + +"I suppose your uncle Daniel makes you work for your living, don't he?" +asked Mr. Lord, after he had rearranged his stock of candy and had added +a couple of slices of lemon peel to what was popularly supposed to be +lemonade. + +"That's what I think; but he says that all the work I do wouldn't pay +for the meal that one chicken would eat, an' I s'pose it's so, for I +don't like to work as well as a feller without any father and mother +ought to. I don't know why it is, but I guess it's because I take up so +much time eatin' that it kinder tires me out. I s'pose you go into the +circus whenever you want to, don't you?" + +"Oh yes; I'm there at every performance, for I keep the stand under the +big canvas as well as this one out here." + +There was a great big sigh from out Toby's little round stomach, as he +thought what bliss it must be to own all those good things and to see +the circus wherever it went. + +"It must be nice," he said, as he faced the booth and its hard visaged +proprietor once more. + +"How would you like it?" asked Mr. Lord, patronizingly, as he looked +Toby over in a business way, very much as if he contemplated purchasing +him. + +"Like it!" echoed Toby. "Why, I'd grow fat on it!" + +"I don't know as that would be any advantage," continued Mr. Lord, +reflectively, "for it strikes me that you're about as fat now as a boy +of your age ought to be. But I've a great mind to give you a chance." + +"What!" cried Toby, in amazement, and his eyes opened to their widest +extent as this possible opportunity of leading a delightful life +presented itself. + +"Yes, I've a great mind to give you the chance. You see," and now it +was Mr. Lord's turn to grow confidential, "I've had a boy with me +this season, but he cleared out at the last town, and I'm running the +business alone now." + +Toby's face expressed all the contempt he felt for the boy who would run +away from such a glorious life as Mr. Lord's assistant must lead; but he +said not a word, waiting in breathless expectation for the offer which +he now felt certain would be made him. + +"Now I ain't hard on a boy," continued Mr. Lord, still confidentially, +"and yet that one seemed to think that he was treated worse and made to +work harder than any boy in the world." + +"He ought to live with Uncle Dan'l a week," said Toby, eagerly. + +"Here I was just like a father to him," said Mr. Lord, paying no +attention to the interruption, "and I gave him his board and lodging, +and a dollar a week besides." + +"Could he do what he wanted to with the dollar?" + +"Of course he could. I never checked him, no matter how extravagant he +was, an' yet I've seen him spend his whole week's wages at this very +stand in one afternoon. And even after his money had all gone that way, +I've paid for peppermint and ginger out of my own pocket just to cure +his stomach ache." + +Toby shook his head mournfully, as if deploring that depravity which +could cause a boy to run away from such a tender hearted employer and +from such a desirable position. But even as he shook his head so sadly +he looked wistfully at the peanuts, and Mr. Lord observed the look. + +It may have been that Mr. Job Lord was the tender hearted man he prided +himself upon being, or it may have been that he wished to purchase +Toby's sympathy; but, at all events, he gave him a large handful of +nuts, and Toby never bothered his little round head as to what motive +prompted the gift. Now he could listen to the story of the boy's +treachery and eat at the same time; therefore he was an attentive +listener. + +"All in the world that boy had to do," continued Mr. Lord, in the same +injured tone he had previously used, "was to help me set things to +rights when we struck a town in the morning, and then tend to the +counter till we left the town at night, and all the rest of the time he +had to himself. Yet that boy was ungrateful enough to run away." + +Mr. Lord paused, as if expecting some expression of sympathy from his +listener; but Toby was so busily engaged with his unexpected feast, and +his mouth was so full, that it did not seem even possible for him to +shake his head. + +"Now what should you say if I told you that you looked to me like a boy +that was made especially to help run a candy counter at a circus, and if +I offered the place to you?" + +Toby made one frantic effort to swallow the very large mouthful, and in +a choking voice he answered, quickly, "I should say I'd go with you, an' +be mighty glad of the chance." + +"Then it's a bargain, my boy, and you shall leave town with me tonight." + + + + +II. TOBY RUNS AWAY FROM HOME + + +Toby could scarcely restrain himself at the prospect of this golden +future that had so suddenly opened before him. He tried to express his +gratitude, but could only do so by evincing his willingness to commence +work at once. + +"No, no, that won't do," said Mr. Lord, cautiously. "If your uncle +Daniel should see you working here, he might mistrust something, and +then you couldn't get away." + +"I don't believe he'd try to stop me," said Toby, confidently; "for he's +told me lots of times that it was a sorry day for him when he found me." + +"We won't take any chances, my son," was the reply, in a very benevolent +tone, as he patted Toby on the head and at the same time handed him +a piece of pasteboard. "There's a ticket for the circus, and you come +around to see me about ten o'clock tonight. I'll put you on one of the +wagons, and by' tomorrow morning your uncle Daniel will have hard work +to find you." + +If Toby had followed his inclinations, the chances are that he would +have fallen on his knees and kissed Mr. Lord's hands in the excess of +his gratitude. But not knowing exactly how such a show of thankfulness +might be received, he contented himself by repeatedly promising that he +would be punctual to the time and place appointed. + +He would have loitered in the vicinity of the candy stand in order that +he might gain some insight into the business; but Mr. Lord advised him +to remain away, lest his uncle Daniel would see him, and suspect where +he had gone when he was missed in the morning. + +As Toby walked around the circus grounds, whereon was so much to attract +his attention, he could not prevent himself from assuming an air of +proprietorship. His interest in all that was going on was redoubled, +and in his anxiety that everything should be done correctly and in the +proper order he actually, and perhaps for the first time in his life, +forgot that he was hungry. He was really to travel with a circus, to +become a part, as it were, of the whole, and to be able to see its many +wonderful and beautiful attractions every day. + +Even the very tent ropes had acquired a new interest for him, and +the faces of the men at work seemed suddenly to have become those of +friends. How hard it was for him to walk around unconcernedly: and how +especially hard to prevent his feet from straying toward that tempting +display of dainties which he was to sell to those who came to see and +enjoy, and who would look at him with wonder and curiosity! It was very +hard not to be allowed to tell his playmates of his wonderfully good +fortune; but silence meant success, and he locked his secret in his +bosom, not even daring to talk with anyone he knew, lest he should +betray himself by some incautious word. + +He did not go home to dinner that day, and once or twice he felt +impelled to walk past the candy stand, giving a mysterious shake of the +head at the proprietor as he did so. The afternoon performance passed +off as usual to all of the spectators save Toby. He imagined that each +one of the performers knew that he was about to join them; and even +as he passed the cage containing the monkeys he fancied that one +particularly old one knew all about his intention of running away. + +Of course it was necessary for him to go home at the close of the +afternoon's performance, in order to get one or two valuable articles of +his own--such as a boat, a kite, and a pair of skates--and in order +that his actions might not seem suspicious. Before he left the grounds, +however, he stole slyly around to the candy stand, and informed Mr. Job +Lord, in a very hoarse whisper, that he would be on hand at the time +appointed. + +Mr. Lord patted him on the head, gave him two large sticks of candy, +and, what was more kind and surprising, considering the fact that he +wore glasses and was cross eyed, he winked at Toby. A wink from Mr. Lord +must have been intended to convey a great deal, because, owing to the +defect in his eyes, it required no little exertion, and even then could +not be considered as a really first class wink. + +That wink, distorted as it was, gladdened Toby's heart immensely and +took away nearly all the sting of the scolding with which Uncle Daniel +greeted him when he reached home. + +That night--despite the fact that he was going to travel with the +circus, despite the fact that his home was not a happy or cheerful +one--Toby was not in a pleasant frame of mind. He began to feel for the +first time that he was doing wrong; and as he gazed at Uncle Daniel's +stern, forbidding looking face, it seemed to have changed somewhat from +its severity, and caused a great lump of something to come up in his +throat as he thought that perhaps he should never see it again. Just +then one or two kind words would have prevented him from running away, +bright as the prospect of circus life appeared. + +It was almost impossible for him to eat anything, and this very +surprising state of affairs attracted the attention of Uncle Daniel. + +"Bless my heart! what ails the boy?" asked the old man, as he peered +over his glasses at Toby's well filled plate, which was usually emptied +so quickly. "Are ye sick, Toby, or what is the matter with ye?" + +"No, I hain't sick," said Toby, with a sigh; "but I've been to the +circus, an' I got a good deal to eat." + +"Oho! You spent that cent I give ye, eh, an' got so much that it made ye +sick?" + +Toby thought of the six peanuts which he had bought with the penny Uncle +Daniel had given him; and, amid all his homesickness, he could not help +wondering if Uncle Daniel ever made himself sick with only six peanuts +when he was a boy. + +As no one paid any further attention to Toby, he pushed back his plate, +arose from the table, and went with a heavy heart to attend to his +regular evening chores. The cow, the hens, and even the pigs came in for +a share of his unusually kind attention; and as he fed them all the +big tears rolled down his cheeks as he thought that perhaps never +again would he see any of them. These dumb animals had all been Toby's +confidants; he had poured out his griefs in their ears, and fancied, +when the world or Uncle Daniel had used him unusually hard, that they +sympathized with him. Now he was leaving them forever, and as he locked +the stable door he could hear the sounds of music coming from the +direction of the circus grounds, and he was angry at it, because it +represented that which was taking him away from his home, even though it +was not as pleasant as it might have been. + +Still, he had no thought of breaking the engagement which he had made. +He went to his room, made a bundle of his worldly possessions, and crept +out of the back door, down the road to the circus. + +Mr. Lord saw him as soon as he arrived on the grounds, and as he passed +another ticket to Toby he took his bundle from him, saying, as he did +so: "I'll pack up your bundle with my things, and then you'll be sure +not to lose it. Don't you want some candy?" + +Toby shook his head; he had just discovered that there was possibly some +connection between his heart and his stomach, for his grief at leaving +home had taken from him all desire for good things. It is also more than +possible that Mr. Lord had had experience enough with boys to know that +they might be homesick on the eve of starting to travel with a circus; +and in order to make sure that Toby would keep to his engagement he was +unusually kind. + +That evening was the longest Toby ever knew. He wandered from one cage +of animals to another; then to see the performance in the ring, and back +again to the animals, in the vain hope of passing the time pleasantly. + +But it was of no use; that lump in his throat would remain there, and +the thoughts of what he was about to do would trouble him severely. +The performance failed to interest him, and the animals did not attract +until he had visited the monkey cage for the third or fourth time. Then +he fancied that the same venerable monkey who had looked so knowing in +the afternoon was gazing at him with a sadness which could only have +come from a thorough knowledge of all the grief and doubt that was in +his heart. + +There was no one around the cages, and Toby got just as near to the iron +bars as possible. No sooner had he flattened his little pug nose against +the iron than the aged monkey came down from the ring in which he had +been swinging, and, seating himself directly in front of Toby's face, +looked at him most compassionately. + +It would not have surprised the boy just then if the animal had spoken; +but as he did not, Toby did the next best thing and spoke to him. + +"I s'pose you remember that you saw me this afternoon, an' somebody told +you that I was goin' to join the circus, didn't they?" + +The monkey made no reply, though Toby fancied that he winked an +affirmative answer; and he looked so sympathetic that he continued, +confidentially: + +"Well, I'm the same feller, an' I don't mind telling you that I'm +awfully sorry that I promised that candy man I'd go with him. Do you +know that I came near crying at the supper table tonight; an' Uncle +Dan'l looked real good an' nice, though I never thought so before. I +wish I wasn't goin', after all, 'cause it don't seem a bit like a good +time now; but I s'pose I must, 'cause I promised to, an' 'cause the +candy man has got all my things." + +The big tears had begun to roll down Toby's cheeks, and as he ceased +speaking the monkey reached out one little paw, which Toby took as +earnestly as if it had been done purposely to console him. + +"You're real good, you are," continued Toby; "an' I hope I shall see you +real often, for it seems to me now, when there hain't any folks around, +as if you was the only friend I've got in this great big world. It's +awful when a feller feels the way I do, an' when he don't seem to want +anything to eat. Now if you'll stick to me I'll stick to you, an' then +it won't be half so bad when we feel this way." + +During this speech Toby had still clung to the little brown paw, which +the monkey now withdrew, and continued to gaze into the boy's face. + +"The fellers all say I don't amount to anything," sobbed Toby, "an' +Uncle Dan'l says I don't, an' I s'pose they know; but I tell you I feel +just as bad, now that I'm goin' away from them all, as if I was as good +as any of them." + +At this moment Toby saw Mr. Lord enter the tent, and he knew that the +summons to start was about to be given. + +"Goodby," he said to the monkey, as he vainly tried to take him by the +hand again. "Remember what I've told you, an' don't forget that Toby +Tyler is feelin' worse tonight than if he was twice as big an' twice as +good." + +Mr. Lord had come to summon him away, and he now told Toby that he would +show him with which man he was to ride that night. + +Toby looked another goodby at the venerable monkey, who was watching him +closely, and then followed his employer out of the tent, among the ropes +and poles and general confusion attendant upon the removal of a circus +from one place to another. + + + + +III. THE NIGHT RIDE + + +The wagon on which Mr. Lord was to send his new found employee was, +by the most singular chance, the one containing the monkeys, and Toby +accepted this as a good omen. He would be near his venerable friend all +night, and there was some consolation in that. The driver instructed +the boy to watch his movements, and when he saw him leading his horses +around, "to look lively and be on hand, for he never waited for anyone." + +Toby not only promised to do as ordered, but he followed the driver +around so closely that, had he desired, he could not have rid himself of +his little companion. + +The scene which presented itself to Toby's view was strange and weird in +the extreme. Shortly after he had attached himself to the man with whom +he was to ride, the performance was over, and the work of putting the +show and its belongings into such a shape as could be conveyed from one +town to another was soon in active operation. Toby forgot his grief, +forgot that he was running away from the only home he had ever known--in +fact, forgot everything concerning himself--so interested was he in that +which was going on about him. + +As soon as the audience had got out of the tent and almost before the +work of taking down the canvas was begun. + +Torches were stuck in the earth at regular intervals, the lights that +had shone so brilliantly in and around the ring had been extinguished, +the canvas sides had been taken off, and the boards that had formed the +seats were being packed into one of the carts with a rattling sound that +seemed as if a regular fusillade of musketry was being indulged in. Men +were shouting; horses were being driven hither and thither, harnessed to +the wagons, or drawing the huge carts away as soon as they were loaded; +and everything seemed in the greatest state of confusion, while really +the work was being done in the most systematic manner possible. + +Toby had not long to wait before the driver informed him that the time +for starting had arrived, and assisted him to climb up to the narrow +seat whereon he was to ride that night. + +The scene was so exciting, and his efforts to stick to the narrow seat +so great, that he really had no time to attend to the homesick feeling +that had crept over him during the first part of the evening. + +The long procession of carts and wagons drove slowly out of the town, +and when the last familiar house had been passed the driver spoke to +Toby for the first time, since they started. + +"Pretty hard work to keep on--eh, sonny?" + +"Yes," replied the boy, as the wagon jolted over a rock, bouncing him +high in air, and he, by strenuous efforts, barely succeeded in alighting +on the seat again, "it is pretty hard work; an' my name's Toby Tyler." + +Toby heard a queer sound that seemed to come from the man's throat, and +for a few moments he feared that his companion was choking. But he soon +understood that this was simply an attempt to laugh, and he at once +decided that it was a very poor style of laughing. + +"So you object to being called sonny, do you?" + +"Well, I'd rather be called Toby, for, you see, that's my name." + +"All right, my boy; we'll call you Toby. I suppose you thought it was a +mighty fine thing to run away an' jine a circus, didn't you?" + +Toby started in affright, looked around cautiously, and then tried to +peer down through the small square aperture, guarded by iron rods, that +opened into the cage just back of the seat they were sitting on. Then +he turned slowly around to the driver, and asked, in a voice sunk to a +whisper: "How did you know that I was runnin' away? Did he tell you?" +and Toby motioned with his thumb as if he were pointing out someone +behind him. + +It was the driver's turn now to look around in search of the "he" +referred to by Toby. + +"Who do you mean?" asked the man, impatiently. + +"Why, the old feller; the one in the cart there. I think he knew I was +runnin' away, though he didn't say anything about it; but he looked just +as if he did." + +The driver looked at Toby in perfect amazement for a moment, and +then, as if suddenly understanding the boy, relapsed into one of those +convulsive efforts that caused the blood to rush up into his face and +gave him every appearance of having a fit. + +"You must mean one of the monkeys," said the driver, after he had +recovered his breath, which had been almost shaken out of his body by +the silent laughter. "So you thought a monkey had told me what any fool +could have seen if he had watched you for five minutes." + +"Well," said Toby, slowly, as if he feared he might provoke one of those +terrible laughing spells again, "I saw him tonight, an' he looked as if +he knew what I was doin'; so I up an' told him, an' I didn't know but +he'd told you, though he didn't look to me like a feller that would be +mean." + +There was another internal shaking on the part of the driver, which Toby +did not fear so much, since he was getting accustomed to it, and then +the man said, "Well, you are the queerest little cove I ever saw." + +"I s'pose I am," was the reply, accompanied by a long drawn sigh. "I +don't seem to amount to so much as the other fellers do, an' I guess +it's because I'm always hungry; you see, I eat awful, Uncle Dan'l says." + +The only reply which the driver made to this plaintive confession was to +put his hand down into the deepest recesses of one of his deep pockets +and to draw therefrom a huge doughnut, which he handed to his companion. + +Toby was so much at his ease by this time that the appetite which had +failed him at supper had now returned in full force, and he devoured the +doughnut in a most ravenous manner. + +"You're too small to eat so fast," said the man, in a warning tone, as +the last morsel of the greasy sweetness disappeared, and he fished up +another for the boy. "Some time you'll get hold of one of the India +rubber doughnuts that they feed to circus people, an' choke yourself to +death." + +Toby shook his head, and devoured this second cake as quickly as he had +the first, craning his neck, and uttering a funny little squeak as the +last bit went down, just as a chicken does when he gets too large a +mouthful of dough. + +"I'll never choke," he said, confidently. "I'm used to it; and Uncle +Dan'l says I could eat a pair of boots an' never wink at 'em; but I +don't just believe that." + +As the driver made no reply to this remark Toby watched with no little +interest all that was passing on around him. Each of the wagons had a +lantern fastened to the hind axle, and these lights could be seen far +ahead on the road, as if a party of fireflies had started in single file +on an excursion. The trees by the side of the road stood out weird and +ghostly looking in the darkness, and the rumble of the carts ahead +and behind formed a musical accompaniment to the picture that sounded +strangely doleful. + +Mile after mile was passed over in perfect silence, save now and then +when the driver would whistle a few bars of some very dismal tune that +would fairly make Toby shiver with its mournfulness. Eighteen miles was +the distance from Guilford to the town where the next performance of the +circus was to be given, and as Toby thought of the ride before them it +seemed as if the time would be almost interminable. He curled himself up +on one corner of the seat, and tried very hard to go to sleep; but just +as his eyes began to grow heavy the wagon would jolt over some rock or +sink deep in some rut, till Toby, the breath very nearly shaken out +of his body, and his neck almost dislocated, would sit bolt upright, +clinging to the seat with both hands, as if he expected each moment to +be pitched out into the mud. + +The driver watched him closely, and each time that he saw him shaken +up and awakened so thoroughly he would indulge in one of his silent +laughing spells, until Toby would wonder whether he would ever recover +from it. Several times had Toby been awakened, and each time he had seen +the amusement his sufferings caused, until he finally resolved to put an +end to the sport by keeping awake. + +"What is your name?" he asked of the driver, thinking a conversation +would be the best way to rouse himself into wakefulness. + +"Waal," said the driver, as he gathered the reins carefully in one hand, +and seemed to be debating in his mind how he should answer the question, +"I don't know as I know myself, it's been so long since I've heard it." + +Toby was wide enough awake now, as this rather singular problem was +forced upon his mind. He revolved the matter silently for some moments, +and at last he asked, "What do folks call you when they want to speak to +you?" + +"They always call me Old Ben, an' I've got so used to the name that I +don't need any other." + +Toby wanted very much to ask more questions, but he wisely concluded +that it would not be agreeable to his companion. + +"I'll ask the old man about it," said Toby to himself, referring to the +aged monkey, whom he seemed to feel acquainted with; "he most likely +knows, if he'll say anything." + +After this the conversation ceased, until Toby again ventured to +suggest, "It's a pretty long drive, hain't it?" + +"You want to wait till you've been in this business a year or two," said +Ben, sagely, "an' then you won't think much of it. Why, I've known the +show towns to be thirty miles apart, an' them was the times when we had +lively work of it. Riding all night and working all day kind of wears on +a fellow." + +"Yes, I s'pose so," said Toby, with a sigh, as he wondered whether he +had got to work as hard as that; "but I s'pose you get all you want to +eat, don't you?" + +"Now you've struck it!" said Ben, with the air of one about to impart a +world of wisdom, as he crossed one leg over the other, that his position +might be as comfortable as possible while he was initiating his young +companion into the mysteries of the life. "I've had all the boys ride +with me since I've been with this show, an' I've tried to start them +right; but they didn't seem to profit by it, an' always got sick of the +show an' run away, just because they didn't look out for themselves as +they ought to. Now listen to me, Toby, an' remember what I say. You see +they put us all in a hotel together, an' some of these places where we +go don't have any too much stuff on the table. Whenever we strike a new +town you find out at the hotel what time they have the grub ready, an' +you be on hand, so's to get in with the first. Eat all you can, an' fill +your pockets." + +"If that's all a feller has to do to travel with a circus," said Toby, +"I'm just the one, 'cause I always used to do just that when I hadn't +any idea of bein' a circus man." + +"Then you'll get along all right," said Ben, as he checked the speed of +his horses and, looking carefully ahead, said, as he guided his team to +one side of the road, "This is as far as we're going tonight." + +Toby learned that they were within a couple of miles of the town, and +that the entire procession would remain by the roadside until time to +make the grand entree into the village, when every wagon, horse, and man +would be decked out in the most gorgeous array, as they had been when +they entered Guilford. + +Under Ben's direction he wrapped himself in an old horse blanket, +and lay down on the top of the wagon; and he was so tired from the +excitement of the day and night that he had hardly stretched out at full +length before he was fast asleep. + + + + +IV. THE FIRST DAY WITH THE CIRCUS + + +When Toby awakened and looked around he could hardly realize where he +was or bow he came there. As far ahead and behind on the road as he +could see the carts were drawn up on one side; men were hurrying to and +fro, orders were being shouted, and everything showed that the entry +into the town was about to be made. Directly opposite the wagon on which +he had been sleeping were the four elephants and two camels, and close +behind, contentedly munching their breakfasts, were a number of tiny +ponies. Troops of horses were being groomed and attended to; the road +was littered with saddles, flags, and general decorations, until it +seemed to Toby that there must have been a smash up, and that he now +beheld ruins rather than systematic disorder. + +How different everything looked now, compared to the time when the +cavalcade marched into Guilford, dazzling everyone with the gorgeous +display! Then the horses pranced gayly under their gaudy decorations, +the wagons were bright with glass, gilt, and flags, the lumbering +elephants and awkward camels were covered with fancifully embroidered +velvets, and even the drivers of the wagons were resplendent in their +uniforms of scarlet and gold. Now, in the gray light of the early +morning, everything was changed. The horses were tired and muddy, and +wore old and dirty harness; the gilded chariots were covered with mud +bespattered canvas, which caused them to look like the most ordinary +of market wagons; the elephants and camels looked dingy, dirty, almost +repulsive; and the drivers were only a sleepy looking set of men, who, +in their shirt sleeves, were getting ready for the change which would +dazzle the eyes of the inhabitants of the town. + +Toby descended from his lofty bed, rubbed his eyes to thoroughly awaken +himself, and, under the guidance of Ben, went to a little brook near by +and washed his face. He had been with the circus not quite ten hours, +but now he could not realize that it had ever seemed bright and +beautiful. He missed his comfortable bed, the quiet and cleanliness, and +the well spread table; even although he had felt the lack of parents' +care, Uncle Daniel's home seemed the very abode of love and friendly +feeling compared with this condition, where no one appeared to care even +enough for him to scold at him. He was thoroughly homesick, and heartily +wished that he was back in his old native town. + +While he was washing his face in the brook he saw some of the boys who +had come out from the town to catch the first glimpse of the circus, and +he saw at once that he was the object of their admiring gaze. He heard +one of the boys say, when they first discovered him: + +"There's one of them, an' he's only a little feller; so I'm going to +talk to him." + +The evident admiration which the boys had for Toby pleased him, and this +pleasure was the only drop of comfort he had had since he started. He +hoped they would come and talk with him; and, that they might have the +opportunity, he was purposely slow in making his toilet. + +The boys approached him shyly, as if they had their doubts whether he +was made of the same material as themselves, and when they got quite +near to him and satisfied themselves that he was only washing his face +in much the same way that any well regulated boy would do, the one who +had called attention to him said, half timidly, "Hello!" + +"Hello!" responded Toby, in a tone that was meant to invite confidence. + +"Do you belong to the circus?" + +"Yes," said Toby, a little doubtfully. + +Then the boys stared at him again as if he were one of the strange +looking animals, and the one who had been the spokesman drew a long +breath of envy as he said, longingly, "My! what a nice time you must +have!" + +Toby remembered that only yesterday he himself had thought that boys +must have a nice time with a circus, and he now felt what a mistake +that thought was; but he concluded that he would not undeceive his new +acquaintance. + +"And do they give you frogs to eat, so's to make you limber?" + +This was the first time that Toby had thought of breakfast, and the very +mention of eating made him hungry. He was just at that moment so very +hungry that he did not think he was replying to the question when he +said, quickly: "Eat frogs! I could eat anything, if I only had the +chance." + +The boys took this as an answer to their question, and felt perfectly +convinced that the agility of circus riders and tumblers depended upon +the quantity of frogs eaten, and they looked upon Toby with no little +degree of awe. + +Toby might have undeceived them as to the kind of food he ate, but just +at that moment the harsh voice of Mr. Job Lord was heard calling him, +and he hurried away to commence his first day's work. + +Toby's employer was not the same pleasant, kindly spoken man that he +had been during the time they were in Guilford and before the boy was +absolutely under his control. He looked cross, he acted cross, and it +did not take the boy very long to find out that he was very cross. + +He scolded Toby roundly, and launched more oaths at his defenseless head +than Toby had ever heard in his life. He was angry that the boy had not +been on hand to help him, and also that he had been obliged to hunt for +him. + +Toby tried to explain that he had no idea of what he was expected to +do, and that he had been on the wagon to which he had been sent, only +leaving it to wash his face; but the angry man grew still more furious. + +"Went to wash your face, did yer? Want to set yourself up for a dandy, I +suppose, and think that you must souse that speckled face of yours into +every brook you come to? I'll soon break you of that; and the sooner you +understand that I can't afford to have you wasting your time in washing +the better it will be for you." + +Toby now grew angry, and, not realizing how wholly he was in the man's +power, he retorted: "If you think I'm going round with a dirty face, +even if it is speckled, for a dollar a week, you're mistaken, that's +all. How many folks would eat your candy if they knew you handled it +over before you washed your hands?" + +"Oho! I've picked up a preacher, have I? Now I want you to understand, +my bantam, that I do all the preaching as well as the practicing myself, +and this is about as quick a way as I know of to make you understand +it." + +As the man spoke he grasped the boy by the coat collar with one hand and +with the other plied a thin rubber cane with no gentle force to every +portion of Toby's body that he could reach. + +Every blow caused the poor boy the most intense pain; but he determined +that his tormentor should not have the satisfaction of forcing an outcry +from him, and he closed his lips so tightly that not a single sound +could escape from them. + +This very silence enraged the man so much that he redoubled the force +and rapidity of his blows, and it is impossible to say what might have +been the consequences had not Ben come that way just then and changed +the aspect of affairs. + +"Up to your old tricks of whipping the boys, are you, Job?" he said, +as he wrested the cane from the man's hand and held him off at arm's +length, to prevent him from doing Toby more mischief. + +Mr. Lord struggled to release himself, and insisted that, since the boy +was in his employ, he should do with him just as he saw fit. + +"Now look here, Mr. Lord," said Ben, as gravely as if he was delivering +some profound piece of wisdom, "I've never interfered with you before; +but now I'm going to stop your game of thrashing your boy every morning +before breakfast. You just tell this youngster what you want him to do, +and if he don't do it you can discharge him. If I hear of your flogging +him, I shall attend to your case at once. You hear me?" + +Ben shook the now terrified candy vender much as if he had been a child, +and then released him, saying to Toby as he did so, "Now, my boy, you +attend to your business as you ought to, and I'll settle his accounts if +he tries the flogging game again." + +"You see, I don't know what there is for me to do," sobbed Toby, for +the kindly interference of Ben had made him show more feeling than Mr. +Lord's blows had done. + +"Tell him what he must do," said Ben, sternly. + +"I want him to go to work and wash the tumblers, and fix up the things +in that green box, so we can commence to sell as soon as we get into +town," snarled Mr. Lord, as he motioned toward a large green chest that +had been taken out of one of the carts, and which Toby saw was filled +with dirty glasses, spoons, knives, and other utensils such as were +necessary to carry on the business. + +Toby got a pail of water from the brook, hunted around and found towels +and soap, and devoted himself to his work with such industry that Mr. +Lord could not repress a grunt of satisfaction as he passed him, however +angry he felt because he could not administer the whipping which would +have smoothed his ruffled temper. + +By the time the procession was ready to start for the town Toby had as +much of his work done as he could find that it was necessary to do, and +his master, in his surly way, half acknowledged that this last boy of +his was better than any he had had before. + +Although Toby had done his work so well he was far from feeling happy; +he was both angry and sad as he thought of the cruel blows that had been +inflicted, and he had plenty of leisure to repent of the rash step he +had taken, although he could not see very clearly how he was to get away +from it. He thought that he could not go back to Guilford, for Uncle +Daniel would not allow him to come to his house again; and the hot +scalding tears ran down his cheeks as he realized that he was homeless +and friendless in this great big world. + +It was while he was in this frame of mind that the procession, all gaudy +with flags, streamers, and banners, entered the town. Under different +circumstances this would have been a most delightful day for him, for +the entrance of a circus into Guilford had always been a source of one +day's solid enjoyment; but now he was the most disconsolate and unhappy +boy in all that crowd. + +He did not ride throughout the entire route of the procession, for Mr. +Lord was anxious to begin business, and the moment the tenting ground +was reached the wagon containing Mr. Lord's goods was driven into the +inclosure and Toby's day's work began. + +He was obliged to bring water, to cut up the lemons, fetch and carry +fruit from the booth in the big tent to the booth on the outside, +until he was ready to drop with fatigue, and, having had no time for +breakfast, was nearly famished. + +It was quite noon before he was permitted to go to the hotel for +something to eat, and then Ben's advice to be one of the first to get to +the tables was not needed. + +In the eating line that day he astonished the servants, the members of +the company, and even himself, and by the time he arose from the table, +with both pockets and his stomach full to bursting, the tables had been +set and cleared away twice while he was making one meal. + +"Well, I guess you didn't hurry yourself much," said Mr. Lord, when Toby +returned to the circus ground. + +"Oh yes, I did," was Toby's innocent reply: "I ate just as fast as I +could"; and a satisfied smile stole over the boy's face as he thought of +the amount of solid food he had consumed. + +The answer was not one which was calculated to make Mr. Lord feel any +more agreeably disposed toward his new clerk, and he showed his ill +temper very plainly as he said, "It must take a good deal to satisfy +you." + +"I s'pose it does," calmly replied Toby. "Sam Merrill used to say that +I took after Aunt Olive and Uncle Dan'l; one ate a good while, an' the +other ate awful fast." + +Toby could not understand what it was that Mr. Lord said in reply, +but he could understand that his employer was angry at somebody or +something, and he tried unusually hard to please him. He talked to the +boys who had gathered around, to induce them to buy, washed the glasses +as fast as they were used, tried to keep off the flies, and in every way +he could think of endeavored to please his master. + + + + +V. THE COUNTERFEIT TEN CENT PIECE + + +When the doors of the big tent were opened, and the people began to +crowd in, just as Toby had seen them do at Guilford, Mr. Lord announced +to his young clerk that it was time for him to go into the tent to work. +Then it was that Toby learned for the first time that he had two masters +instead of one, and this knowledge caused him no little uneasiness. If +the other one was anything like Mr. Lord, his lot would be just twice +as bad, and he began to wonder whether he could even stand it one day +longer. + +As the boy passed through the tent on his way to the candy stand, where +he was really to enter upon the duties for which he had run away from +home, he wanted to stop for a moment and speak with the old monkey who +he thought had taken such an interest in him. But when he reached the +cage in which his friend was confined, there was such a crowd around it +that it was impossible for him to get near enough to speak without being +overheard. + +This was such a disappointment to the little fellow that the big tears +came into his eyes, and in another instant would have gone rolling down +his cheeks if his aged friend had not chanced to look toward him. Toby +fancied that the monkey looked at him in the most friendly way, and +then he was Certain that he winked one eye. Toby felt that there was no +mistake about that wink, and it seemed as if it was intended to convey +comfort to him in his troubles. He winked back at the monkey in the most +emphatic and grave manner possible, and then went on his way, feeling +wonderfully comforted. + +The work inside the tent was far different and much harder than it was +outside. He was obliged to carry around among the audience trays of +candy, nuts, and lemonade for sale, and he was expected to cry aloud the +description of that which he offered. The partner of Mr. Lord, who had +charge of the stand inside the tent, showed himself to be neither better +nor worse than Mr. Lord himself. When Toby first presented himself for +work he handed him a tray filled with glasses of lemonade, and told him +to go among the audience, crying, "Here's your nice cold lemonade, only +five cents a glass!" + +Toby started to do as he was bidden; but when he tried to repeat the +words in anything like a loud tone of voice they stuck in his throat, +and he found it next to impossible to utter a sound above a whisper. It +seemed to him that everyone in the audience was looking only at him, and +the very sound of his own voice made him afraid. + +He went entirely around the tent once without making a sale, and when he +returned to the stand he was at once convinced that one of his masters +was quite as bad as the other. This one--and he knew that his name was +Jacobs, for he heard someone call him so--very kindly told him that he +would break every bone in his body if he didn't sell something, and Toby +confidently believed that he would carry out his threat. + +It was with a very heavy heart that he started around again in obedience +to Mr. Jacobs's angry command; but this time he did manage to cry out, +in a very thin and very squeaky voice, the words which he had been told +to repeat. + +This time--perhaps owing to his pitiful and imploring look, certainly +not because of the noise he made--he met with very good luck, and +sold every glass of the mixture which Messrs. Lord and Jacobs called +lemonade, and went back to the stand for more. + +He certainly thought he had earned a word of praise, and fully expected +it as he put the empty glasses and money on the stand in front of Mr. +Jacobs. But, instead of the kind words, he was greeted with a volley of +curses; and the reason for it was that he had taken in payment for two +of the glasses a lead ten cent piece. Mr. Jacobs, after scolding poor +little Toby to his heart's content, vowed that the amount should be kept +from his first week's wages, and then handed back the coin, with orders +to give it to the first man who gave him money to change, under the +penalty of a severe flogging if he failed to do so. + +Poor Toby tried to explain matters by saying: "You see, I don't know +anything about money; I never had more 'n a cent at a time, an' you +mustn't expect me to get posted all at once." + +"I'll post you with a stick if you do it again; an' it won't be well for +you if you bring that ten cent piece back here!" + +Now Toby was very well aware that to pass the coin, knowing it to be +bad, would be a crime, and be resolved to take the consequences of which +Mr. Jacobs had intimated, if he could not find the one who had given him +the counterfeit and persuade him to give him good money in its stead. He +remembered very plainly where he had sold each glass of lemonade, and +he retraced his steps, glancing at each face carefully as he passed. At +last he was confident that he saw the man who had gotten him into such +trouble, and he climbed up the board seats, saying, as he stood in front +of him and held out the coin: "Mister, this money that you gave me is +bad. Won't you give me another one for it?" + +The man was a rough looking party who had taken his girl to the circus, +and who did not seem at all disposed to pay any heed to Toby's request. +Therefore he repeated it, and this time more loudly. + +"Get out the way!" said the man, angrily. "How can you expect me to see +the show if you stand right in front of me?" + +"You'll like it better," said Toby, earnestly, "if you give me another +ten cent piece." + +"Get out an' don't bother me!" was the angry rejoinder; and the little +fellow began to think that perhaps he would be obliged to "get out" +without getting his money. + +It was becoming a desperate case, for the man was growing angry very +fast and if Toby did not succeed in getting good money for the bad, he +would have to take the consequences of which Mr. Jacobs had spoken. + +"Please, mister," he said, imploringly--for his heart began to grow very +heavy, and he was fearing that he should not succeed--"won't you please +give me the money back? You know you gave it to me, an' I'll have to pay +it if you don't." + +The boy's lip was quivering, and those around began to be interested in +the affair, while several in the immediate vicinity gave vent to their +indignation that a man should try to cheat a boy out of ten cents by +giving him counterfeit money. + +The man whom Toby was speaking to was about to dismiss him with an angry +reply, when he saw that those about him were not only interested in the +matter, but were evidently taking sides with the boy against him; and +knowing well that he had given the counterfeit money, he took another +coin from his pocket and, handing it to Toby, said, "I didn't give you +the lead piece; but you're making such a fuss about it that here's ten +cents to make you keep quiet." + +"I'm sure you did give me the money," said Toby, as he took the extended +coin, "an' I'm much obliged to you for takin' it back. I didn't want to +tell you before, 'cause you'd thought I was beggin'; but if you hadn't +given me this, I 'xpect I'd have got an awful whippin', for Mr. Jacobs +said he'd fix me if I didn't get the money for it." + +The man looked sheepish enough as he put the bad money in his pocket, +and Toby's innocently told story caused such a feeling in his behalf +among those who sat near that he not only disposed of his entire stock +then and there, but received from one gentleman twenty-five cents for +himself. He was both proud and happy as he returned to Mr. Jacobs with +empty glasses, and with the money to refund the amount of loss which +would have been caused by the counterfeit. + +But the worthy partner of Mr. Lord's candy business had no words of +encouragement for the boy who was trying so hard to please. + +"Let that make you keep your eyes open," he growled out, sulkily; "an' +if you get caught in that trap again, you won't be let off so easy." + +Poor little Toby! his heart seemed ready to break; but his few hours' +previous experience had taught him that there was but one thing to do, +and that was to work just as hard as possible, trusting to some good +fortune to enable him to get out of the very disagreeable position in +which he had voluntarily placed himself. + +He took the basket of candy that Mr. Jacobs handed him, and trudged +around the circle of seats, selling far more because of the pitifulness +of his face than because of the excellence of his goods; and even this +worked to his disadvantage. Mr. Jacobs was keen enough to see why his +little clerk sold so many goods, and each time that he returned to the +stand he said something to him in an angry tone, which had the effect of +deepening the shadow on the boy's face and at the same time increasing +trade. + +By the time the performance was over Toby had in his pocket a dollar and +twenty-five cents which had been given him for himself by some of the +kind hearted in the audience, and he kept his hand almost constantly +upon it, for the money seemed to him like some kind friend who would +help him out of his present difficulties. + +After the audience had dispersed, Mr. Jacobs set Toby at work washing +the glasses and clearing up generally, and then the boy started toward +the other portion of the store--that watched over by Mr. Lord. Not a +person save the watchman was in the tent, and as Toby went toward the +door he saw his friend the monkey sitting in one corner of the cage, and +apparently watching his every movement. + +It was as if he had suddenly seen one of the boys from home, and Toby, +uttering an exclamation of delight, ran up to the cage and put his hand +through the wires. + +The monkey, in the gravest possible manner, took one of the fingers in +his paw, and Toby shook hands with him very earnestly. + +"I was sorry that I couldn't speak to you when I went in this noon," +said Toby, as if making an apology; "but, you see, there were so many +around here to see you that I couldn't get the chance. Did you see me +wink at you?" + +The monkey made no reply, but he twisted his face into such a funny +little grimace that Toby was quite as well satisfied as if he had +spoken. + +"I wonder if you hain't some relation to Steve Stubbs?" Toby continued, +earnestly, "for you look just like him, only he don't have quite so many +whiskers. What I wanted to say was that I'm awful sorry I run away. I +used to think that Uncle Dan'l was bad enough; but he was just a perfect +good Samarathon to what Mr. Lord an' Mr. Jacobs are; an' when Mr. Lord +looks at me with that crooked eye of his I feel it 'way down in my +boots. Do you know"--and here Toby put his mouth nearer to the monkey's +head and whispered--"I'd run away from this circus if I could get the +chance. Wouldn't you?" + +Just at this point, as if in answer to the question, the monkey stood up +on his hind feet and reached out his paw to the boy, who seemed to think +this was his way of being more emphatic in saying "Yes." + +Toby took the paw in his hand, shook it again earnestly, and said, as he +released it: "I was pretty sure you felt just about the same way I did, +Mr. Stubbs, when I passed you this noon. Look here"--and Toby took the +money from his pocket which had been given him--"I got all that this +afternoon, an' I'll try an' stick it out somehow till I get as much as +ten dollars, an' then we'll run away some night, an' go 'way off as far +as--as--as out West; an' we'll stay there, too." + +The monkey, probably tired with remaining in one position so long; +started toward the top of the cage, chattering and screaming, joining +the other monkeys, who had gathered in a little group in one of the +swings. + +"Now see here, Mr. Stubbs," said Toby, in alarm, "you mustn't go to +telling everybody about it, or Mr. Lord will know, an' then we'll be +dished, sure." + +The monkey sat quietly in the swing, as if he felt reproved by what the +boy had said; and Toby, considerably relieved by his silence, said, +as he started toward the door, "That's right--mum's the word; you keep +quiet, an' so will I, an' pretty soon we'll get away from the whole +crowd." + +All the monkeys chattered; and Toby, believing that everything which +he had said had been understood by the animals, went out of the door to +meet his other taskmaster. + + + + +VI. A TENDER HEARTED SKELETON + + +"Now, then, lazybones," was Mr. Lord's warning cry as Toby came out of +the tent, "if you've fooled away enough of your time, you can come here +an' tend shop for me while I go to supper. You crammed yourself this +noon, an' it 'll teach you a good lesson to make you go without anything +to eat tonight; it 'll make you move round more lively in future." + +Instead of becoming accustomed to such treatment as he was receiving +from his employers, Toby's heart grew more tender with each brutal word, +and this last punishment--that of losing his supper--caused the poor +boy more sorrow than blows would. Mr. Lord started for the hotel as +he concluded his cruel speech; and poor little Toby, going behind the +counter, leaned his head upon the rough boards and cried as if his heart +would break. + +All the fancied brightness and pleasure of a circus life had vanished, +and in its place was the bitterness of remorse that he had repaid Uncle +Daniel's kindness by the ingratitude of running away. Toby thought that +if he could only nestle his little red head on the pillows of his little +bed in that rough room at Uncle Daniel's, he would be the happiest and +best boy, in the future, in all the great wide world. + +While he was still sobbing away at a most furious rate he heard a voice +close at his elbow, and, looking up, saw the thinnest man he had +ever seen in all his life. The man had flesh colored tights on, and a +spangled red velvet garment--that was neither pants, because there were +no legs to it, nor a coat, because it did not come above his waist--made +up the remainder of his costume. + +Because he was so wonderfully thin, because of the costume which he +wore, and because of a highly colored painting which was hanging in +front of one of the small tents, Toby knew that the Living Skeleton was +before him, and his big brown eyes opened all the wider as he gazed at +him. + +"What is the matter, little fellow?" asked the man, in a kindly tone. +"What makes you cry so? Has Job been up to his old tricks again?" + +"I don't know what his old tricks are--" and Toby sobbed, the tears +coming again because of the sympathy which this man's voice expressed +for him--"but I know that he's a mean, ugly thing--that's what I know; +an' if I could only get back to Uncle Dan'l, there hain't elephants +enough in all the circuses in the world to pull me away again." + +"Oh, you run away from home, did you?" + +"Yes, I did," sobbed Toby, "an' there hain't any boy in any Sunday +School book that ever I read that was half so sorry he'd been bad as +I am. It's awful; an' now I can't have any supper, 'cause I stopped to +talk with Mr. Stubbs." + +"Is Mr. Stubbs one of your friends?" asked the skeleton, as he seated +himself in Mr. Lord's own private chair. + +"Yes, he is, an' he's the only one in this whole circus who 'pears to +be sorry for me. You'd better not let Mr. Lord see you sittin' in that +chair or he'll raise a row." + +"Job won't raise any row with me," said the skeleton. "But who is this +Mr. Stubbs? I don't seem to know anybody by that name." + +"I don't think that is his name. I only call him so, 'cause he looks so +much like a feller I know who is named Stubbs." + +This satisfied the skeleton that this Mr. Stubbs must be someone +attached to the show, and he asked: + +"Has Job been whipping you?" + +"No; Ben, the driver on the wagon where I ride, told him not to do that +again; but he hain't going to let me have any supper, 'cause I was so +slow about my work--though I wasn't slow; I only talked to Mr. Stubbs +when there wasn't anybody round his cage." + +"Sam! Sam! Sam-u-el!" + +This name, which was shouted twice in a quick, loud voice, and the third +time in a slow manner, ending almost in a screech, did not come from +either Toby or the skeleton, but from an enormously large woman, dressed +in a gaudy red and black dress, cut very short, and with low neck and +an apology for sleeves, who had just come out from the tent whereon the +picture of the Living Skeleton hung. + +"Samuel," she screamed again, "come inside this minute, or you'll +catch your death o' cold, an' I shall have you wheezin' around with the +phthisic all night. Come in, Sam-u-el." + +"That's her," said the skeleton to Toby, as he pointed his thumb in the +direction of the fat woman, but paying no attention to the outcry she +was making--"that's my wife Lilly, an' she's the Fat Woman of the show. +She's always yellin' after me that way the minute I get out for a little +fresh air, an' she's always sayin' just the same thing. Bless you, I +never have the phthisic, but she does awful; an' I s'pose 'cause she's +so large she can't feel all over her, an' thinks it's me that has it." + +"Is--is all that--is that your wife?" stammered Toby, in astonishment, +as he looked at the enormously fat woman who stood in the tent door, and +then at the wonderfully thin man who sat beside him. + +"Yes, that's her," said the skeleton. "She weighs pretty nigh four +hundred, though of course the show cards says it's over six hundred, an' +she earns almost as much money as I do. Of course she can't get so much, +for skeletons is much scarcer than fat folks; but we make a pretty good +thing travelin' together." + +"Sam-u-el!" again came the cry from the fat woman, "are you never coming +in?" + +"Not yet, my angel," said the skeleton, placidly, as he crossed one thin +leg over the other and looked calmly at her. "Come here an' see Job's +new boy." + +"Your imprudence is wearin' me away so that I sha'n't be worth five +dollars a week to any circus," she said, impatiently, at the same time +coming toward the candy stand quite as rapidly as her very great size +would admit. + +"This is my wife Lilly--Mrs. Treat," said the skeleton, with a proud +wave of his hand, as he rose from his seat and gazed admiringly at her. +"This is my flower--my queen, Mr. -- Mr. --" + +"Tyler," said Toby, supplying the name which the skeleton--or Mr. Treat, +as Toby now learned his name was--did not know; "Tyler is my name--Toby +Tyler." + +"Why, what a little chap you are!" said Mrs. Treat, paying no attention +to the awkward little bend of the head which Toby intended for a bow. +"How small he is, Samuel!" + +"Yes," said the skeleton, reflectively, as he looked Toby over from head +to foot, as if he were mentally trying to calculate exactly how many +inches high he was, "he is small; but he's got all the world before +him to grow in, an' if he only eats enough--There, that reminds me. Job +isn't going to give him any supper, because he didn't work hard enough." + +"He won't, won't he?" exclaimed the large lady, savagely. "Oh, he's a +precious one, he is! An' some day I shall just give him a good shakin' +up, that's what I'll do. I get all out of patience with that man's +ugliness." + +"An' she'll do just what she says," said the skeleton to Toby, with an +admiring shake of the head. "That woman hain't afraid of anybody, an' I +wouldn't be a bit surprised if she did give Job a pretty rough time." + +Toby thought, as he looked at her, that she was large enough to give +'most anyone a pretty rough time, but he did not venture to say so. +While he was looking first at her, and then at her very thin husband, +the skeleton told his wife the little that he had learned regarding the +boy's history; and when he had concluded she waddled away toward her +tent. + +"Great woman that," said the skeleton, as he saw her disappear within +the tent. + +"Yes," said Toby, "she's the greatest I ever saw." + +"I mean that she's got a great head. Now you'll see about how much she +cares for what Job says." + +"If I was as big as her," said Toby, with just a shade of envy in his +voice, "I wouldn't be afraid of anybody." + +"It hain't so much the size," said the skeleton, sagely--"it hain't so +much the size, my boy; for I can scare that woman almost to death when I +feel like it." + +Toby looked for a moment at Mr. Treat's thin legs and arms, and then he +said, warningly, "I wouldn't feel like it very often if I was you, Mr. +Treat, 'cause she might break some of your bones if you didn't happen to +scare her enough." + +"Don't fear for me, my boy--don't fear for me; you'll see how I manage +her if you stay with the circus long enough. Now I often--" + +If Mr. Treat was about to confide a family secret to Toby, it was fated +that he should not hear it then, for Mrs. Treat had just come out of +her tent, carrying in her hands a large tin plate piled high with a +miscellaneous assortment of pie, cake, bread, and meat. + +She placed this in front of Toby, and as she did so she handed him two +pictures. + +"There, little Toby Tyler," she said--"there's something for you to eat, +if Mr. Job Lord and his precious partner Jacobs did say you shouldn't +have any supper; an' I've brought you a picture of Samuel an' me. +We sell 'em for ten cents apiece, but I'm going to give them to you, +because I like the looks of you." + +Toby was quite overcome with the presents, and seemed at a loss how to +thank her for them. He attempted to speak, but could not get the words +out at first; and then he said, as he put the two photographs in the +same pocket with his money: "You're awful good to me, an' when I get to +be a man I'll give you lots of things. I wasn't so very hungry, if I am +such a big eater, but I did want something." + +"Bless your dear little heart, and you shall have something to eat," +said the Fat Woman, as she seized Toby, squeezed him close up to her, +and kissed his freckled face as kindly as if it had been as fair and +white as possible. "You shall eat all you want to; an' if you get the +stomachache, as Samuel does sometimes when he's been eatin' too much, +I'll give you some catnip tea out of the same dipper that I give +him his. He's a great eater, Samuel is," she added, in a burst +of confidence, "an' it's a wonder to me what he does with it all +sometimes." + +"Is he?" exclaimed Toby, quickly. "How funny that is! for I'm an awful +eater. Why, Uncle Dan'l used to say that I ate twice as much as I ought +to, an' it never made me any bigger. I wonder what's the reason?" + +"I declare I don't know," said the Fat Woman, thoughtfully, "an' I've +wondered at it time an' time again. Some folks is made that way, an' +some folks is made different. Now I don't eat enough to keep a chicken +alive, an' yet I grow fatter an' fatter every day--don't I, Samuel?" + +"Indeed you do, my love," said the skeleton, with a world of pride in +his voice; "but you mustn't feel bad about it, for every pound you gain +makes you worth just so much more to the show." + +"Oh, I wasn't worryin', I was only wonderin'. But we must go, Samuel, +for the poor child won't eat a bit while we are here. After you've eaten +what there is there, bring the plate in to me," she said to Toby, as +she took her lean husband by the arm and walked him off toward their own +tent. + +Toby gazed after them a moment, and then he commenced a vigorous attack +upon the eatables which had been so kindly given him. Of the food which +he had taken from the dinner table he had eaten some while he was in the +tent, and after that he had entirely forgotten that he had any in his +pocket; therefore, at the time that Mrs. Treat had brought him such a +liberal supply he was really very hungry. + +He succeeded in eating nearly all the food which had been brought to +him, and the very small quantity which remained he readily found room +for in his pockets. Then he washed the plate nicely; and seeing no one +in sight, he thought he could leave the booth long enough to return the +plate. + +He ran with it quickly into the tent occupied by the thin man and +fat woman, and handed it to her, with a profusion of thanks for her +kindness. + +"Did you eat it all?" she asked. + +"Well," hesitated Toby, "there was two doughnuts an' a piece of pie left +over, an' I put them in my pocket. If you don't care, I'll eat them some +time tonight." + +"You shall eat it whenever you want to; an' any time that you get hungry +again you come right to me." + +"Thank you, marm. I must go now, for I left the store all alone." + +"Run, then; an' if Job abuses you, just let me know it, an' I'll keep +him from cuttin' up any monkeyshines." + +Toby hardly heard the end of her sentence, so great was his haste to get +back to the booth; and just as he emerged from the tent, on a quick run, +he received a blow on the ear which sent him sprawling in the dust, and +he heard Mr. Job Lord's angry voice as it said, + +"So, just the moment my back is turned you leave the stand to take care +of itself, do you, an' run around tryin' to plot some mischief against +me, eh?" And the brute kicked the prostrate boy twice with his heavy +boot. + +"Please don't kick me again!" pleaded Toby. "I wasn't gone but a minute, +an' I wasn't doing anything bad." + +"You're lying now, an' you know it, you young cub!" exclaimed the angry +man as he advanced to kick the boy again. "I'll let you know who you've +got to deal with when you get hold of me!" + +"And I'll let you know who you've got to deal with when you get hold of +me!" said a woman's voice; and just as Mr. Lord raised his foot to kick +the boy again the fat woman seized him by the collar, jerked him back +over one of the tent ropes, and left him quite as prostrate as he had +left Toby. + +"Now, Job Lord," said the angry woman, as she towered above the +thoroughly enraged but thoroughly frightened man, "I want you to +understand that you can't knock and beat this boy while I'm around. I've +seen enough of your capers, an' I'm going to put a stop to them. That +boy wasn't in this tent more than two minutes, an' he attends to his +work better than anyone you have ever had; so see that you treat him +decent. Get up," she said to Toby, who had not dared to rise from the +ground; "and if he offers to strike you again, come to me." + +Toby scrambled to his feet, and ran to the booth in time to attend to +one or two customers who had just come up. He could see from out the +corner of his eye that Mr. Lord had arisen to his feet also, and was +engaged in an angry conversation with Mrs. Treat, the result of which he +very much feared would be another and a worse whipping for him. + +But in this he was mistaken, for Mr. Lord, after the conversation +was ended, came toward the booth, and began to attend to his business +without speaking one word to Toby. When Mr. Jacobs returned from his +supper, Mr. Lord took him by the arm and walked him out toward the rear +of the tents; and Tony was very positive that he was to be the subject +of their conversation, which made him not a little uneasy. + +It was not until nearly time for the performance to begin that Mr. Lord +returned, and he had nothing to say to Toby save to tell him to go into +the tent and begin his work there. The boy was only too glad to escape +so easily, and he went to his work with as much alacrity as if he were +about entering upon some pleasure. + +When he met Mr. Jacobs that gentleman spoke to him very sharply about +being late, and seemed to think it no excuse at all that he had just +been relieved from the outside work by Mr. Lord. + + + + +VII. AN ACCIDENT AND ITS CONSEQUENCES + + +Toby's experience in the evening was very similar to that of the +afternoon, save that he was so fortunate as not to take any more +bad money in payment for his goods. Mr. Jacobs scolded and swore +alternately, and the boy really surprised him by his way of selling +goods, though he was very careful not to say anything about it, but made +Toby believe that he was doing only about half as much work as he ought +to do. Toby's private hoard of money was increased that evening, by +presents, ninety cents, and he began to look upon himself as almost a +rich man. + +When the performance was nearly over Mr. Jacobs called to him to help +in packing up; and by the time the last spectator had left the tent the +worldly possessions of Messrs. Lord and Jacobs were ready for removal, +and Toby allowed to do as he had a mind to, so long as he was careful to +be on hand when Old Ben was ready to start. + +Toby thought that he would have time to pay a visit to his friends the +skeleton and the Fat Woman, and to that end started toward the place +where their tent had been standing; but to his sorrow he found that it +was already being taken down, and he had only time to thank Mrs. Treat +and to press the fleshless hand of her shadowy husband as they entered +their wagon to drive away. + +He was disappointed, for he had hoped to be able to speak with his new +made friends a few moments before the weary night's ride commenced; but, +failing in that, he went hastily back to the monkeys' cage. Old Ben was +there, getting things ready for a start; but the wooden sides of the +cage had not been put up, and Toby had no difficulty in calling the aged +monkey up to the bars. He held one of the Fat Woman's doughnuts in his +hand, and said, as he passed it through to the animal: + +"I thought perhaps you might be hungry, Mr. Stubbs, and this is some of +what the skeleton's wife gave me. I hain't got very much time to talk +with you now; but the first chance I can get away tomorrow, an' when +there hain't anybody round, I want to tell you something." + +The monkey had taken the doughnut in his handlike paws, and was tearing +it to pieces, eating small portions of it very rapidly. + +"Don't hurry yourself," said Toby, warningly, "for Uncle Dan'l always +told me the worst thing a feller could do was to eat fast. If you want +any more, after we start, just put your hand through the little hole up +there near the seat, an' I'll give you all you want." + +From the look on his face Toby confidently believed the monkey was about +to make some reply; but just then Ben shut up the sides, separating Toby +and Mr. Stubbs, and the order was given to start. + +Toby clambered up on to the high seat, Ben followed him, and in another +instant the team was moving along slowly down the dusty road, preceded +and followed by the many wagons, with their tiny swinging lights. + +"Well," said Ben, when he had got his team well under way and felt +that he could indulge in a little conversation, "how did you get along +today?" + +Toby related all of his movements, and gave the driver a faithful +account of all that had happened to him, concluding his story by saying, +"That was one of Mrs. Treat's doughnuts that I just gave to Mr. Stubbs." + +"To whom?" asked Ben, in surprise. + +"To Mr. Stubbs--the old fellow here in the cart, you know, that's been +so good to me." + +Toby heard a sort of gurgling sound, saw the driver's body sway back and +forth in a trembling way, and was just becoming thoroughly alarmed, +when he thought of the previous night, and understood that Ben was only +laughing in his own peculiar way. + +"How did you know his name was Stubbs?" asked Ben, after he had +recovered his breath. + +"Oh, I don't know that that is his real name," was the quick reply; "I +only call him that because he looks so much like a feller with that name +that I knew at home. He don't seem to mind because I call him Stubbs." + +Ben looked at Toby earnestly for a moment, acting all the time as if +he wanted to laugh again, but didn't dare to, for fear he might burst a +blood vessel; and then he said, as he patted him on the shoulder: "Well, +you are the queerest little fish that I ever saw in all my travels. You +seem to think that that monkey knows all you say to him." + +"I'm sure he does," said Toby, positively. "He don't say anything right +out to me, but he knows everything I tell him. Do you suppose he could +talk if he tried to?" + +"Look here, Mr. Toby Tyler"--and Ben turned half around in his seat +and looked Toby full in the face, so as to give more emphasis to his +words--"are you heathen enough to think that that monkey could talk if +he wanted to?" + +"I know I hain't a heathen," said Toby, thoughtfully, "for if I had been +some of the missionaries would have found me out a good while ago; but +I never saw anybody like this old Mr. Stubbs before, an' I thought he +could talk if he wanted to, just as the Living Skeleton does, or his +wife. Anyhow, Mr. Stubbs winked at me; an' how could he do that if he +didn't know what I've been sayin' to him?" + +"Look here, my son," said Ben, in a most fatherly fashion, "monkeys +hain't anything but beasts, an' they don't know how to talk any more +than they know what you say to 'em." + +"Didn't you ever hear any of them speak a word?" + +"Never. I've been in a circus, man an' boy, nigh on to forty years, an' +I never seen nothin' in a monkey more 'n any other beast, except their +awful mischiefness." + +"Well," said Toby, still unconvinced, "I believe Mr. Stubbs knows what I +say to him, anyway." + +"Now don't be foolish, Toby," pleaded Ben. "You can't show me one thing +that a monkey ever did because you told him to." + +Just at this moment Toby felt someone pulling at the back of his coat, +and, looking round, he saw it was a little brown hand, reaching through +the bars of the air hole of the cage, that was tugging away at his coat. + +"There!" he said, triumphantly, to Ben. "Look there! I told Mr. Stubbs +if he wanted anything more to eat, to tell me an' I would give it to +him. Now you can see for yourself that he's come for it." And Toby took +a doughnut from his pocket and put it into the tiny hand, which was +immediately withdrawn. + +"Now what do you think of Mr. Stubbs knowing what I say to him?" + +"They often stick their paws up through there," said Ben, in a matter of +fact tone. "I've had 'em pull my coat in the night till they made me +as nervous as ever any old woman was. You see, Toby my boy, monkeys is +monkeys; an' you mustn't go to gettin' the idea that they're anything +else, for it's a mistake. You think this old monkey in here knows what +you say? Why, that's just the cuteness of the old fellow--he watches you +to see if he can't do just as you do, an' that's all there is about it." + +Toby was more than half convinced that Ben was putting the matter in its +proper light, and he would have believed all that had been said if, just +at that moment, he had not seen that brown hand reaching through the +hole to clutch him again by the coat. + +The action seemed so natural, so like a hungry boy who gropes in +the dark pantry for something to eat, that it would have taken more +arguments than Ben had at his disposal to persuade Toby that his Mr. +Stubbs could not understand all that was said to him. Toby put another +doughnut in the outstretched hand, and then sat silently, as if in a +brown study over some difficult problem. + +For some time the ride was continued in silence. Ben was going through +all the motions of whistling without uttering a sound--a favorite +amusement of his--and Toby's thoughts were far away in the humble home +he had scorned, with Uncle Daniel, whose virtues had increased in his +esteem with every mile of distance which had been put between them, and +whose faults had decreased in a corresponding ratio. + +Toby's thoughtfulness had made him sleepy, and his eyes were almost +closed in slumber, when he was startled by a crashing sound, was +conscious of a feeling of being hurled from his seat by some great +force, and then he lay senseless by the side of the road, while the +wagon became a perfect wreck, from out of which a small army of monkeys +was escaping. + +Ben's experienced ear had told him at the first crash that his wagon was +breaking down, and, without having time to warn Toby of his peril, he +had leaped clear of the wreck, keeping his horses under perfect control +and thus averting more trouble. It was the breaking of one of the axles +which Toby had heard just before he was thrown from his seat and when +the body of the wagon came down upon the hard road. + +The monkeys, thus suddenly released from confinement, had scampered off +in every direction, and by a singular chance Toby's aged friend started +for the woods in such a direction as to bring him directly before the +boy's insensible form. The monkey, on coming up to Toby, stopped, urged +by the well known curiosity of its race, and began to examine the boy's +person carefully, prying into pockets and trying to open the boy's half +closed eyelids. Fortunately for Toby, he had fallen upon a mud bank and +was only stunned for the moment, having received no serious bruises. +The attentions bestowed upon him by the monkey served the purpose of +bringing him to his senses; and, after he had looked around him in the +gray light of the coming morning, it would have taken far more of a +philosopher than Old Ben was to persuade the boy that monkeys did not +possess reasoning faculties. + +The monkey was busy at Toby's ears, nose, and mouth, as monkeys will +do when they get an opportunity, and the expression of its face was as +grave as possible. Toby firmly believed that the monkey's face showed +sorrow at his fall, and he imagined that the attentions which were +bestowed upon him were for the purpose of learning whether he had been +injured or not. + +"Don't worry, Mr. Stubbs," said Toby, anxious to reassure his friend, as +he sat upright and looked about him. "I didn't get hurt any; but I would +like to know how I got way over here." + +It really seemed as if the monkey was pleased to know that his little +friend was not hurt, for he seated himself on his haunches, and his face +expressed the liveliest pleasure that Toby was well again--or at least +that was how the boy interpreted the look. + +By this time the news of the accident had been shouted ahead from one +team to the other, and all hands were hurrying to the scene for the +purpose of rendering aid. As Toby saw them coming he also saw a number +of small forms, looking something like diminutive men, hurrying past +him, and for the first time he understood how it was that the aged +monkey was at liberty, and knew that those little dusky forms were the +other occupants of the cage escaping to the woods. + +"See there, Mr. Stubbs! see there!" he exclaimed, pointing toward the +fugitives; "they're all going off into the woods! What shall we do?" + +The sight of the runaways seemed to excite the old monkey quite as much +as it did the boy. He sprang to his feet, chattering in the most excited +way, screamed two or three times, as if he were calling them back, and +then started off in vigorous pursuit. + +"Now he's gone too!" said Toby, disconsolately, believing the old fellow +had run away from him. "I didn't think Mr. Stubbs would treat me this +way!" + + + + +VIII. CAPTURE OF THE MONKEYS + + +The boy tried to rise to his feet, but his head whirled so, and he felt +so dizzy and sick from the effects of his fall, that he was obliged to +sit down again until he should feel able to stand. Meanwhile the crowd +around the wagon paid no attention to him, and he lay there quietly +enough, until he heard the hateful voice of Mr. Lord asking if his boy +were hurt. + +The sound of his voice affected Toby very much as the chills and fever +affect a sufferer, and he shook so with fear, and his heart beat so +loudly, that he thought Mr. Lord must know where he was by the sound. +Seeing, however, that his employer did not come directly toward him, +the thought flashed upon his mind that now would be a good chance to run +away, and he acted upon it at once. He rolled himself over in the mud +until he reached a low growth of fir trees that skirted the road, and +when beneath their friendly shade he rose to his feet and walked swiftly +toward the woods, following the direction the monkeys had taken. + +He no longer felt dizzy and sick; the fear of Mr. Lord had dispelled all +that, and he felt strong and active again. + +He had walked rapidly for some distance, and was nearly beyond the +sound of the voices in the road, when he was startled by seeing quite +a procession of figures emerge from the trees and come directly toward +him. + +He could not understand the meaning of this strange company, and it so +frightened him that he attempted to hide behind a tree, in the hope +that they might pass without seeing him. But no sooner had he secreted +himself than a strange, shrill chattering came from the foremost of the +group, and in an instant Toby emerged from his place of concealment. + +He had recognized the peculiar sound as that of the old monkey who had +left him a few moments before, and he knew now what he did not know +then, owing to the darkness. The newcomers were the monkeys that had +escaped from the cage, and had been overtaken and compelled to come +back by the old monkey, who seemed to have the most perfect control over +them. + +The old fellow was leading the band, and all were linked "hand in hand" +with each other, which gave the whole crowd a most comical appearance +as they came up to Toby, half hopping, half walking upright, and all +chattering and screaming, like a crowd of children out for a holiday. + +Toby stepped toward the noisy crowd, held out his hand gravely to the +old monkey, and said, in tones of heartfelt sorrow: + +"I felt awful bad because I thought you had gone off an' left me, when +you went off to find the other fellows. You're awful good, Mr. Stubbs; +an' now, instead of runnin' away, as I was goin' to do, we'll all go +back together." + +The old monkey grasped Toby's extended hand with his disengaged paw, +and, clinging firmly to it, the whole crowd followed in unbroken line, +chattering and scolding at the most furious rate, while every now and +then Mr. Stubbs would look back and scream out something, which would +cause the confusion to cease for an instant. + +It was really a comical sight, but Toby seemed to think it the most +natural thing in the world that they should follow him in this manner, +and he chattered to the old monkey quite as fast as any of the others +were doing. He told him very gravely all that he knew about the +accident, explained why it was that he conceived the idea of running +away, and really believed that Mr. Stubbs understood every word he was +saying. + +Very shortly after Toby had started to run away the proprietor of the +circus drove up to the scene of disaster, and, after seeing that the +wagon was being rapidly fixed up so that it could be hauled to the next +town, he ordered that search should be made for the monkeys. It was very +important that they should be captured at once, and he appeared to think +more of the loss of the animals than of the damage done to the wagon. + +While the men were forming a plan for a search for the truants, so that +in case of a capture they could let one another know, the noise made by +Toby and his party was heard, and the men stood still to learn what it +meant. + +The entire party burst into shouts of laughter as Toby and his +companions walked into the circle of light formed by the glare of the +lanterns, and the merriment was by no means abated at Toby's serious +demeanor. The wagon was now standing upright, with the door open, and +Toby therefore led his companions directly to it, gravely motioning them +to enter. + +The old monkey, instead of obeying, stepped back to Toby's side, and +screamed to the others in such a manner that they all entered the cage, +leaving him on the outside with the boy. + +Toby motioned him to get in, too, but he clung to his hand, and scolded +so furiously that it was apparent he had no idea of leaving his boy +companion. One of the men stepped up and was about to force him into the +wagon, when the proprietor ordered him to stop. + +"What boy is that?" he asked. + +"Job Lord's new boy," said someone in the crowd. + +The man asked Toby how it was that he had succeeded in capturing all the +runaways; and he answered, gravely: + +"Mr. Stubbs an' I are good friends, an' when he saw the others runnin' +away he just stopped 'em an' brought 'em back to me. I wish you'd let +Mr. Stubbs ride with me; we like each other a good deal." + +"You can do just what you please with Mr. Stubbs, as you call him. I +expected to lose half the monkeys in that cage, and you have brought +back every one. That monkey shall be yours, and you may put him in the +cage whenever you want to, or take him with you, just as you choose, for +he belongs entirely to you." + +Toby's joy knew no bounds; he put his arm around the monkey's neck, and +the monkey clung firmly to him, until even Job Lord was touched at the +evidence of affection between the two. + +While the wagon was being repaired Toby and the monkey stood hand in +hand watching the work go on, while those in the cage scolded and raved +because they had been induced to return to captivity. After a while the +old monkey seated himself on Toby's arm and cuddled close up to him, +uttering now and then a contented sort of a little squeak as the boy +talked to him. + +That night Mr. Stubbs slept in Toby's arms, in the band wagon, and both +boy and monkey appeared very well contented with their lot, which a +short time previous had seemed so hard. + +When Toby awakened to his second day's work with the circus his monkey +friend was seated by his side, gravely exploring his pockets, and all +the boy's treasures were being spread out on the floor of the wagon by +his side. Toby remonstrated with him on this breach of confidence, but +Mr. Stubbs was more in the mood for sport than for grave conversation, +and the more Toby talked the more mischievous did he become, until +at length the boy gathered up his little store of treasures, took the +monkey by the paw, and walked him toward the cage from which he had +escaped on the previous night. + +"Now, Mr. Stubbs," said Toby, speaking in an injured tone, "you must go +in here and stay till I have got more time to fool with you." + +He opened the door of the cage, but the monkey struggled as well as he +was able, and Toby was obliged to exert all his strength to put him in. + +When once the door was fastened upon him Toby tried to impress upon his +monkey friend's mind the importance of being more sedate, and he was +convinced that the words had sunk deep into Mr. Stubbs's heart, for, by +the time he had concluded, the old monkey was seated in the corner +of the cage, looking up from under his shaggy eyebrows in the most +reproachful manner possible. + +Toby felt sorry that he had spoken so harshly, and was about to make +amends for his severity, when Mr. Lord's gruff voice recalled him to the +fact that his time was not his own, and he therefore commenced his day's +work, but with a lighter heart than he had had since he stole away from +Uncle Daniel and Guilford. + +This day was not very much different from the preceding one so far as +the manner of Mr. Lord and his partner toward the boy was concerned; +they seemed to have an idea that he was doing only about half as much +work as he ought to, and both united in swearing at and abusing him as +much as possible. + +So far as his relations with other members of the company were +concerned, Toby now stood in a much better position than before. Those +who had witnessed the scene told the others how Toby had led in the +monkeys on the night previous, and nearly every member of the company +had a kind word for the little fellow whose head could hardly be seen +above the counter of Messrs. Lord and Jacobs's booth. + + + + +IX. THE DINNER PARTY + + +At noon Toby was thoroughly tired out, for whenever anyone spoke kindly +to him Mr. Lord seemed to take a malicious pleasure in giving him extra +tasks to do, until Toby began to hope that no one else would pay any +attention to him. On this day he was permitted to go to dinner first, +and after he returned he was left in charge of the booth. Trade being +dull--as it usually was during the dinner hour--he had very little +work to do after he had cleaned the glasses and set things to rights +generally. + +When, therefore, he saw the gaunt form of the skeleton emerge from his +tent and come toward him he was particularly pleased, for he had begun +to think very kindly of the thin man and his fleshy wife. + +"Well, Toby," said the skeleton, as he came up to the booth, carefully +dusted Mr. Lord's private chair, and sat down very cautiously in it, as +if he expected that it would break down under his weight, "I hear you've +been making quite a hero of yourself by capturing the monkeys last +night." + +Toby's freckled face reddened with pleasure as he heard these words, and +he stammered out, with considerable difficulty, "I didn't do anything; +it was Mr. Stubbs that brought 'em back." + +"Mr. Stubbs!" And the skeleton laughed so heartily that Toby was afraid +he would dislocate some of his thinly covered joints. "When you was +tellin' about Mr. Stubbs yesterday I thought you meant someone belonging +to the company. You ought to have seen my wife Lilly shake with laughing +when I told her who Mr. Stubbs was!" + +"Yes," said Toby, at a loss to know just what to say, "I should think +she would shake when she laughs." + +"She does," replied the skeleton. "If you could see her when something +funny strikes her you'd think she was one of those big plates of jelly +that they have in the bakeshop windows." And Mr. Treat looked proudly at +the gaudy picture which represented his wife in all her monstrosity of +flesh. "She's a great woman, Toby, an' she's got a great head." + +Toby nodded his head in assent. He would have liked to say something +nice regarding Mrs. Treat, but he really did not know what to say, so he +simply contented himself and the fond husband by nodding. + +"She thinks a good deal of you, Toby," continued the skeleton, as he +moved his chair to a position more favorable for him to elevate his feet +on the edge of the counter, and placed his handkerchief under him as a +cushion; "she's talking of you all the time, and if you wasn't such a +little fellow I should begin to be jealous of you--I should, upon my +word." + +"You're--both--very--good," stammered Toby, so weighted down by a sense +of the honor heaped upon him as to be at a loss for words. + +"An' she wants to see more of you. She made me come out here now, when +she knew Mr. Lord would be away, to tell you that we're goin' to have a +little kind of a friendly dinner in our tent tomorrow--she's cooked it +all herself, or she's going to--and we want you to come in an' have some +with us." + +Toby's eyes glistened at the thought of the unexpected pleasure, and +then his face grew sad as he replied, "I'd like to come first rate, Mr. +Treat, but I don't s'pose Mr. Lord would let me stay away from the shop +long enough." + +"Why, you won't have any work to do tomorrow, Toby--it's Sunday." + +"So it is!" said the boy, with a pleased smile, as he thought of the +day of rest which was so near. And then he added, quickly: "An' this is +Saturday afternoon. What fun the boys at home are havin'! You see, there +hain't any school Saturday afternoon, an all the fellers go out in the +woods." + +"And you wish you were there to go with them, don't you?" asked the +skeleton, sympathetically. + +"Indeed I do!" exclaimed Toby, quickly. "It's twice as good as any +circus that ever was." + +"But you didn't think so before you came with us, did you?" + +"I didn't know so much about circuses then as I do now," replied the +boy, sadly. + +Mr. Treat saw that he was touching on a sore subject, and one which was +arousing sad thoughts in his little companion's mind, and he hastened to +change it at once. + +"Then I can tell Lilly that you'll come, can I?" + +"Oh yes, I'll be sure to be there; an' I want you to know just how good +I think you both are to me." + +"That's all right, Toby," said Mr. Treat, with a pleased expression on +his face; "an' you may bring Mr. Stubbs with you, if you want." + +"Thank you," said Toby. "I'm sure Mr. Stubbs will be just as glad to +come as I shall. But where will we be tomorrow?" + +"Right here. We always stay over Sunday at the place where we show +Saturday. But I must be going, or Lilly will worry her life out of her +for fear I'm somewhere getting cold. She's awful careful of me, that +woman is. You'll be on hand tomorrow at one o'clock, won't you?" + +"Indeed I will," said Toby, emphatically, "an' I'll bring Mr. Stubbs +with me, too." + +With a friendly nod of his head, the skeleton hurried away to reassure +his wife that he was safe and well; and before he had hardly disappeared +within the tent Toby had another caller, who was none other than his old +friend Old Ben, the driver. + +"Well, my boy," shouted Ben, in his cheery, hearty tones, "I haven't +seen you since you left the wagon so sudden last night. Did you get +shook up much?" + +"Oh no," replied Toby. "You see I hain't very big; an' then I struck in +the mud; so I got off pretty easy." + +"That's a fact; an' you can thank your lucky stars for it, too, for I've +seen grown up men get pitched off a wagon in that way an break their +necks doin' it. But has Job told you where you was going to sleep +tonight? You know we stay over here till tomorrow." + +"I didn't think anything about that; but I s'pose I'll sleep in the +wagon, won't I?" + +"You can sleep at the hotel, if you want to; but the beds will likely be +dirty; an' if you take my advice you'll crawl into some of the wagons in +the tent." + +Ben then explained to him that, after his work was done that night, he +would not be expected to report for duty until the time for starting on +Sunday night, and concluded his remarks by saying: + +"Now you know what your rights are, an don't you let Job impose on you +in any way. I'll be round here after you get through work, an' we'll +bunk in somewhere together." + +The arrival of Messrs. Lord and Jacobs put a stop to the conversation, +and was the signal for Toby's time of trial. It seemed to him, and with +good reason, that the chief delight these men had in life was to torment +him, for neither ever spoke a pleasant word to him; and when one was not +giving him some difficult work to do, or finding fault in some way, the +other would be sure to do so; and Toby had very little comfort from the +time he began work in the morning until he stopped at night. + +It was not until after the evening performance was over that Toby had a +chance to speak with Mr. Stubbs, and then he was so tired that he simply +took the old monkey from the cage, nestled him under his jacket, and lay +down with him to sleep in the place which Old Ben had selected. + +When the morning came Mr. Stubbs aroused his young master at a much +'earlier hour than he would have awakened had he been left to himself, +and the two went out for a short walk before breakfast. They went +instinctively toward the woods; and when the shade of the trees was once +reached, how the two reveled in their freedom! Mr. Stubbs climbed into +the trees, swung himself from one to the other by means of his tail, +gathered half ripe nuts, which he threw at his master, tried to catch +the birds, and had a good time generally. + +Toby, stretched at full length on the mossy bank, watched the antics of +his pet, laughing boisterously at times as Mr. Stubbs would do some one +thing more comical than usual, and forgot there was in this world such +a thing as a circus or such a man as Job Lord. It was to Toby a morning +without a flaw, and he took no heed of the time, until the sound of the +church bells warned him of the lateness of the hour, reminding him at +the same time of where he should be--where he would be, if he were at +home with Uncle Daniel. + +In the mean time the old monkey had been trying to attract his young +master's attention, and, failing in his efforts, he came down from the +tree, crept softly up to Toby, and nestled his head under the boy's arm. + +This little act of devotion seemed to cause Toby's grief to burst forth +afresh, and, clasping the monkey around the neck, hugging him close to +his bosom, he sobbed: + +"Oh, Mr. Stubbs, Mr. Stubbs, how lonesome we are! If we was only at +Uncle Dan'l's we'd be the two happiest people in all this world. We +could play on the hay, or go up to the pasture, or go down to the +village; an' I'd work my fingers off if I could only be there just once +more. It was wicked for me to run away, an' now I'm gettin' paid for +it." + +He hugged the monkey closely, swaying his body to and fro, and +presenting a perfect picture of grief. The monkey, not knowing what to +make of this changed mood, cowered whimperingly in his arms, looking +up into his face, and licking the boy's hands whenever he had the +opportunity. + +It was some time before Toby's grief exhausted itself; and then, still +clasping the monkey, he hurried out of the woods toward the town and the +now thoroughly hated circus tents. + +The clocks were just striking one as Toby entered the inclosure used by +the show as a place of performance, and, remembering his engagement +with the skeleton and his wife, he went directly to their tent. From the +odors which assailed him as he entered, it was very evident that a feast +of no mean proportions was in course of preparation, and Toby's keen +appetite returned in full vigor. Even the monkey seemed affected by the +odor, for he danced about on his master's shoulder, and chattered so +that Toby was obliged to choke him a little in order to make him present +a respectable appearance. + +When Toby reached the interior of the tent he was astonished at the +extent of the preparations that were being made, and gazed around him in +surprise. The platform on which the lean man and fat woman were in +the habit of exhibiting themselves now bore a long table, loaded with +eatables; and, from the fact that eight or ten chairs were ranged around +it, Toby understood that he was not the only guest invited to the feast. +Some little attempt had also been made at decoration by festooning that +end of the tent where the platform was placed with two or three flags +and some streamers, and the tent poles also were fringed with tissue +paper of the brightest colors. + +Toby had only time enough to notice this when the skeleton advanced +toward him, and, with the liveliest appearance of pleasure, said, as he +took him by the hands with a grip that made him wince: + +"It gives me great joy, Mr. Tyler, to welcome you at one of our little +home reunions, if one can call a tent, that is moved every day in the +week, home." + +Toby hardly knew whom Mr. Treat referred to when he said "Mr. Tyler"; +but by the time his hands were released from the bony grasp he +understood that it was himself who was spoken to. + +The skeleton then formally introduced him to the other guests present, +who were sitting at one end of the tent, and evidently anxiously +awaiting the coming feast. + +"These," said Mr. Treat, as he waved his hand toward two white haired, +pink eyed young ladies who sat with their arms twined around each +other's waist, and had been eying the monkey with some appearance of +fear, "are the Miss Cushings, known to the world as the Albino Children; +they command a large salary and form a very attractive feature of our +exhibition." + +The young ladies arose at the same time, as if they had been the Siamese +Twins and could not act independently of each other, and bowed. + +Toby made the best bow he was capable of; and the monkey made frantic +efforts to escape, as if he would enjoy twisting his paws in their +perpendicular hair. + +"And this," continued Mr. Treat, pointing to a sickly, sour looking +individual who was sitting apart from the others, with his arms folded, +and looking as if he was counting the very seconds before the dinner +should begin, "is the wonderful Signor Castro, whose sword swallowing +feats you have doubtless heard of." + +Toby stepped back just one step, as if overwhelmed by awe at beholding +the signor in the guise of a humble individual; and the gentleman who +gained his livelihood by swallowing swords unbent his dignity so far +as to unfold his arms and present a very dirty looking hand for Toby +to shake. The boy took hold of the outstretched hand, wondering why the +signor never used soap and water; and Mr. Stubbs, apparently afraid +of the sour looking man, retreated to Toby's shoulder, where he sat +chattering and scolding about the introduction. + +Again the skeleton waved his hand, and this time he introduced +"Mademoiselle Spelletti, the wonderful snake charmer, whose exploits +in this country, and before the crowned heads of Europe had caused the +whole world to stand aghast at her daring." + +Mademoiselle Spelletti was a very ordinary looking young lady of about +twenty-five years of age, who looked very much as if her name might +originally have been Murphy, and she, too, extended a hand for Toby to +grasp--only her hand was clean, and she appeared to be a very much more +pleasant acquaintance than the gentleman who swallowed swords. + +This ended the introductions; and Toby was just looking around for a +seat, when Mrs. Treat, the fat lady and the giver of the feast which +was about to come, and which already smelled so invitingly, entered from +behind a curtain of canvas, where the cooking stove was supposed to be +located. + +She had every appearance of being the cook for the occasion. Her sleeves +were rolled up, her hair tumbled and frowzy, and there were several +unmistakable marks of grease on the front of her calico dress. + +She waited for no ceremony, but rushed up to Toby and, taking him in her +arms, gave him such a squeeze that there seemed to be every possibility +that she would break all the bones in his body; and she kept him so long +in this bearlike embrace that Mr. Stubbs reached his little brown paws +over and got such a hold of her hair that all present, save Signor +Castro, rushed forward to release her from the monkey's grasp. + +"You dear little thing!" said Mrs. Treat, paying but slight attention +to the hair pulling she had just undergone, and holding Toby at arm's +length so that she could look into his face, "you were so late that I +was afraid you wasn't coming; and my dinner wouldn't have tasted half so +good if you hadn't been here to eat some." + +Toby hardly knew what to say for this hearty welcome, and he managed to +tell the large and kind hearted lady that he had had no idea of missing +the dinner, and that he was very glad she wanted him to come. + +"Want you to come, you dear little thing!" she exclaimed, as she gave +him another hug, but careful not to give Mr. Stubbs a chance of grasping +her hair again. "Of course I wanted you to come, for this dinner has +been got up so that you could meet these people here, and so that they +could see you." + +Toby was entirely at a loss to know what to say to this overwhelming +compliment, and for that reason did not say anything, only submitting +patiently to the third hug, which was all Mrs. Treat had time to give +him, as she was obliged to rush behind the canvas screen again, as there +were unmistakable sounds of something boiling over on the stove. + +"You'll excuse me," said the skeleton, with an air of dignity, waving +his hand once more toward the assembled company, "but while introducing +you to Mr. Tyler I had almost forgotten to introduce him to you. This, +ladies and gentlemen"--and here he touched Toby on the shoulder, as if +he were some living curiosity whose habits and mode of capture he was +about to explain to a party of spectators--"is Mr. Toby Tyler, of whom +you heard on the night when the monkey cage was smashed, and who now +carries with him the identical monkey which was presented to him by +the manager of this great show as a token of esteem for his skill and +bravery in capturing the entire lot of monkeys without a single blow." + +By the time that Mr. Treat got through with his long speech Toby felt +very much as if he were some wonderful creature whom the skeleton was +exhibiting; but he managed to rise to his feet and duck his little red +head in his best imitation of a bow. Then he sat down and hugged Mr. +Stubbs to cover his confusion. + +One of the Albino Children now came forward, and, while stroking Mr. +Stubbs's hair, looked so intently at Toby that for the life of him he +couldn't say which she regarded as the curiosity, himself or the monkey; +therefore he hastened to say, modestly: + +"I didn't do much toward catchin' the monkeys; Mr. Stubbs here did +almost all of it, an' I only led 'em in. + +"There, there, my boy," said the skeleton, in a fatherly tone, "I've +heard the whole story from Old Ben, an' I sha'n't let you get out of it +like that. We all know what you did, an' it's no use for you to deny any +part of it." + + + + +X. MR. STUBBS AT A PARTY + + +Toby was about to say that he did not intend to represent the matter +other than it really was, when a voice from behind the canvas screen +arrested further conversation. + +"Sam-u-el, come an' help me carry these things in." + +Something very like a smile of satisfaction passed over Signor Castro's +face as he heard this, which told him that the time for the feast was +near at hand; and the snake charmer, as well as the Albino Children, +seemed quite as much pleased as did the sword swallower. + +"You will excuse me, ladies and gentlemen," said the skeleton, in an +important tone; "I must help Lilly, and then I shall have the pleasure +of helping you to some of her cooking, which, if I do say it, that +oughtn't, is as good as can be found in this entire country." + +Then he, too, disappeared behind the canvas screen. + +Left alone, Toby looked at the ladies, and the ladies looked at him, +in perfect silence, while the sword swallower grimly regarded them all, +until Mr. Treat reappeared, bearing on a platter an immense turkey, as +nicely browned as any Thanksgiving turkey Toby ever saw. Behind him +came his fat wife, carrying several dishes, each of which emitted a most +fragrant odor; and as these were placed upon the table the spirits of +the sword swallower seemed to revive, and he smiled pleasantly; while +even the ladies appeared animated by the sight and odor of the good +things which they were to be called upon so soon to pass judgment. + +Several times did Mr. and Mrs. Treat bustle in and out from behind the +screen, and each time they made some addition to that which was upon the +table, until Toby began to fear that they would never finish, and the +sword swallower seemed unable to restrain his impatience. + +At last the finishing touch had been put to the table, the last dish +placed in position, and then, with a certain kind of grace, which no one +but a man as thin as Mr. Treat could assume, he advanced to the edge of +the platform and said: + +"Ladies and gentlemen, nothing gives me greater pleasure than to invite +you all, including Mr. Tyler's friend Stubbs, to the bountiful repast +which my Lilly has prepared for--" + +At this point Mr. Treat's speech--for it certainly seemed as if he had +commenced to make one--was broken off in a most summary manner. His wife +had come up behind him and, with as much ease as if he had been a child, +lifted him from off the floor and placed him gently in the chair at the +head of the table. + +"Come right up and get dinner," she said to her guests. "If you had +waited until Samuel had finished his speech everything on the table +would have been stone cold." + +The guests proceeded to obey her kindly command; and it is to be +regretted that the sword swallower had no better manners than to jump +on to the platform with one bound and seat himself at the table with the +most unseemly haste. The others, and more especially Toby, proceeded in +a leisurely and more dignified manner. + +A seat had been placed by the side of the one intended for Toby for the +accommodation of Mr. Stubbs, who suffered a napkin to be tied under his +chin, and behaved generally in a manner that gladdened the heart of his +young master. + +Mr. Treat cut generous slices from the turkey for each guest, and Mrs. +Treat piled their plates high with all sorts of vegetables, complaining, +after the manner of housewives generally, that the food was not cooked +as she would like to have had it, and declaring that she had had poor +luck with everything that morning, when she firmly believed in her heart +that her table had never looked better. + +After the company had had the edge taken off their appetites--which +effect was produced on the sword swallower only after he had been helped +three different times, the conversation began by the fat woman asking +Toby how he got along with Mr. Lord. + +Toby could not give a very good account of his employer, but he had the +good sense not to cast a damper on a party of pleasure by reciting his +own troubles; so he said, evasively: + +"I guess I shall get along pretty well, now that I have got so many +friends." + +Just as he had commenced to speak the skeleton had put into his mouth +a very large piece of turkey--very much larger in proportion than +himself--and when Toby had finished speaking he started to say something +evidently not very complimentary to Mr. Lord. But what it was the +company never knew; for just as he opened his mouth to speak, the food +went down the wrong way, his face became a bright purple, and it was +quite evident that he was choking. + +Toby was alarmed, and sprang from his chair to assist his friend, +upsetting Mr. Stubbs from his seat, causing him to scamper up the tent +pole, with the napkin still tied around his neck, and to scold in his +most vehement manner. Before Toby could reach the skeleton, however, the +fat woman had darted toward her lean husband, caught him by the arm, and +was pounding his back, by the time Toby got there, so vigorously that +the boy was afraid her enormous hand would go through his tissue paper +like frame. + +"I wouldn't," said Toby, in alarm; "you may break him." + +"Don't you get frightened," said Mrs. Treat, turning her husband +completely over, and still continuing the drumming process. "He's often +taken this way; he's such a glutton that he'd try to swallow the turkey +whole if he could get it in his mouth, an' he's so thin that 'most +anything sticks in his throat." + +"I should think you'd break him all up," said Toby, apologetically, as +he resumed his seat at the table; "he don't look as if he could stand +very much of that sort of thing." + +But apparently Mr. Treat could stand very much more than Toby gave him +credit for, because at this juncture he stopped coughing, and his face +fast assumed its natural hue. + +His attentive wife, seeing that he had ceased struggling, lifted him in +her arms and sat him down in his chair with a force that threatened to +snap his head off. + +"There!" she said, as he wheezed a little from the effects of the shock, +"now see if you can behave yourself an' chew your meat as you ought to! +One of these days when you're alone you'll try that game, and that 'll +be the last of you." + +"If he'd try to do one of my tricks long enough he'd get so that there +wouldn't hardly anything choke him," the sword swallower ventured to +suggest, mildly, as he wiped a small stream of cranberry sauce from his +chin and laid a well polished turkey bone by the side of his plate. + +"I'd like to see him try it!" said the fat lady, with just a shade +of anger in her voice. Then turning toward her husband, she said, +emphatically, "Samuel, don't you ever let me catch you swallowing a +sword!" + +"I won't, my love, I won't; and I will try to chew my meat more," +replied the very thin glutton, in a feeble tone. Toby thought that +perhaps the skeleton might keep the first part of that promise, but he +was not quite sure about the last. + +It required no little coaxing on the part of both Toby and Mrs. Treat +to induce Mr. Stubbs to come down from his lofty perch; but the task was +accomplished at last, and by the gift of a very large doughnut he was +induced to resume his seat at the table. + +The time had now come when the duties of a host, in his own peculiar way +of viewing them, devolved upon Mr. Treat, and he said, as he pushed his +chair back a short distance from the table and tried to polish the front +of his vest with his napkin: + +"I don't want this fact lost sight of, because it is an important one: +everyone must remember that we have gathered here to meet and become +better acquainted with the latest and best addition to this circus, Mr. +Toby Tyler." + +Poor Toby! As the company all looked directly at him, and Mrs. Treat +nodded her enormous head energetically, as if to say that she agreed +exactly with her husband, the poor boy's face grew very red and the +squash pie lost its flavor. + +"Although Mr. Tyler may not be exactly one of us, owing to the fact that +he does not belong to the profession, but is only one of the adjuncts +to it, so to speak," continued the skeleton, in a voice which was fast +being raised to its highest pitch, "we feel proud, after his exploits +at the time of the accident, to have him with us, and gladly welcome him +now, through the medium of this little feast prepared by my Lilly." + +Here the Albino Children nodded their heads in approval, and the sword +swallower gave a grunt of assent; and, thus encouraged, the skeleton +proceeded: + +"I feel, when I say that we like and admire Mr. Tyler, all present will +agree with me and all would like to hear him say a word for himself." + +The skeleton seemed to have expressed the views of those present +remarkably well, judging from their expressions of pleasure and assent, +and all waited for the honored guest to speak. + +Toby knew that he must say something, but he couldn't think of a single +thing; he tried over and over again to call to his mind something which +he had read as to how people acted and what they said when they were +expected to speak at a dinner table, but his thoughts refused to go back +for him, and the silence was actually becoming painful. Finally, and +with the greatest effort, he managed to say, with a very perceptible +stammer, and while his face was growing very red: + +"I know I ought to say something to pay for this big dinner that you +said was gotten up for me, but I don't know what to say, unless to thank +you for it. You see, I hain't big enough to say much, an', as Uncle +Dan'l says, I don't amount to very much, 'cept for eatin', an' I guess +he's right. You're all real good to me, an' when I get to be a man I'll +try to do as much for you." + +Toby had risen to his feet when he began to make his speech, and while +he was speaking Mr. Stubbs had crawled over into his chair. When he +finished he sat down again without looking behind him, and of course sat +plump on the monkey. There was a loud outcry from Mr. Stubbs, a little +frightened noise from Toby, an instant's scrambling, and then boy, +monkey, and chair tumbled off the platform, landing on the ground in +an indescribable mass, from which the monkey extricated himself more +quickly than Toby could, and again took refuge on the top of the tent +pole. + +Of course all the guests ran to Toby's assistance; and while the fat +woman poked him all over to see that none of his bones were broken, the +skeleton brushed the dirt from his clothes. + +All this time the monkey screamed, yelled, and danced around on the tent +pole and ropes, as if his feelings had received a shock from which he +could never recover. + +"I didn't mean to end it up that way, but it was Mr. Stubbs's fault," +said Toby, as soon as quiet had been restored and the guests, with the +exception of the monkey, were seated at the table once more. + +"Of course you didn't," said Mrs. Treat, in a kindly tone. "But don't +you feel bad about it one bit, for you ought to thank your lucky stars +that you didn't break any of your bones." + +"I s'pose I had," said Toby, soberly, as he looked back at the scene of +his disaster, and then up at the chattering monkey that had caused all +the trouble. + +Shortly after this, Mr. Stubbs having again been coaxed down from his +lofty position, Toby took his departure, promising to call as often +during the week as he could get away from his exacting employers. + +Just outside the tent he met Old Ben, who said, as he showed signs of +indulging in another of his internal laughing spells: + +"Hello! has the skeleton an' his lily of a wife been givin' a blowout to +you, too?" + +"They invited me in there to dinner," said Toby, modestly. + +"Of course they did--of course they did," replied Ben, with a chuckle; +"they carries a cookin' stove along with 'em, so's they can give these +little spreads whenever we stay over a day in a place. Oh, I've been +there!" + +"And did they ask you to make a speech?" + +"Of course. Did they try it on you?" + +"Yes," said Toby, mournfully, "an' I tumbled off the platform when I got +through." + +"I didn't do exactly that," replied Ben, thoughtfully; "but I s'pose you +got too much steam on, seein' 's how it was likely your first speech. +Now you'd better go into the tent an try to get a little sleep, 'cause +we've got a long ride tonight over a rough road, an' you won't get more +'n a cat nap all night." + +"But where are you going?" asked Toby, as he shifted Mr. Stubbs over to +his other shoulder, preparatory to following his friend's advice. + +"I'm goin' to church," said Ben, and then Toby noticed for the first +time that the old driver had made some attempt at dressing up. "I've +been with the circus, man an boy, for nigh to forty years, an' I allus +go to meetin' once on Sunday. It's somethin' I promised my old mother I +would do, an' I hain't broke my promise yet." + +"Why don't you take me with you?" asked Toby, wistfully, as he +thought of the little church on the hill at home, and wished--oh, so +earnestly!--that he was there then, even at the risk of being thumped on +the head with Uncle Daniel's book. + +"If I'd seen you this mornin' I would," said Ben; "but now you must try +to bottle up some sleep ag'in' tonight, an' next Sunday I'll take you." + +With these words Old Ben started off, and Toby proceeded to carry out +his wishes, although he rather doubted the possibility of "bottling up" +any sleep that afternoon. + +He lay down on the top of the wagon, after having put Mr. Stubbs inside, +with the others of his tribe, and in a very few moments the boy was +sound asleep, dreaming of a dinner party at which Mr. Stubbs made a +speech and he himself scampered up and down the tent pole. + + + + +XI. A STORMY NIGHT + + +When Toby awoke it was nearly dark, and the bustle around him told very +plainly that the time for departure was near at hand. He rubbed his eyes +just enough to make sure that he was thoroughly awake, and then jumped +down from his rather lofty bed, and ran around to the door of the cage +to assure himself that Mr. Stubbs was safe. This done, his preparations +for the journey were made. + +Now Toby noticed that each one of the drivers was clad in rubber +clothing, and, after listening for a moment, he learned the cause of +their waterproof garments. It was raining very hard, and Toby thought +with dismay of the long ride that he would have to take on the top of +the monkeys' cage, with no protection whatever save that afforded by his +ordinary clothing. + +While he was standing by the side of his wagon, wondering how he should +get along, Old Ben came in. The water was pouring from his clothes in +little rivulets, and he afforded most unmistakable evidence of the damp +state of the weather. + +"It's a nasty night, my boy," said the old driver, in much the same +cheery tone that he would have used had he been informing Toby that it +was a beautiful moonlight evening. + +"I guess I'll get wet," said Toby, ruefully, as he looked up at the +lofty seat which he was to occupy. + +"Bless me!" said Ben, as if the thought had just come to him, "it won't +do for you to ride outside on a night like this. You wait here, an' I'll +see what I can do for you." + +The old man hurried off to the other end of the tent, and almost before +Toby thought he had time to go as far as the ring he returned. + +"It's all right," he said, and this time in a gruff voice, as if he were +announcing some misfortune; "you 're to ride in the women's wagon. Come +with me." + +Toby followed without a question, though he was wholly at a loss to +understand what the "women's wagon" was, for he had never seen anything +which looked like one. + +He soon learned, however, when Old Ben stopped in front--or, rather, at +the end--of a long, covered wagon that looked like an omnibus, except +that it was considerably longer, and the seats inside were divided by +arms, padded, to make them comfortable to lean against. + +"Here's the boy," said Ben, as he lifted Toby up on the step, gave him a +gentle push to intimate that he was to get inside, and then left him. + +As Toby stepped inside he saw that the wagon was nearly full of women +and children; and fearing lest he should take a seat that belonged to +someone else, he stood in the middle of the wagon, not knowing what to +do. + +"Why don't you sit down, little boy?" asked one of the ladies, after +Toby had remained standing nearly five minutes and the wagon was about +to start. + +"Well," said Toby, with some hesitation, as he looked around at the two +or three empty seats that remained, "I didn't want to get in anybody +else's place an' I didn't know where to sit." + +"Come right here," said the lady, as she pointed to a seat by the side +of a little girl who did not look any older than Toby; "the lady who +usually occupies that seat will not be here tonight, and you can have +it." + +"Thank you, ma'am," said Toby, as he sat timidly down on the edge of the +seat, hardly daring to sit back comfortably, and feeling very awkward +meanwhile, but congratulating himself on being thus protected from the +pouring rain. + +The wagon started, and as each one talked with her neighbor, Toby felt a +most dismal sense of loneliness, and almost wished that he was riding on +the monkey cart with Ben, where he could have someone to talk with. He +gradually pushed himself back into a more comfortable position, and had +then an opportunity of seeing more plainly the young girl who rode by +his side. + +She was quite as young as Toby, and small of her age; but there was an +old look about her face that made the boy think of her as being an old +woman cut down to fit children's clothes. Toby had looked at her so +earnestly that she observed him, and asked, "What is your name?" + +"Toby Tyler." + +"What do you do in the circus?" + +"Sell candy for Mr. Lord." + +"Oh! I thought you was a new member of the company." + +Toby knew by the tone of her voice that he had fallen considerably +in her estimation by not being one of the performers, and it was some +little time before he ventured to speak; and then he asked, timidly, +"What do you do?" + +"I ride one of the horses with mother." + +"Are you the little girl that comes out with the lady an' four horses?" +asked Toby, in awe that he should be conversing with so famous a person. + +"Yes, I am. Don't I do it nicely?" + +"Why, you're a perfect little--little--fairy!" exclaimed Toby, after +hesitating a moment to find some word which would exactly express his +idea. + +This praise seemed to please the young lady, and in a short time the +two became very good friends, even if Toby did not occupy a more exalted +position than that of candy seller. She had learned from him all about +the accident to the monkey cage, and about Mr. Stubbs, and in return +had told him that her name was Ella Mason, though on the bills she was +called "Mademoiselle Jeannette." + +For a long time the two children sat talking together, and then +Mademoiselle Jeannette curled herself up on the seat, with her head in +her mother's lap, and went to sleep. + +Toby had resolved to keep awake and watch her, for he was struck with +admiration at her face; but sleep got the better of him in less than +five minutes after he had made the resolution, and he sat bolt upright, +with his little round head nodding and bobbing until it seemed almost +certain that he would shake it off. + +When Toby awoke the wagon was drawn up by the side of the road, the sun +was shining brightly, preparations were being made for the entree into +town, and the harsh voice of Mr. Job Lord was shouting his name in +a tone that boded no good for poor Toby when he should make his +appearance. + +Toby would have hesitated before meeting his angry employer but that he +knew it would only make matters worse for him when he did show himself, +and he mentally braced himself for the trouble which he knew was coming. +The little girl whose acquaintance he had made the night previous was +still sleeping; and, wishing to say goodby to her in some way without +awakening her, he stooped down and gently kissed the skirt of her dress. +Then he went out to meet his master. + +Mr. Lord was thoroughly enraged when Toby left the wagon, and saw the +boy just as he stepped to the ground. The angry man gave a quick glance +around, to make sure that none of Toby's friends were in sight, and then +caught him by the coat collar and commenced to whip him severely with +the small rubber cane that he usually carried. + +Mr. Job Lord lifted the poor boy entirely clear of the ground, and +each blow that he struck could be heard almost the entire length of the +circus train. + +"You've been makin' so many acquaintances here that you hain't willin' +to do any work," he said, savagely, as he redoubled the force of his +blows. + +"Oh, please stop! please stop!" shrieked the poor boy in his agony. +"I'll do everything you tell me to, if you won't strike me again!" + +This piteous appeal seemed to have no effect upon the cruel man, and he +continued to whip the boy, despite his cries and entreaties, until +his arm fairly ached from the exertion and Toby's body was crossed and +recrossed with the livid marks of the cane. + +"Now let's see whether you'll 'tend to your work or not!" said the +man as he flung Toby from him with such force that the boy staggered, +reeled, and nearly fell into the little brook that flowed by the +roadside. "I'll make you understand that all the friends you've whined +around in this show can't save you from a lickin' when I get ready to +give you one! Now go an' do your work that ought to have been done an +hour ago!" + +Mr. Lord walked away with the proud consciousness of a man who has +achieved a great victory, and Toby was limping painfully along toward +the cart that was used in conveying Mr. Lord's stock in trade, when he +felt a tiny hand slip into his and heard a childish voice say: + +"Don't cry, Toby. Sometime, when I get big enough, I'll make Mr. Lord +sorry that he whipped you as he did; and I'm big enough now to tell him +just what kind of a man I think he is." + +Looking around, Toby saw his little acquaintance of the evening +previous, and he tried to force back the big tears that were rolling +down his cheeks as he said, in a voice choked with grief: "You're awful +good, an' I don't mind the lickin' when you say you're sorry for me. I +s'pose I deserve it for runnin' away from Uncle Dan'l." + +"Did it hurt you much?" she asked, feelingly. + +"It did when he was doin' it," replied Toby, manfully, "but it don't a +bit, now that you've come." + +"Then I'll go and talk to that Mr. Lord, and I'll come and see you again +after we get into town," said the little miss, as she hurried away to +tell the candy vender what she thought of him. + +That day, as on all others since he had been with the circus, Toby went +to his work with a heavy heart, and time and time again did he count the +money which had been given him by kind hearted strangers, to see whether +he had enough to warrant his attempting to run away. Three dollars and +twenty-five cents was the total amount of his treasure, and, large +as that sum appeared to him, he could not satisfy himself that he +had sufficient to enable him to get back to the home which he had so +wickedly left. Whenever he thought of this home, of the Uncle Daniel +who had in charity cared for him--a motherless, fatherless boy--and of +returning to it, with not even as much right as the Prodigal Son, of +whom he had heard Uncle Daniel tell, his heart sank within him and he +doubted whether he would be allowed to remain even if he should be so +fortunate as ever to reach Guilford again. + +This day passed, so far as Toby was concerned, very much as had the +others: he could not satisfy either of his employers, try as hard as he +might; but, as usual, he met with two or three kindly disposed people, +who added to the fund that he was accumulating for his second venture of +running away by little gifts of money, each one of which gladdened his +heart and made his trouble a trifle less hard to bear. + +During the entire week he was thus equally fortunate. Each day added +something to his fund, and each night it seemed to Toby that he was one +day nearer the freedom for which he so ardently longed. + +The skeleton, the fat lady, Old Ben, the Albino Children, little Ella, +and even the sword swallower, all gave him a kindly word as they passed +him while he was at his work, or saw him as the preparations for the +grand entree were being made. + +The time had passed slowly to Toby, and yet Sunday came again--as +Sundays always come; and on this day Old Ben hunted him up, made him +wash his face and hands until they fairly shone from very cleanliness, +and then took him to church. Toby was surprised to find that it was +really a pleasant thing to be able to go to church after being deprived +of it, and was more light hearted than he had yet been since he left +Guilford when he returned to the tent at noon. + +The skeleton had invited him to another dinner party, but Toby had +declined the invitation, agreeing to present himself in time for supper +instead. He hardly cared to go through the ordeal of another state +dinner; and besides, he wanted to go off to the woods with the old +monkey, where he could enjoy the silence of the forest, which seemed +like a friend to him, because it reminded him of home. + +Taking the monkey with him as usual, he inquired the nearest way to a +grove, and, without waiting for dinner, started off for an afternoon's +quiet enjoyment. + + + + +XII. TOBY'S GREAT MISFORTUNE + + +The town in which the circus remained over Sunday was a small one, and a +brisk walk of ten minutes sufficed to take Toby into a secluded portion +of a very thickly grown wood, where he could lie upon the mossy ground +and fairly revel in freedom. + +As he lay upon his back, his hands under his head, and his eyes directed +to the branches of the trees above, where the birds twittered and sung, +and the squirrels played in fearless sport, the monkey enjoyed himself +in his way, by playing all the monkey antics he knew of. + +He scrambled from tree to tree, swung himself from one branch to the +other by the aid of his tail, and amused both himself and his master, +until, tired by his exertions, he crept down by Toby's side and lay +there in quiet, restful content. + +One of Toby's reasons for wishing to be by himself that afternoon was +that he wanted to think over some plan of escape, for he believed that +he had nearly money enough to enable him to make a bold stroke for +freedom and Uncle Daniel's. Therefore, when the monkey nestled down +by his side he was all ready to confide in him that which had been +occupying his busy little brain for the past three days. + +"Mr. Stubbs," he said to the monkey, in a solemn tone, "we're goin' to +run away in a day or two." + +Mr. Stubbs did not seem to be moved in the least at this very startling +piece of intelligence, but winked his bright eyes in unconcern; and +Toby, seeming to think that everything which he said had been understood +by the monkey, continued: "I've got a good deal of money now, an' I +guess there's enough for us to start out on. We'll get away some night, +an' stay in the woods till they get through hunting for us, an' then +we'll go back to Guilford an' tell Uncle Dan'l if he'll only take us +back we'll never go to sleep in meetin' any more, an' we'll be just as +good as we know how. Now let's see how much money we've got." + +Toby drew from a pocket, which he had been at a great deal of trouble to +make in his shirt, a small bag of silver, and spread it upon the ground, +where he could count it at his leisure. + +The glittering coin instantly attracted the monkey's attention, and he +tried by every means to thrust his little black paw into the pile; +but Toby would allow nothing of that sort, and pushed him away quite +roughly. Then he grew excited, and danced and scolded around Toby's +treasure until the boy had hard work to count it. + +He did succeed, however, and as he carefully replaced it in the bag he +said to the monkey: "There's seven dollars an' thirty cents in that bag, +an' every cent of it is mine. That ought to take care of us for a good +while, Mr. Stubbs; an' by the time we get home we shall be rich men." + +The monkey showed his pleasure at this intelligence by putting his +hand inside Toby's clothes to find the bag of treasure that he had seen +secreted there, and two or three times, to the great delight of both +himself and the boy, he drew forth the bag, which was immediately taken +away from him. + +The shadows were beginning to lengthen in the woods, and, heeding this +warning of the coming night, Toby took the monkey on his arm and started +for home, or for the tent, which was the only place he could call home. + +As he walked along he tried to talk to his pet in a serious manner, but +the monkey, remembering where he had seen the bright coins secreted, +tried so hard to get at them that finally Toby lost all patience and +gave him quite a hard cuff on the ear, which had the effect of keeping +him quiet for a time. + +That night Toby took supper with the skeleton and his wife, and he +enjoyed the meal, even though it was made from what had been left of +the turkey that served as the noonday feast, more than he did the state +dinner, where he was obliged to pay for what he ate by the torture of +making a speech. + +There were no guests but Toby present; and Mr. and Mrs. Treat were not +only very kind, but so attentive that he was actually afraid he should +eat so much as to stand in need of some of the catnip tea which Mrs. +Treat had said she gave to her husband when he had been equally foolish. +The skeleton would pile his plate high with turkey bones from one side, +and the fat lady would heap it up, whenever she could find a chance, +with all sorts of food from the other, until Toby pushed back his chair, +his appetite completely satisfied, if it never had been so before. + +Toby had discussed the temper of his employer with his host and +hostess, and, after some considerable conversation, confided in them his +determination to run away. + +"I'd hate awfully to have you go," said Mrs. Treat, reflectively; "but +it's a good deal better for you to get away from that Job Lord if you +can. It wouldn't do to let him know that you had any idea of goin', for +he'd watch you as a cat watches a mouse, an never let you go so long as +he saw a chance to keep you. I heard him tellin' one of the drivers the +other day that you sold more goods than any other boy he ever had, an' +he was going to keep you with him all summer." + +"Be careful in what you do, my boy," said the skeleton, sagely, as he +arranged a large cushion in an armchair, and proceeded to make ready for +his after dinner nap; "be sure that you're all ready before you start, +an', when you do go, get a good ways ahead of him; for if he should ever +catch you the trouncin' you'd get would be awful." + +Toby assured his friends that he would use every endeavor to make his +escape successful when he did start; and Mrs. Treat, with an eye to the +boy's comfort, said, "Let me know the night you're goin', an' I'll fix +you up something to eat, so's you won't be hungry before you come to a +place where you can buy something." + +As these kind hearted people talked with him, and were ready thus to aid +him in every way that lay in their power, Toby thought that he had been +very fortunate in thus having made so many kind friends in a place where +he was having so much trouble. + +It was not until he heard the sounds of preparation for departure that +he left the skeleton's tent, and then, with Mr. Stubbs clasped tightly +to his breast, he hurried over to the wagon where Old Ben was nearly +ready to start. + +"All right, Toby," said the old driver, as the boy came in sight. "I was +afraid you was goin' to keep me waitin' for the first time. Jump right +up on the box, for there hain't no time to lose, an' I guess you'll have +to carry the monkey in your arms, for I don't want to stop to open the +cage now." + +"I'd just as soon carry him, an' a little rather," said Toby, as he +clambered up on the high seat and arranged a comfortable place in his +lap for his pet to sit. + +In another moment the heavy team had started, and nearly the entire +circus was on the move. "Now tell me what you've been doin' since I left +you," said Old Ben, after they were well clear of the town and he could +trust his horses to follow the team ahead. "I s'pose you've been to see +the skeleton an' his mountain of a wife?" + +Toby gave a clear account of where he had been and what he had done, and +when he concluded he told Old Ben of his determination to run away, and +asked his advice on the matter. + +"My advice," said Ben, after he had waited some time, to give due weight +to his words, "is that you clear out from this show just as soon as you +can. This hain't no fit place for a boy of your age to be in, an' +the sooner you get back where you started from, an get to school, the +better. But Job Lord will do all he can to keep you from goin', if he +thinks you have any idea of leavin' him." + +Toby assured Ben, as he had assured the skeleton and his wife, that he +would be very careful in all he did, and lay his plans with the utmost +secrecy; and then he asked whether Ben thought the amount of money which +he had would be sufficient to carry him home. + +"Waal, that depends," said the driver, slowly. "If you go to spreadin' +yourself all over creation, as boys are very apt to do, your money won't +go very far; but if you look at your money two or three times afore you +spend it, you ought to get back and have a dollar or two left." + +The two talked, and Old Ben offered advice, until Toby could hardly keep +his eyes open, and almost before the driver concluded his sage remarks +the boy had stretched himself on the top of the wagon, where he had +learned to sleep without being shaken off, and was soon in dreamland. + +The monkey, nestled down snug in Toby's bosom, did not appear to be as +sleepy as was his master, but popped his head in and out from under the +coat, as if watching whether the boy was asleep or not. + +Toby was awakened by a scratching on his face, as if the monkey was +dancing a hornpipe on that portion of his body, and by a shrill, quick +chattering, which caused him to assume an upright position instantly. + +He was frightened, although he knew not at what, and looked around +quickly to discover the cause of the monkey's excitement. + +Old Ben was asleep on his box, while the horses jogged along behind the +other teams, and Toby failed to see anything whatever which should have +caused his pet to become so excited. + +"Lie down an' behave yourself," said Toby, as sternly as possible, and +as he spoke he took his pet by the collar, to oblige him to obey his +command. + +The moment that he did this he saw the monkey throw something out +into the road, and the next instant he also saw that he held something +tightly clutched in his other paw. + +It required some little exertion and active movement on Toby's part to +enable him to get hold of that paw, in order to discover what it was +which Mr. Stubbs had captured; but the instant he did succeed, there +went up from his heart such a cry of sorrow as caused Old Ben to start +up in alarm and the monkey to cower and whimper like a whipped dog. + +"What is it, Toby? What's the matter?" asked the old driver, as +he peered out into the darkness ahead, as if he feared some danger +threatened them from that quarter. "I don't see anything. What is it?" + +"Mr. Stubbs has thrown all my money away," cried Toby, holding up the +almost empty bag, which a short time previous had been so well filled +with silver. + +"Stubbs--thrown--the--money--away?" repeated Ben, with a pause between +each word, as if he could not understand that which he himself was +saying. + +"Yes," sobbed Toby, as he shook out the remaining contents of the bag, +"there's only half a dollar, an' all the rest is gone." + +"The rest gone!" again repeated Ben. "But how come the monkey to have +the money?" + +"He tried to get at it out in the woods, an' I s'pose the moment I got +asleep he felt for it in my pockets. This is all there is left, an' he +threw away some just as I woke up." + +Again Toby held the bag up where Ben could see it, and again his grief +broke out anew. + +Ben could say nothing; he realized the whole situation--that the monkey +had got the moneybag while Toby was sleeping; that in his play he had +thrown it away piece by piece; and he knew that that small amount of +silver represented liberty in the boy's eyes. He felt that there was +nothing he could say which would assuage Toby's grief, and he remained +silent. + +"Don't you s'pose we could go back an' get it?" asked the boy, after the +intensity of his grief had somewhat subsided. + +"No, Toby, it's gone," replied Ben, sorrowfully. "You couldn't find it +if it was daylight, an' you don't stand a ghost of a chance now in the +dark. Don't take on so, my boy. I'll see if we can't make it up to you +in some way." + +Toby gave no heed to this last remark of Ben's. He hugged the monkey +convulsively to his breast, as if he would seek consolation from the +very one who had wrought the ruin, and, rocking himself to and fro, he +said, in a voice full of tears and sorrow: + +"Oh, Mr. Stubbs, why did you do it?--why did you do it? That money would +have got us away from this hateful place, an' we'd have gone back to +Uncle Dan'l's, where we'd have been so happy, you an' me. An' now it's +all gone--all gone. What made you, Mr. Stubbs--what made you do such a +bad, cruel thing? Oh, what made you?" + +"Don't, Toby--don't take on so," said Ben, soothingly. "There wasn't so +very much money there, after all, an' you'll soon get as much more." + +"But it won't be for a good while, an' we could have been in the good +old home long before I can get so much again." + +"That's true, my boy; but you must kinder brace up an' not give way so +about it. Perhaps I can fix it so the fellers will make it up to you. +Give Stubbs a good poundin', an' perhaps that 'll make you feel better." + +"That won't bring back my money an' I don't want to whip him," cried +Toby, hugging his pet the closer because of this suggestion. "I know +what it is to get a whippin', an' I wouldn't whip a dog, much less Mr. +Stubbs, who didn't know any better." + +"Then you must try to take it like a man," said Ben, who could think +of no other plan by which the boy might soothe his feelings. "It hain't +half so bad as it might be, an' you must try to keep a stiff upper lip, +even if it does seem hard at first." + +This keeping a stiff upper lip in the face of all the trouble he was +having was all very well to talk about, but Toby could not reduce it to +practice, or, at least, not so soon after he knew of his loss, and he +continued to rock the monkey back and forth, to whisper in his ear now +and then, and to cry as if his heart was breaking, for nearly an hour. + +Ben tried, in his rough, honest way, to comfort him, but without +success; and it was not until the boy's grief had spent itself that he +would listen to any reasoning. + +All this time the monkey had remained perfectly quiet, submitting to +Toby's squeezing without making any effort to get away, and behaving as +if he knew he had done wrong, and was trying to atone for it. He +looked up into the boy's face every now and then with such a penitent +expression that Toby finally assured him of forgiveness and begged him +not to feel so badly. + + + + +XIII. TOBY ATTEMPTS TO RESIGN HIS SITUATION + + +At last it was possible for Toby to speak of his loss with some degree +of calmness, and then he immediately began to reckon up what he could +have done with the money if he had not lost it. + +"Now see here, Toby," said Ben, earnestly, "don't go to doin' anything +of that kind. The money's lost, an' you can't get it back by talkin'; so +the very best thing for you is to stop thinkin' what you could do if you +had it, an' just to look at it as a goner." + +"But--" persisted Toby. + +"I tell you there's no buts about it," said Ben, rather sharply. "Stop +talkin' about what's gone, an' just go to thinkin' how you'll get more. +Do what you've a mind to the monkey, but don't keep broodin' over what +you can't help." + +Toby knew that the advice was good and he struggled manfully to carry it +into execution, but it was very hard work. At all events, there was no +sleep for his eyes that night; and when, just about daylight, the train +halted to wait a more seasonable hour in which to enter the town, the +thought of what he might have done with his lost money was still in +Toby's mind. + +Only once did he speak crossly to the monkey, and that was when he put +him into the cage preparatory to commencing his morning's work. Then he +said: + +"You wouldn't had to go into this place many times more if you hadn't +been so wicked, for by tomorrow night we'd been away from this circus +an' on the way to home an' Uncle Dan'l. Now you've spoiled my chance +an' your own for a good while to come, an' I hope before the day is over +you'll feel as bad about it as I do." + +It seemed to Toby as if the monkey understood just what he said to him, +for he sneaked over into one corner, away from the other monkeys, and +sat there looking very penitent and very dejected. + +Then, with a heavy heart, Toby began his day's work. + +Hard as had been Toby's lot previous to losing his money, and difficult +as it had been to bear the cruelty of Mr. Job Lord and his precious +partner, Mr. Jacobs, it was doubly hard now while this sorrow was fresh +upon him. + +Previous to this, when he had been kicked or cursed by one or the other +of the partners, Toby thought exultantly that the time was not very far +distant when he should be beyond the reach of his brutal taskmasters, +and that thought had given him strength to bear all that had been put +upon him. + +Now the time of his deliverance from this bondage seemed very far off, +and each cruel word or blow caused him the greater sorrow, because of +the thought that but for the monkey's wickedness he would have been +nearly free from that which made his life so very miserable. + +If he had looked sad and mournful before, he looked doubly so now, as he +went his dreary round of the tent, crying, "Here's your cold lemonade," +or "Fresh baked peanuts, ten cents a quart"; and each day there were +some in the audience who pitied the boy because of the misery which +showed so plainly in his face, and they gave him a few cents more than +his price for what he was selling, or gave him money without buying +anything at all, thereby aiding him to lay up something again toward +making his escape. + +Those few belonging to the circus who knew of Toby's intention to escape +tried their best to console him for the loss of his money, and that kind +hearted couple, the skeleton and his fat wife, tried to force him to +take a portion of their scanty earnings in the place of that which the +monkey had thrown away. But this Toby positively refused to do; and to +the arguments which they advanced as reasons why they should help him +along he only replied that until he could get the money by his own +exertions he would remain with Messrs. Lord and Jacobs and get along as +best he could. + +Every hour in the day the thought of what might have been if he had not +lost his money so haunted his mind that finally he resolved to make one +bold stroke and tell Mr. Job Lord that he did not want to travel with +the circus any longer. + +As yet he had not received the two dollars which had been promised him +for his two weeks' work, and another one was nearly due. If he could get +this money it might, with what he had saved again, suffice to pay his +railroad fare to Guilford; and if it would not, he resolved to accept +from the skeleton sufficient to make up the amount needed. + +He naturally shrank from the task; but the hope that he might possibly +succeed gave him the necessary amount of courage, and when he had gotten +his work done, on the third morning after he had lost his money, and Mr. +Lord appeared to be in an unusually good temper, he resolved to try the +plan. + +It was just before the dinner hour. Trade had been exceptionally good, +and Mr. Lord had even spoken in a pleasant tone to Toby when he told him +to fill up the lemonade pail with water, so that the stock might not be +disposed of too quickly and with too little profit. + +Toby poured in quite as much water as he thought the already weak +mixture could receive and retain any flavor of lemon; and then, as his +employer motioned him to add more, he mixed another quart in, secretly +wondering what it would taste like. + +"When you're mixin' lemonade for circus trade," said Mr. Lord, in such a +benign, fatherly tone that one would have found it difficult to believe +that he ever spoke harshly, "don't be afraid of water, for there's where +the profit comes in. Always have a piece of lemon peel floatin' on the +top of every glass, an' it tastes just as good to people as if it cost +twice as much." + +Toby could not agree exactly with that opinion, neither did he think +it wise to disagree, more especially since he was going to ask the very +great favor of being discharged; therefore he nodded his head gravely, +and began to stir up what it pleased Mr. Lord to call lemonade, so that +the last addition might be more thoroughly mixed with the others. + +Two or three times he attempted to ask the favor which seemed such a +great one, and each time the words stuck in his throat, until it seemed +to him that he should never succeed in getting them out. + +Finally, in his despair, he stammered out: "Don't you think you could +find another boy in this town, Mr. Lord?" + +Mr. Lord moved round sideways, in order to bring his crooked eye to bear +squarely on Toby, and then there was a long interval of silence, during +which time the boy's color rapidly came and went and his heart beat very +fast with suspense and fear. + +"Well, what if I could?" he said, at length. "Do you think that trade +is so good I could afford to keep two boys, when there isn't half work +enough for one?" + +Toby stirred the lemonade with renewed activity, as if by this process +he was making both it and his courage stronger, and said, in a low +voice, which Mr. Lord could scarcely hear: + +"I didn't think that; but you see I ought to go home, for Uncle Dan'l +will worry about me; an', besides, I don't like a circus very well." + +Again there was silence on Mr. Lord's part, and again the crooked eye +glowered down on Toby. + +"So," he said--and Toby could see that his anger was rising very +fast--"you don't like a circus very well, an' you begin to think +that your uncle Daniel will worry about you, eh? Well, I want you to +understand that it don't make any difference to me whether you like a +circus or not, and I don't care how much your uncle Daniel worries. +You mean that you want to get away from me, after I've been to all the +trouble and expense of teaching you the business?" + +Toby bent his head over the pail and stirred away as if for dear life. + +"If you think you're going to get away from here until you've paid me +for all you've eat, an' all the time I've spent on you, you're mistaken, +that's all. You've had an easy time with me--too easy, in fact--and +that's what ails you. Now you just let me hear two words more out of +your head about going away--only two more--an' I'll show you what a +whipping is. I've only been playing with you before when you thought you +were getting a whipping; but you'll find out what it means if I so much +as see a thought in your eyes about goin' away. An' don't you dare to +try to give me the slip in the night an run away; for if you do I'll +follow you an' have you arrested. Now you mind your eye in the future." + +It is impossible to say how much longer Mr. Lord might have continued +this tirade had not a member of the company--one of the principal +riders--called him to one side to speak with him. + +Poor Toby was so much confused by the angry words which had followed his +very natural and certainly very reasonable suggestion that he paid no +attention to anything around him until he heard his own name mentioned; +and then, fearing lest some new misfortune was about to befall him, he +listened intently. + +"I'm afraid you couldn't do much of anything with him," he heard Mr. +Lord say. "He's had enough of this kind of life already, so he says, an' +I expect the next thing he does will be to try and run away." + +"I'll risk his getting away from you, Job," he heard the other say; "but +of course I've got to take my chances. I'll take him in hand from eleven +to twelve each day--just your slack time of trade--and I'll not only +give you half of what he can earn in the next two years, but I'll pay +you for his time, if he gives you the slip before the season is out." + +Toby knew that they were speaking of him, but what it all meant he could +not imagine. + +"What are you going to do with him first?" Job asked. + +"Just put him right in the ring and teach him what riding is. I tell +you, Job, the boy's smart enough, and before the season's over I'll have +him so that he can do some of the bareback acts, and perhaps we'll get +some money out of him before we go into winter quarters." + +Toby understood the meaning of their conversation only too well, and he +knew that his lot, which before seemed harder than he could bear, +was about to be intensified through this Mr. Castle, of whom he had +frequently heard, and who was said to be a rival of Mr. Lord's so far as +brutality went. The two men now walked toward the large tent, and Toby +was left alone with his thoughts and two or three little boy customers, +who looked at him wonderingly and envied him because he belonged to the +circus. + +During the ride that night he told Old Ben what he had heard, +confidently expecting that that friend at least would console him; but +Ben was not the champion which he had expected. The old man, who had +been with a circus, "man and boy, nigh to forty years," did not seem to +think it any calamity that he was to be taught to ride. + +"That Mr. Castle is a little rough on boys," Old Ben said, thoughtfully; +"but it'll be a good thing for you, Toby. Just so long as you stay with +Job you won't be nothin' more 'n a candy boy; but after you know how to +ride it 'll be another thing, an' you can earn a good deal of money an' +be your own boss." + +"But I don't want to stay with the circus," whined Toby; "I don't want +to learn to ride, an' I do want to get back to Uncle Dan'l." + +"That may all be true, an' I don't dispute it," said Ben; "but you see +you didn't stay with your uncle Daniel when you had the chance, an' you +did come with the circus. You've told Job you wanted to leave, an' he +'ll be watchin' you all the time to see that you don't give him the +slip. Now what's the consequence? Why, you can't get away for a while, +anyhow, an' you'd better try to amount to something while you are here. +Perhaps after you've got so you can ride you may want to stay; an' I'll +see to it that you get all of your wages, except enough to pay Castle +for learnin' of you." + +"I sha'n't want to stay," said Toby. "I wouldn't stay if I could ride +all the horses at once an' was gettin' a hundred dollars a day." + +"But you can't ride one horse, an' you hain't gettin' but a dollar a +week, an' still I don't see any chance of your gettin' away yet awhile," +said Ben, in a matter of fact tone, as he devoted his attention again +to his horses, leaving Toby to his own sad reflections and the positive +conviction that boys who run away from home do not have a good time, +except in stories. + +The next forenoon, while Toby was deep in the excitement of selling to +a boy no larger than himself, and with just as red hair, three cents' +worth of peanuts and two sticks of candy, and while the boy was trying +to induce him to "throw in" a piece of gum, because of the quantity +purchased, Job Lord called him aside, and Toby knew that his troubles +had begun. + +"I want you to go in an' see Mr. Castle; he's goin' to show you how to +ride," said Mr. Lord, in as kindly a tone as if he were conferring some +favor on the boy. + +If Toby had dared to, he would have rebelled then and there and refused +to go; but, as he hadn't the courage for such proceeding, he walked +meekly into the tent and toward the ring. + + + + +XIV. MR. CASTLE TEACHES TOBY TO RIDE + + +When Toby got within sight of the ring he was astonished at what he saw. +A horse, with a broad wooden saddle, was being led slowly around the +ring; Mr. Castle was standing on one side, with a long whip in his hand; +and on the tent pole, which stood in the center of the ring, was a long +arm, from which dangled a leathern belt attached to a long rope that was +carried through the end of the arm and run down to the base of the pole. + +Toby knew well enough why the horse, the whip, and the man were there, +but the wooden projection from the tent pole, which looked so much like +a gallows, he could not understand at all. + +"Come, now," said Mr. Castle, cracking his whip ominously as Toby came +in sight, "why weren't you here before?" + +"Mr. Lord just sent me in," said Toby, not expecting that his excuse +would be received, for they never had been since he had arrived at the +height of his ambition by joining the circus. + +"Then I'll make Mr. Job understand that I am to have my full hour of +your time; and if I don't get it there 'll be trouble between us." + +It would have pleased Toby very well to have had Mr. Castle go out with +his long whip just then and make trouble for Mr. Lord; but Mr. Castle +had not the time to spare, because of the trouble which he was about to +make for Toby, and that he commenced on at once. + +"Well, get in here and don't waste any more time," he said, sharply. + +Toby looked around curiously for a moment, and, not understanding +exactly what he was expected to get in and do, asked, "What shall I do?" + +"Pull off your boots, coat, and vest." + +Since there was no other course than to learn to ride, Toby wisely +concluded that the best thing he could do would be to obey his new +master without question; so he began to take off his clothes with as +much alacrity as if learning to ride was the one thing upon which he had +long set his heart. + +Mr. Castle was evidently accustomed to prompt obedience, for he not only +took it as a matter of course, but endeavored to hurry Toby in the work +of undressing. + +With his desire to please, and urged by Mr. Castle's words and the +ominous shaking of his whip, Toby's preparations were soon made, and +he stood before his instructor clad only in his shirt, trousers, and +stockings. + +The horse was led around to where he stood, and when Mr. Castle held +out his hand to help him to mount Toby jumped up quickly without aid, +thereby making a good impression at the start as a willing lad. + +"Now," said the instructor, as he pulled down the leathern belt which +hung from the rope and fastened it around Toby's waist, "stand up in +the saddle, and try to keep there. You can't fall, because the rope will +hold you up, even if the horse goes out from under you; but it isn't +hard work to keep on if you mind what you are about; and if you don't +this whip will help you. Now stand up." + +Toby did as he was bid; and as the horse was led at a walk, and as +he had the long bridle to aid him in keeping his footing, he had no +difficulty in standing during the time that the horse went once around +the ring; but that was all. + +Mr. Castle seemed to think that this was preparation enough for the boy +to be able to understand how to ride, and he started the horse into a +canter. As might have been expected, Toby lost his balance, the horse +went on ahead, and he was left dangling at the end of the rope, very +much like a crab that has just been caught by the means of a pole and +line. + +Toby kicked, waved his hands, and floundered about generally, but all to +no purpose, until the horse came round again, and then he made frantic +efforts to regain his footing, which efforts were aided--or perhaps it +would be more proper to say retarded--by the long lash of Mr. Castle's +whip, that played around his legs with merciless severity. + +"Stand up! stand up!" cried his instructor, as Toby reeled first to one +side and then to the other, now standing erect in the saddle and now +dangling at the end of the rope, with the horse almost out from under +him. + +This command seemed needless, as it was exactly what Toby was trying to +do; but as it was given he struggled all the harder, until it seemed to +him that the more he tried the less did he succeed. + +And this first lesson progressed in about the same way until the hour +was over, save that now and then Mr. Castle would give him some good +advice, but oftener he would twist the long lash of the whip around the +boy's legs with such force that Toby believed the skin had been taken +entirely off. + +It may have been a relief to Mr. Castle when this first lesson was +concluded, and it certainly was to Toby, for he had had all the teaching +in horsemanship that he wanted, and he thought, with deepest sorrow, +that this would be of daily occurrence during all the time that he +remained with the circus. + +As he went out of the tent he stopped to speak with his friend the old +monkey, and his troubles seemed to have increased when he stood in front +of the cage calling, "Mr. Stubbs! Mr. Stubbs!" and the old fellow would +not even come down from off the lofty perch where he was engaged in +monkey gymnastics with several younger companions. It seemed to him, as +he afterward told Ben, "as if Mr. Stubbs had gone back on him because he +knew that he was in trouble." + +When he went toward the booth Mr. Lord looked at him around the corner +of the canvas--for it seemed to Toby that his employer could look +around a square corner with much greater ease than he could straight +ahead--with a disagreeable leer in his eye, as though he enjoyed the +misery which he knew his little clerk had just undergone. + +"Can you ride yet?" he asked, mockingly, as Toby stepped behind the +counter to attend to his regular line of business. + +Toby made no reply, for he knew that the question was only asked +sarcastically and not through any desire for information. In a few +moments Mr. Lord left him to attend to the booth alone and went into the +tent, where Toby rightly conjectured he had gone to question Mr. Castle +upon the result of the lesson just given. + +That night Old Ben asked him how he had got on while under the teaching +of Mr. Castle; and Toby, knowing that the question was asked because of +the real interest which Ben had in his welfare, replied: + +"If I was tryin' to learn how to swing round the ring, strapped to a +rope, I should say that I got along first rate; but I don't know much +about the horse, for I was only on his back a little while at a time." + +"You'll get over that soon," said Old Ben, patronizingly, as he patted +him on the back. "You remember my words, now: I say that you've got it +in you, an' if you've a mind to take hold an' try to learn you'll +come out on the top of the heap yet, an' be one of the smartest riders +they've got in this show." + +"I don't want to be a rider," said Toby, sadly; "I only want to get back +home once more, an' then you'll see how much it 'll take to get me away +again." + +"Well," said Ben, quietly, "be that as it may, while you're here the +best thing you can do is to take hold an' get ahead just as fast as you +can; it 'll make it a mighty sight easier for you while you're with the +show, an' it won't spoil any of your chances for runnin' away whenever +the time comes." + +Toby fully appreciated the truth of this remark, and he assured Ben that +he should do all in his power to profit by the instruction given, and to +please this new master who had been placed over him. + +And with this promise he lay back on the seat and went to sleep, not to +awaken until the preparations were being made for the entree into the +next town, and Mr. Lord's harsh voice had cried out his name, with no +gentle tone, several times. + +Toby's first lesson with Mr. Castle was the most pleasant one he had; +for after the boy had once been into the ring his master seemed to +expect that he could do everything which he was told to do, and when +he failed in any little particular the long lash of the whip would go +curling around his legs or arms, until the little fellow's body and +limbs were nearly covered with the blue and black stripes. + +For three lessons only was the wooden upright used to keep him from +falling; after that he was forced to ride standing erect on the broad +wooden saddle, or pad, as it is properly called; and whenever he lost +his balance and fell there was no question asked as to whether or not he +had hurt himself, but he was mercilessly cut with the whip. + +Messrs. Lord and Jacobs gained very much by comparison with Mr. Castle +in Toby's mind. He had thought that his lot could not be harder than it +was with them; but when he had experienced the pains of two or three of +Mr. Castle's lessons in horsemanship he thought that he would stay with +the candy venders all the season cheerfully rather than take six more +lessons of Mr. Castle. + +Night after night he fell asleep from the sheer exhaustion of crying, as +he had been pouring out his woes in the old monkey's ears and laying his +plans to run away. Now more than ever was he anxious to get away, +and yet each day was taking him farther from home and consequently +necessitating a larger amount of money with which to start. As Old Ben +did not give him as much sympathy as Toby thought he ought to give--for +the old man, while he would not allow Mr. Job Lord to strike the boy +if he was near, thought it a necessary portion of the education for Mr. +Castle to lash him all he had a mind to--he poured out all his troubles +in the old monkey's ears, and kept him with him from the time he ceased +work at night until he was obliged to commence again in the morning. + +The skeleton and his wife thought Toby's lot a hard one, and tried by +every means in their power to cheer the poor boy. Neither one of them +could say to Mr. Castle what they had said to Mr. Lord, for the rider +was a far different sort of a person and one whom they would not be +allowed to interfere with in any way. Therefore poor Toby was obliged +to bear his troubles and his whippings as best he might, with only the +thought to cheer him of the time when he could leave them all by running +away. + +But, despite all his troubles, Toby learned to ride faster than his +teacher had expected he would, and in three weeks he found little or no +difficulty in standing erect while his horse went around the ring at +his fastest gait. After that had been accomplished his progress was more +rapid, and he gave promise of be--coming a very good rider--a fact which +pleased both Mr. Castle and Mr. Lord very much, as they fancied that in +another year Toby would be the source of a very good income to them. + +The proprietor of the circus took considerable interest in Toby's +instruction, and promised Mr. Castle that Mademoiselle Jeannette and +Toby should do an act together in the performance just as soon as the +latter was sufficiently advanced. The boy's costume had been changed +after he could ride without falling off, and now while he was in the +ring he wore the same as that used by the regular performers. + +The little girl had, after it was announced that she and Toby were to +perform together, been an attentive observer during the hour that Toby +was under Mr. Castle's direction, and she gave him many suggestions that +were far more valuable, and quicker to be acted upon, than those given +by the teacher himself. + +"Tomorrow you two will go through the exercise together," said Mr. +Castle to Toby and Ella, at the close of one of Toby's lessons, after +he had become so skillful that he could stand with ease on the pad, and +even advanced so far that he could jump through a hoop without falling +more than twice out of three times. + +The little girl appeared highly delighted by this information, and +expressed her joy. + +"It will be real nice," she said to Toby, after Mr. Castle had left them +alone. "I can help you lots, and it won't be very long before we can do +an act all by ourselves in the performance, and then won't the people +clap their hands when we come in!" + +"It 'll be better for you tomorrow than it will for me," said Toby, +rubbing his legs sorrowfully, still feeling the sting of the whip. "You +see, Mr. Castle won't dare to whip you, an' he 'll make it all count on +me, 'cause he knows Mr. Lord likes to have him whip me." + +"But I sha'n't make any mistake," said Ella, confidently, "and so you +won't have to be whipped on my account; and while I am on the horse you +can't be whipped, for he couldn't do it without whipping me, so you see +you won't get only half as much." + +Toby brightened up a little under the influence of this argument; but +his countenance fell again as he thought that his chances for getting +away from the circus were growing less each day. + +"You see I want to get back to Uncle Dan'l an' Guilford," he said, +confidentially; "I don't want to stay here a single minute." + +Ella opened her eyes in wide astonishment as she cried: "Don't want to +stay here? Why don't you go home, then?" + +"'Cause Job Lord won't let me," said Toby, wondering if it was possible +that his little companion did not know exactly what sort of a man his +master was. + +Then he told her--after making her give him all kinds of promises, +including the ceremony of crossing her throat, that she would never tell +a single soul--that he had had many thoughts, and had formed all kinds +of plans for running away. He told her about losing his money, about his +friendship for the skeleton and the fat lady, and at last he confided in +her that he was intending to take the old monkey with him when he should +make the attempt. + +She listened with the closest attention, and when he told her that +his little hoard had now reached the sum of seven dollars and ten +cents--almost as much as he had before--she said, eagerly: "I've got +three little gold dollars in my trunk, an' you shall have them all; +they're my very own, for mamma gave them to me to do just what I wanted +to with them. But I don't see how you can take Mr. Stubbs with you, for +that would be stealing." + +"No, it wouldn't, neither," said Toby, stoutly. "Wasn't he give to me to +do just as I wanted to with? An' didn't the boss say he was all mine?" + +"Oh, I'd forgotten that," said Ella, thoughtfully. "I suppose you can +take him; but he'll be awfully in the way, won't he?" + +"No," said Toby, anxious to say a good word for his pet; "he always does +just what I want him to, an' when I tell him what I'm tryin' to do he'll +be as good as anything. But I can't take your dollars." + +"Why not?" + +"'Cause that wouldn't be right for a boy to let a girl littler than +himself help him: I'll wait till I get money enough of my own, an' then +I'll go." + +"But I want you to take my money, too; I want you to have it." + +"No, I can't take it," said Toby, shaking his head resolutely as he put +the golden temptation from him; and then, as a happy thought occurred +to him, he said, quickly: "I tell you what to do with your dollars: you +keep them till you grow up to be a woman, an' when I'm a man I'll come, +an' then we'll buy a circus of our own. I think perhaps I'd like to be +with a circus if I owned one myself. We'll have lots of money then, an' +can do just what we want to." + +This idea seemed to please the little girl, and the two began to lay +all sorts of plans for that time when they should be man and woman, have +lots of money, and be able to do just what they wanted to. + +They had been sitting on the edge of the newly made ring while they were +talking, and before they had half finished making plans for the future +one of the attendants came in to put things to order, and they were +obliged to leave their seats, she going to the hotel to get ready for +the afternoon's performance, and Toby to try to do such work as Mr. Job +had laid out for him. + +Just ten weeks from the time Toby had first joined the circus Mr. +Castle informed him and Ella that they were to appear in public on the +following day. They had been practicing daily, and Toby had become so +skillful that both Mr. Castle and Mr. Lord saw that the time had come +when he could be made to earn some money for them. + + + + +XV. TOBY'S FRIENDS PRESENT HIM WITH A COSTUME + + +During this time Toby's funds had accumulated rather slower than on the +first few days he was in the business, but he had saved eleven dollars, +and Mr. Lord had paid him five dollars of his salary, so that he had +the to him enormous sum of sixteen dollars; and he had about made up his +mind to make one effort for liberty when the news came that he was to +ride in public. + +He had, in fact, been ready to run away any time within the past week; +but, as if they had divined his intentions, both Mr. Castle and Mr. Lord +had kept a very strict watch over him, one or the other keeping him in +sight from the time he got through with his labors at night until they +saw him on the cart with Old Ben. + +"I was just gettin' ready to run away," said Toby to Ella on the day Mr. +Castle gave his decision as to their taking part in the performance, and +while they were walking out of the tent, "an' I shouldn't wonder now if +I got away tonight." + +"Oh, Toby!" exclaimed the girl, as she looked reproachfully at him, +"after all the work we've had to get ready, you won't go off and leave +me before we've had a chance to see what the folks will say when they +see us together?" + +It was impossible for Toby to feel any delight at the idea of riding in +public, and he would have been willing to have taken one of Mr. Lord's +most severe whippings if he could have escaped from it; but he and +Ella had become such firm friends, and he had conceived such a boyish +admiration for her, that he felt as if he were willing to bear almost +anything for the sake of giving her pleasure. Therefore he said, after +a few moments' reflection: "Well, I won't go tonight, anyway, even if I +have the best chance that ever was. I'll stay one day more, anyhow, an' +perhaps I'll have to stay a good many." + +"That's a nice boy," said Ella, positively, as Toby thus gave his +decision, "and I'll kiss you for it." + +Before Toby fully realized what she was about, almost before he had +understood what she said, she had put her arms around his neck and given +him a good sound kiss right on his freckled face. + +Toby was surprised, astonished, and just a little bit ashamed. He had +never been kissed by a girl before--very seldom by anyone, save the fat +lady--and he hardly knew what to do or say. He blushed until his face +was almost as red as his hair, and this color had the effect of making +his freckles stand out with startling distinctness. Then he looked +carefully around to see if anyone had seen them. + +"I never had a girl kiss me before," said Toby, hesitatingly, "an' +you see it made me feel kinder queer to have you do it out here, where +everybody could see." + +"Well, I kissed you because I like you very much and because you are +going to stay and ride with me tomorrow," she said, positively; and then +she added, slyly, "I may kiss you again, if you don't get a chance to +run away very soon." + +"I wish it wasn't for Uncle Dan'l an' the rest of the folks at home, an' +there wasn't any such men as Mr. Lord an' Mr. Castle, an' then I don't +know but I might want to stay with the circus, 'cause I like you awful +much." + +And as he spoke Toby's heart grew very tender toward the only girl +friend he had ever known. + +By this time they had reached the door of the tent, and as they stepped +outside one of the drivers told them that Mr. Treat and his wife were +very anxious to see both of them in their tent. + +"I don't believe I can go," said Toby, doubtfully, as he glanced toward +the booth, where Mr. Lord was busy in attending to customers, and +evidently waiting for Toby to relieve him, so that he could go to his +dinner; "I don't believe Mr. Lord will let me." + +"Go and ask him," said Ella, eagerly. "We won't be gone but a minute." + +Toby approached his employer with fear and trembling. He had never +before asked leave to be away from his work, even for a moment, and he +had no doubt but that his request would be refused with blows. + +"Mr. Treat wants me to come in his tent for a minute. Can I go?" he +asked, in a timid voice, and in such a low tone as to render it almost +inaudible. + +Mr. Lord looked at him for an instant, and Toby was sure that he was +making up his mind whether to kick him or catch him by the collar and +use the rubber cane on him. But he had no such intention, evidently, for +he said, in a voice unusually mild, "Yes, an' you needn't come to work +again until it's time to go into the tent." + +Toby was almost alarmed at this unusual kindness, and it puzzled him so +much that he would have forgotten he had permission to go away if Ella +had not pulled him gently by the coat. + +If he had heard a conversation between Mr. Lord and Mr. Castle that +very morning he would have understood why it was that Mr. Lord had so +suddenly become kind. Mr. Castle had told Job that the boy had really +shown himself to be a good rider, and that in order to make him more +contented with his lot, and to keep him from running away, he must +be used more kindly, and perhaps be taken from the candy business +altogether, which latter advice Mr. Lord did not look upon with favor, +because of the large sales which the boy made. + +When they reached the skeleton's tent they found, to their surprise, +that no exhibition was being given at that hour, and Ella said, with +some concern: "How queer it is that the doors are not open! I do hope +that they are not sick." + +Toby felt a strange sinking at his heart as the possibility suggested +itself that one or both of his kind friends might be ill; for they had +both been so kind and attentive to him that he had learned to love them +very dearly. + +But the fears of both the children were dispelled when they tried to get +in at the door and were met with the smiling skeleton himself, who said, +as he threw the canvas aside as far as if he were admitting his own +enormous Lilly: + +"Come in, my friends, come in. I have had the exhibition closed for +one hour, in order that I might show my appreciation of my friend Mr. +Tyler." + +Toby looked around in some alarm, fearing that Mr. Treat's friendship +was about to be displayed in one of his state dinners, which he had +learned to fear rather than enjoy. But as he saw no preparations for +dinner he breathed more freely and wondered what all this ceremony could +possibly mean. + +Neither he nor Ella was long left in doubt, for as soon as they had +entered, Mrs. Treat waddled from behind the screen which served them +as a dressing room, with a bundle in her arms, which she handed to her +husband. + +He took it and, quickly mounting the platform, leaving Ella and Toby +below, he commenced to speak, with very many flourishes of his thin +arms. + +"My friends," he began, as he looked down upon his audience of three, +who were listening in the following attitudes: Ella and Toby were +standing upon the ground at the foot of the platform, looking up with +wide open, staring eyes; and his fleshy wife was seated on a bench which +had evidently been placed in such a position below the speaker's stand +that she could hear and see all that was going on without the fatigue of +standing up, which, for one of her size, was really very hard work--"My +friends," repeated the skeleton, as he held his bundle in front of him +with one hand and gesticulated with the other, "we all of us know that +tomorrow our esteemed and worthy friend Mr. Toby Tyler makes his first +appearance in any ring, and we all of us believe that he will soon +become a bright and shining light in the profession which he is so soon +to enter." + +The speaker was here interrupted by loud applause from his wife, and he +profited by the opportunity to wipe a stray drop of perspiration +from his fleshless face. Then, as the fat lady ceased the exertion of +clapping her hands, he continued: + +"Knowing that our friend Mr. Tyler was being instructed, preparatory to +dazzling the public with his talents, my wife and I began to prepare for +him some slight testimonial of our esteem; and, being informed by +Mr. Castle some days ago of the day on which he was to make his first +appearance before the public, we were enabled to complete our little +gift in time for the great and important event." + +Here the skeleton paused to take a breath, and Toby began to grow more +uncomfortably red in the face. Such praise made him feel very awkward. + +"I hold in this bundle," continued Mr. Treat as he waved the package on +high, "a costume for our bold and worthy equestrian, and a sash to match +for his beautiful and accomplished companion. In presenting these little +tokens my wife (who has embroidered every inch of the velvet herself) +and I feel proud to know that, when the great and auspicious occasion +occurs tomorrow, the worthy Mr. Tyler will step into the ring in a +costume which we have prepared expressly for him; and thus, when he +does himself honor by his performance and earns the applause of the +multitude, he will be doing honor and doing applause for the work of our +hands--my wife Lilly and myself. Take them, my boy; and when you +array yourself in them tomorrow you will remember that the only living +skeleton, and the wonder of the nineteenth century in the shape of the +mammoth lady, are present in their works if not in their persons." + +As he finished speaking Mr. Treat handed the bundle to Toby, and then +joined in the applause which was being given by Mrs. Treat and Ella. + +Toby unrolled the package, and found that it contained a circus rider's +costume of pink tights and blue velvet trunks, collar and cuffs, +embroidered in white and plentifully spangled with silver. In addition +was a wide blue sash for Ella, embroidered to correspond with Toby's +costume. + +The little fellow was both delighted with the gift and at a loss to know +what to say in response. He looked at the costume over and over again, +and the tears of gratitude that these friends should have been so good +to him came into his eyes. He saw, however, that they were expecting him +to say something in reply, and, laying the gift on the platform, he said +to the skeleton and his wife: + +"You've been so good to me ever since I've been with the circus that I +wish I was big enough to say somethin' more than that I'm much obliged, +but I can't. One of these days, when I'm a man, I'll show you how much +I like you, an' then you won't be sorry that you was good to such a poor +little runaway boy as I am." + +Here the skeleton broke in with such loud applause and so many cries of +"Hear! hear!" that Toby grew still more confused, and forgot entirely +what he was intending to say next. + +"I want you to know how much obliged I am," he said, after much +hesitation, "an' when I wear 'em I'll ride just the best I know how, +even if I don't want to, an' you sha'n't be sorry that you gave them to +me." + +As Toby concluded he made a funny little awkward bow, and then seemed +to be trying to hide himself behind a chair from the applause which was +given so generously. + +"Bless your dear little heart!" said the fat lady, after the confusion +had somewhat subsided. "I know you will do your best, anyway, and +I'm glad to know that you're going to make your first appearance in +something that Samuel and I made for you." + +Ella was quite as well pleased with her sash as Toby was with his +costume, and thanked Mr. and Mrs. Treat in a pretty little way that made +Toby wish he could say anything half so nicely. + +The hour which the skeleton had devoted for the purpose of the +presentation and accompanying speeches having elapsed, it was necessary +that Ella and Toby should go and that the doors of the exhibition be +opened at once, in order to give any of the public an opportunity of +seeing what the placards announced as two of the greatest curiosities on +the face of the globe. + +That day, while Toby performed his arduous labors, his heart was very +light, for the evidences which the skeleton and his wife had given of +their regard for him were very gratifying. He determined that he would +do his very best to please so long as he was with the circus, and then, +when he got a chance to run away, he would do so, but not until he +had said goodby to Mr. and Mrs. Treat and thanked them again for their +interest in him. + +When he had finished his work in the tent that night Mr. Lord said to +him, as he patted him on the back in the most fatherly fashion, and as +if he had never spoken a harsh word to him, "You can't come in here to +sell candy now that you are one of the performers, my boy; an' if I +can find another boy tomorrow you won't have to work in the booth any +longer, an' your salary of a dollar a week will go on just the same, +even if you don't have anything to do but to ride." + +This was a bit of news that was as welcome to Toby as it was unexpected, +and he felt more happy then than he had for the ten weeks that he had +been traveling under Mr. Lord's cruel mastership. + +But there was one thing that night that rather damped his joy, and that +was that he noticed that Mr. Lord was unusually careful to watch him, +not even allowing him to go outside the tent without following. He +saw at once that, if he was to have a more easy time, his chances +for running away were greatly diminished, and no number of beautiful +costumes would have made him content to stay with the circus one moment +longer than was absolutely necessary. + +That night he told Old Ben the events of the day, and expressed the +hope that he might acquit himself creditably when he made his first +appearance on the following day. + +Ben sat thoughtfully for some time, and then, making all the +preparations which Toby knew so well signified a long bit of advice, he +said: "Toby, my boy, I've been with a circus, man an' boy, nigh to forty +years, an' I've seen lots of youngsters start in just as you re goin' to +start in tomorrow; but the most of them petered out, because they got to +knowin' more 'n them that learned 'em did. Now, you remember what I say, +an' you'll find it good advice: whatever business you get into, don't +think you know all about it before you've begun. Remember that you can +always learn somethin', no matter how old you are, an' keep your eyes +an' ears open, an' your tongue between your teeth, an' you'll amount to +somethin', or my name hain't Ben." + + + + +XVI. TOBY'S FIRST APPEARANCE IN THE RING + + +When the circus entered the town which had been selected as the place +where Toby was to make his debut as a circus rider the boy noticed a new +poster among the many glaring and gaudy bills which set forth the varied +and numerous attractions that were to be found under one canvas for a +trifling admission fee, and he noticed it with some degree of interest, +not thinking for a moment that it had any reference to him. + +It was printed very much as follows: + +MADEMOISELLE JEANNETTE AND MONSIEUR AJAX, + +two of the youngest equestrians in the world, will perform their +graceful, dashing, and daring act entitled + +THE TRIUMPH OF THE INNOCENTS! + +This is the first appearance of these daring young riders together since +their separation in Europe last season, and their performance in this +town will have a new and novel interest. + +See MADEMOISELLE JEANNETTE AND MONSIEUR AJAX + +"Look there!" said Toby to Ben, as he pointed out the poster, which was +printed in very large letters, with gorgeous coloring, and surmounted +by a picture of two very small people performing all kinds of impossible +feats on horseback. "They've got someone else to ride with Ella today. I +wonder who it can be?" + +Ben looked at Toby for a moment, as if to assure himself that the boy +was in earnest in asking the question, and then he relapsed into the +worst fit of silent laughing that Toby had ever seen. After he had quite +recovered he asked: "Don't you know who Monsieur Ajax is? Hain't you +never seen him?" + +"No," replied Toby, at a loss to understand what there was so very funny +in his very natural question. "I thought that I was goin' to ride with +Ella." + +"Why, that's you!" almost screamed Ben, in delight. "Monsieur Ajax means +you--didn't you know it? You don't suppose they would go to put 'Toby +Tyler' on the bills, do you? How it would look!--'Mademoiselle Jeannette +an' Monsieur Toby Tyler'!" + +Ben was off in one of his laughing spells again; and Toby sat there, +stiff and straight, hardly knowing whether to join in the mirth or to +get angry at the sport which had been made of his name. + +"I don't care," he said, at length. "I'm sure I think Toby Tyler sounds +just as well as Monsieur Ajax, an' I'm sure it fits me a good deal +better." + +"That may be," said Ben, soothingly; "but you see it wouldn't go down so +well with the public. They want furrin riders, an' they must have 'em, +even if it does spoil your name." + +Despite the fact that he did not like the new name that had been given +him, Toby could not but feel pleased at the glowing terms in which his +performance was set off; but he did not at all relish the lie that was +told about his having been with Ella in Europe, and he would have been +very much better pleased if that portion of it had been left off. + +During the forenoon he did not go near Mr. Lord nor his candy stand, for +Mr. Castle kept him and Ella busily engaged in practicing the feat which +they were to perform in the afternoon, and it was almost time for +the performance to begin before they were allowed even to go to their +dinner. + +Ella, who had performed several years, was very much more excited over +the coming debut than Toby was, and the reason why he did not show more +interest was, probably, because of his great desire to leave the circus +as soon as possible, and during that forenoon he thought very much more +of how he should get back to Guilford and Uncle Daniel than he did of +how he should get along when he stood before the audience. + +Mr. Castle assisted his pupil to dress, and when that was done to his +entire satisfaction he said, in a stern voice, "Now you can do this act +all right, and if you slip up on it and don't do it as you ought to, +I'll give you such a whipping when you come out of the ring that you'll +think Job was only fooling with you when he tried to whip you." + +Toby had been feeling reasonably cheerful before this, but these +words dispelled all his cheerful thoughts, and he was looking more +disconsolate when Old Ben came into the dressing tent. + +"All ready are you, my boy?" said the old man, in his cheeriest voice. +"Well, that's good, an' you look as nice as possible. Now remember what +I told you last night, Toby, an' go in there to do your level best an' +make a name for yourself. Come out here with me and wait for the young +lady." + +These cheering words of Ben's did Toby as much good as Mr. Castle's had +the reverse, and as he stepped out of the dressing room to the place +where the horses were being saddled Toby resolved that he would do his +very best that afternoon, if for no other reason than to please his old +friend. + +Toby was not naturally what might be called a pretty boy, for his short +red hair and his freckled face prevented any great display of beauty; +but he was a good, honest looking boy, and in his tasteful costume +looked very nice indeed--so nice that, could Mrs. Treat have seen him +just then, she would have been very proud of her handiwork and hugged +him harder than ever. + +He had been waiting but a few moments when Ella came from her dressing +room, and Toby was much pleased when he saw by the expression of her +face that she was perfectly satisfied with his appearance. + +"We'll both do just as well as we can," she whispered to him, "and I +know the people will like us and make us come back after we get through. +And if they do mamma says she'll give each one of us a gold dollar." + +She had taken hold of Toby's hand as she spoke, and her manner was so +earnest and anxious that Toby was more excited than he ever had been +about his debut; and, had he gone into the ring just at that moment, the +chances are that he would have surprised even his teacher by his riding. + +"I'll do just as well as I can," said Toby, in reply to his little +companion, "an' if we earn the dollars I'll have a hole bored in mine, +an' you shall wear it around your neck to remember me by." + +"I'll remember you without that," she whispered; "and I'll give you +mine, so that you shall have so much the more when you go to your home." + +There was no time for further conversation, for Mr. Castle entered just +then to tell them that they must go in in another moment. The horses +were all ready--a black one for Toby, and a white one for Ella--and they +stood champing their bits and pawing the earth in their impatience until +the silver bells with which they were decorated rang out quick, nervous +little chimes that accorded very well with Toby's feelings. + +Ella squeezed Toby's hand as they stood waiting for the curtain to be +raised that they might enter, and he had just time to return it when +the signal was given, and almost before he was aware of it they were +standing in the ring, kissing their hands to the crowds that packed the +enormous tent to its utmost capacity. + +Thanks to the false announcement about the separation of the children in +Europe and their reunion in this particular town, the applause was long +and loud, and before it had died away Toby had time to recover a little +from the queer feeling which this sea of heads gave him. + +He had never seen such a crowd before, except as he had seen them as he +walked around at the foot of the seats, and then they had simply looked +like so many human beings; but as he saw them now from the ring they +appeared like strange rows of heads without bodies, and he had hard work +to keep from running back behind the curtain whence he had come. + +Mr. Castle acted as the ringmaster this time, and after he had +introduced them--very much after the fashion of the posters--and the +clown had repeated some funny joke, the horses were led in and they were +assisted to mount. + +"Don't mind the people at all," said Mr. Castle, in a low voice, "but +ride just as if you were alone here with me." + +The music struck up, the horses cantered around the ring, and Toby had +really started as a circus rider. + +"Remember," said Ella to him, in a low tone, just as the horses started, +"you told me that you would ride just as well as you could, and we must +earn the dollars mamma promised." + +It seemed to Toby at first as if he could not stand up, but by the time +they had ridden around the ring once, and Ella had again cautioned him +against making any mistake, for the sake of the money which they were +going to earn, he was calm and collected enough to carry out his part of +the "act" as well as if he had been simply taking a lesson. + +The act consisted in their riding side by side, jumping over banners and +through hoops covered with paper, and then the most difficult portion +began. + +The saddles, were taken off the horses, and they were to ride first on +one horse and then on the other, until they concluded their performance +by riding twice around the ring side by side, standing on their horses, +each one with a hand on the other's shoulder. + +All this was successfully accomplished without a single error, and when +they rode out of the ring the applause was so great as to leave no doubt +but that they would be recalled and thus earn the promised money. + +In fact, they had hardly got inside the curtain when one of the +attendants called to them, and before they had time even to speak to +each other they were in the ring again, repeating the last portion of +their act. + +When they came out of the ring for the second time they found Old Ben, +the skeleton, the fat lady, and Mr. Job Lord waiting to welcome them; +but before anyone could say a word Ella had stood on tiptoe again and +given Toby just such another kiss as she did when he told her that he +would surely stay long enough to appear in the ring with her once. + +"That's because you rode so well and helped me so much," she said, as +she saw Toby's cheeks growing a fiery red; and then she turned to those +who were waiting to greet her. + +Mrs. Treat took her in her enormous arms, and, having kissed her, put +her down quickly, and clasped Toby as if he had been a very small walnut +and her arms a very large pair of nutcrackers. + +"Bless the boy!" she exclaimed, as she kissed him again and again with +an energy and force that made her kisses sound like the crack of the +whip and caused the horses to stamp in affright. "I knew he'd amount +to something one of these days, an' Samuel an' I had to come out, when +business was dull, just to see how he got along." + +It was some time before she would unloose him from her motherly embrace, +and when she did the skeleton grasped him by the hand and said, in the +most pompous and affected manner: + +"Mr. Tyler, we're proud of you, and when we saw that costume of yours, +that my Lilly embroidered with her own hands, we was both proud of it +and what it contained. You're a great rider, my boy, a great rider, and +you 'll stand at the head of the profession some day, if you only stick +to it." + +"Thank you, sir," was all Toby had time to say before Old Ben had him by +the hand, and the skeleton was pouring out his congratulations in little +Miss Ella's ear. + +"Toby, my boy, you did well, an' now you'll amount to something, if you +only remember what I told you last night," said Ben, as he looked upon +the boy whom he had come to think of as his protege, with pride. "I +never seen anybody of your age do any better; an' now, instead of bein' +only a candy peddler, you're one of the stars of the show." + +"Thank you, Ben," was all that Toby could say, for he knew that his old +friend meant every word that he said, and it pleased him so much that he +could say no more than "Thank you" in reply. + +"I feel as if your triumph was mine," said Mr. Lord, looking benignly +at Toby from out his crooked eye, and assuming the most fatherly tone at +his command; "I have learned to look upon you almost as my own son, and +your success is very gratifying to me." + +Toby was not at all flattered by this last praise. If he had never seen +Mr. Lord before, he might, and probably would, have been deceived by +his words; but he had seen him too often, and under too many painful +circumstances, to be at all swindled by his words. + +Toby was very much pleased with his success and by the praise he +received from all, and when the proprietor of the circus came along, +patted him on the head, and told him that he rode very nicely, he was +quite happy, until he chanced to see the greedy twinkle in Mr. Lord's +eye, and then he knew that all this success and all this praise were +only binding him faster to the show which he was so anxious to escape +from; his pleasure vanished very quickly, and in its stead came a +bitter, homesick feeling which no amount of praise could banish. + +It was Old Ben who helped him to undress after the skeleton and the +fat lady had gone to their tent and Ella had gone to dress for her +appearance with her mother, for now she was obliged to ride twice at +each performance. When Toby was in ordinary clothes again Ben said: + +"Now that you're one of the performers, Toby, you won't have to sell +candy any more, an' you'll have the most of your time to yourself, so +let's you an' I go out an' see the town." + +"Don't you s'pose Mr. Lord expects me to go to work for him again +today?" + +"An' s'posin' he does?" said Ben, with a chuckle. "You don't s'pose the +boss would let any one that rides in the ring stand behind Job Lord's +counter, do you? You can do just as you have a mind to, my boy, an' I +say to you, let's go out an' see the town. What do you say to it?" + +"I'd like to go first rate, if I dared to," replied Toby, thinking of +the many whippings he had received for far less than that which Ben now +proposed he should do. + +"Oh, I'll take care that Job don't bother you, so come along"; and +Ben started out of the tent, and Toby followed, feeling considerably +frightened at this first act of disobedience against his old master. + + + + + +XVII. OFF FOR HOME! + + +During this walk Toby learned many things that were of importance to +him, so far as his plan for running away was concerned. In the first +place, he gleaned from the railway posters that were stuck up in the +hotel to which they went that he could buy a ticket for Guilford for +seven dollars, and also that, by going back to the town from which they +had come, he could go to Guilford by steamer for five dollars. + +By returning to this last town--and Toby calculated that the fare on +the stage back there could not be more than a dollar--he would have ten +dollars left, and that surely ought to be sufficient to buy food enough +for two days for the most hungry boy that ever lived. + +When they returned to the circus grounds the performance was over, and +Mr. Lord in the midst of the brisk trade which he usually had after +the afternoon performance, and yet, so far from scolding Toby for going +away, he actually smiled and bowed at him as he saw him go by with Ben. + +"See there, Toby," said the old driver to the boy, as he gave him a +vigorous poke in the ribs and then went off into one of his dreadful +laughing spells--"see what it is to be a performer an' not workin' for +such an old fossil as Job is! He'll be so sweet to you now that sugar +won't melt in his mouth, an' there's no chance of his ever attemptin' to +whip you again." + +Toby made no reply, for he was too busily engaged thinking of something +which had just come into his mind to know that his friend had spoken. + +But as Old Ben hardly knew whether the boy had answered him or not, +owing to his being obliged to struggle with his breath lest he should +lose it in the second laughing spell that attacked him, the boy's +thoughtfulness was not particularly noticed. + +Toby walked around the show grounds for a little while with his old +friend, and then the two went to supper, where Toby performed quite as +great wonders in the way of eating as he had in the afternoon by riding. + +As soon as the supper was over he quietly slipped away from Old Ben, and +at once paid a visit to Mr. and Mrs. Treat, whom he found cozily engaged +in their supper behind the screen. + +They welcomed Toby most cordially, and, despite his assertions that he +had just finished a very hearty meal, the fat lady made him sit down to +the box which served as table, and insisted on his trying some of her +doughnuts. + +Under all these pressing attentions it was some time before Toby found +a chance to say that which he had come to say, and when he did he was +almost at a loss how to proceed; but at last he commenced by starting +abruptly on his subject with the words, "I've made up my mind to leave +tonight." + +"Leave tonight?" repeated the skeleton, inquiringly, not for a moment +believing that Toby could think of running away after the brilliant +success he had just made. "What do you mean, Toby?" + +"Why, you know that I've been wantin' to get away from the circus," +said Toby, a little impatient that his friend should be so wonderfully +stupid, "an' I think that I'll have as good a chance now as ever I +shall, so I'm goin' to try it." + +"Bless us!" exclaimed the fat lady, in a gasping way. "You don't mean +to say that you're goin' off just when you've started in the business +so well? I thought you'd want to stay after you'd been so well received +this afternoon." + +"No," said Toby--and one quick little sob popped right up from his heart +and out before he was aware of it--"I learned to ride because I had to, +but I never give up runnin' away. I must see Uncle Dan'l, an' tell him +how sorry I am for what I did; an' if he won't have anything to say to +me I'll come back; but if he'll let me I'll stay there, an' I'll be so +good that by 'n' by he'll forget that I run off an' left him without +sayin' a word." + +There was such a touch of sorrow in his tones, so much pathos in his +way of speaking, that good Mrs. Treat's heart was touched at once; and +putting her arms around the little fellow, as if to shield him from some +harm, she said, tenderly: "And so you shall go, Toby, my boy; but if +you ever want a home or anybody to love you come right here to us, and +you'll never be sorry. So long as Sam keeps thin and I fat enough to +draw the public you never need say that you're homeless, for nothing +would please us better than to have you come to live with us." + +For reply Toby raised his head and kissed her on the cheek, a proceeding +which caused her to squeeze him harder than ever. + +During this conversation the skeleton had remained very thoughtful. +After a moment or two he got up from his seat, went outside the tent, +and presently returned with a quantity of silver ten cent pieces in his +hand. + +"Here, Toby," he said--and it was to be seen that he was really too +much affected even to attempt one of his speeches--"it's right that you +should go, for I've known what it is to feel just as you do. What Lilly +said about your having a home with us I say, an' here's five dollars +that I want you to take to help you along." + +At first Toby stoutly refused to take the money; but they both insisted +to such a degree that he was actually forced to, and then he stood up to +go. + +"I'm goin' to try to slip off after Job packs up the outside booth, if I +can," he said, "an' it was to say goodby that I come around here." + +Again Mrs. Treat took the boy in her arms, as if it were one of her own +children who was leaving her, and as she stroked his hair back from his +forehead she said: "Don't forget us, Toby, even if you never do see us +again; try an' remember how much we cared for you, an' how much comfort +you're taking away from us when you go; for it was a comfort to see you +around, even if you wasn't with us very much. Don't forget us, Toby, an' +if you ever get the chance, come an' see us. Goodby, Toby, goodby." And +the kind hearted woman kissed him again and again, and then turned her +back resolutely upon him, lest it should be bad luck to him if she again +saw him after saying goodby. + +The skeleton's parting was not quite so demonstrative. He clasped Toby's +hand with one set of his fleshless fingers, while with the other he +wiped one or two suspicious looking drops of moisture from his eyes as +he said: "I hope you'll get along all right, my boy, and I believe you +will. You will get home to Uncle Daniel and be happier than ever, for +now you know what it is to be entirely without a home. Be a good boy, +mind your uncle, go to school, and one of these days you'll make a good +man. Goodby, my boy." + +The tears were now streaming down Toby's face very rapidly; he had +not known, in his anxiety to get home, how very much he cared for this +strangely assorted couple, and now it made him feel very miserable and +wretched that he was going to leave them. He tried to say something +more, but the tears choked his utterance and he left the tent quickly to +prevent himself from breaking down entirely. + +In order that his grief might not be noticed and the cause of it +suspected, Toby went out behind the tent, and, sitting there on a stone, +he gave way to the tears which he could no longer control. + +While he was thus engaged, heeding nothing which passed around him, he +was startled by a cheery voice which cried: "Halloo! down in the dumps +again? What is the matter now, my bold equestrian?" + +Looking up, he saw Ben standing before him, and he wiped his eyes +hastily, for here was another from whom he must part and to whom a +goodby must be spoken. + +Looking around to make sure that no one was within hearing, he went +up very close to the old driver and said, in almost a whisper: "I was +feelin' bad 'cause I just come from Mr. and Mrs. Treat, an' I've been +sayin' goodby to them. I'm goin' to run away tonight." + +Ben looked at him for a moment, as if he doubted whether the boy knew +exactly what he was talking about, and then said, "So you still want to +go home, do you?" + +"Oh yes, Ben, so much," was the reply, in a tone which expressed how +dear to him was the thought of being in his old home once more. + +"All right, my boy; I won't say one word ag'in' it, though it do seem +too bad, after you've turned out to be such a good rider," said the old +man, thoughtfully. "It's better for you, I know; for a circus hain't no +place for a boy, even if he wants to stay, an' I can't say but I'm glad +you're still determined to go." + +Toby felt relieved at the tone of this leave taking. He had feared that +Old Ben, who thought a circus rider was almost on the topmost round of +fortune's ladder, would have urged him to stay, since he had made his +debut in the ring, and he was almost afraid that he might take some +steps to prevent his going. + +"I wanted to say goodby now," said Toby, in a choking voice, "'cause +perhaps I sha'n't see you again. + +"Goodby, my boy," said Ben as he took the boy's hand in his. "Don't +forget this experience you've had in runnin' away; an if ever the time +comes that you feel as if you wanted to know that you had a friend, +think of Old Ben, an' remember that his heart beats just as warm for you +as if he was your father. Goodby, my boy, goodby, an' may the good God +bless you!" + +"Goodby, Ben," said Toby; and then, as the old driver turned and walked +away, wiping something from his eye with the cuff of his sleeve, Toby +gave full vent to his tears and wondered why it was that he was such a +miserable little wretch. + +There was one more goodby to be said, and that Toby dreaded more than +all the others. It was to Ella. He knew that she would feel badly to +have him go, because she liked to ride the act with him that gave them +such applause, and he felt certain that she would urge him to stay. + +Just then the thought of another of his friends--one who had not yet +been warned of what very important matter was to occur--came to his +mind, and he hastened toward the old monkey's cage. His pet was busily +engaged in playing with some of the younger members of his family, and +for some moments could not be induced to come to the bars of the cage. + +At last, however, Toby did succeed in coaxing him forward, and then, +taking him by the paw and drawing him as near as possible, Toby +whispered, "We're goin' to run away tonight, Mr. Stubbs, an' I want you +to be all ready to go the minute I come for you." + +The old monkey winked both eyes violently, and then showed his teeth to +such an extent that Toby thought he was laughing at the prospect, and +he said, a little severely, "If you had as many friends as I have got +in the circus you wouldn't laugh when you was goin' to leave them. Of +course I've got to go, an' I want to go; but it makes me feel bad to +leave the skeleton, an' the fat woman, an Old Ben, an' little Ella. But +I mustn't stand here. You be ready when I come for you, an' by mornin' +we'll be so far off that Mr. Lord nor Mr. Castle can't catch us." + +The old monkey went toward his companions, as if he were in high glee at +the trip before him, and Toby went into the dressing tent to prepare for +the evening's performance--which was about to commence. + +It appeared to the boy as if everyone was unusually kind to him +that night, and, feeling sad at leaving those in the circus who had +befriended him, Toby was unusually attentive to everyone around him. He +ran on some trifling errand for one, helped another in his dressing, +and in a dozen kind ways seemed as if trying to atone for leaving them +secretly. + +When the time came for him to go into the ring and he met Ella, bright +and happy at the thought of riding with him and repeating her triumphs +of the afternoon, nothing save the thought of how wicked he had been to +run away from good old Uncle Daniel, and a desire to right that wrong in +some way, prevented him from giving up his plan of going back. + +The little girl observed his sadness, and she whispered, "Has anyone +been whipping you, Toby?" + +Toby shook his head. He had thought that he would tell her what he was +about to do just before they went into the ring, but her kind words +seemed to make that impossible, and he had said nothing when the blare +of the trumpets, the noisy demonstrations of the audience, and the +announcement of the clown that the wonderful children riders were now +about to appear, ushered them into the ring. + +If Toby had performed well in the afternoon, he accomplished wonders +on this evening, and they were called back into the ring, not once, but +twice; and when finally they were allowed to retire everyone behind the +curtain overwhelmed them with praise. + +Ella was so profuse with her kind words, her admiration for what Toby +had done, and so delighted at the idea that they were to ride together, +that even then the boy could not tell her what he was going to do, but +went into his dressing room, resolving that he would tell her all when +they both had finished dressing. + +Toby made as small a parcel as possible of the costume which Mr. and +Mrs. Treat had given him--for he determined that he would take it with +him--and, putting it under his coat, went out to wait for Ella. As she +did not come out as soon as he expected, he asked someone to tell her +that he wanted to see her, and he thought to himself that when she did +come she would be in a hurry and could not stop long enough to make any +very lengthy objections to his leaving. + +But she did not come at all--her mother sent out word that Toby could +not see her until after the performance was over, owing to the fact +that it was now nearly time for her to go into the ring, and she was not +dressed yet. + +Toby was terribly disappointed. He knew that it would not be safe for +him to wait until the close of the performance if he were intending to +run away that night, and he felt that he could not go until he had said +a few last words to her. + +He was in a great perplexity, until the thought came to him that he +could write a goodby to her, and by this means any unpleasant discussion +would be avoided. + +After some little difficulty he procured a small piece of not very clean +paper and a very short bit of lead pencil, and, using the top of one of +the wagons, as he sat on the seat, for a desk, he indited the following +epistle: + +deaR ella I Am goin to Run away two night, & i want two say good by to +yu & your mother. i am Small & unkle Danil says i dont mount two much, +but i am old enuf two know that you have bin good two me, & when i Am +a man i will buy you a whole cirkus, and we Will ride together. dont +forgit me & i wont yu in haste + +Toby Tyler. + +Toby had no envelope in which to seal this precious letter, but he felt +that it would not be seen by prying eyes and would safely reach its +destination if he intrusted it to Old Ben. + +It did not take him many moments to find the old driver, and he said, as +he handed him the letter, "I didn't see Ella to tell her I was goin', so +I wrote this letter, an' I want to know if you will give it to her?" + +"Of course I will. But see here, Toby"--and Ben caught him by the sleeve +and led him aside where he would not be overheard--"have you got enough +money to take you home? for if you haven't I can let you have some." And +Ben plunged his hand into his capacious pocket, as if he was about to +withdraw from there the entire United States Treasury. + +Toby assured him that he had sufficient for all his wants; but the old +man would not be satisfied until he had seen for himself, and then, +taking Toby's hand again, he said: "Now, my boy, it won't do for you to +stay around here any longer. Buy something to eat before you start, +an' go into the woods for a day or two before you take the train or +steamboat. + +"You're too big a prize for Job or Castle to let you go without a word, +an' they'll try their level best to find you. Be careful, now, for if +they should catch you, goodby any more chances to get away. There"--and +here Ben suddenly lifted him high from the ground and kissed him--"now +get away as fast as you can." + +Toby pressed the old man's hand affectionately, and then, without +trusting himself to speak, walked swiftly out toward the entrance. + +He resolved to take Ben's advice and go into the woods for a short time, +and therefore he must buy some provisions before he started. + +As he passed the monkeys' cage he saw his pet sitting near the bars, +and he stopped long enough to whisper, "I'll be back in ten minutes, Mr. +Stubbs, an' you be all ready then." + +Then he went on, and just as he got near the entrance one of the men +told him that Mrs. Treat wished to see him. + +Toby could hardly afford to spare the time just then, but he would +probably have obeyed the summons if he had known that by so doing he +would be caught, and he ran as fast as his little legs would carry him +toward the skeleton's tent. + +The exhibition was open, and both the skeleton, and his wife were on +the platform when Toby entered; but he crept around at the back and up +behind Mrs. Treat's chair, telling her as he did so that he had just +received her message and that he must hurry right back, for every moment +was important then to him. + +"I put up a nice lunch for you," she said as she kissed him, "and you'll +find it on the top of the biggest trunk. Now go; and if my wishes are of +any good to you, you will get to your uncle Daniel's house without any +trouble. Goodby again, little one." + +Toby did not dare to trust himself any longer where everyone was so kind +to him. He slipped down from the platform as quickly as possible, found +the bundle--and a good sized one it was, too--without any difficulty, +and went back to the monkeys' cage. + +As orders had been given by the proprietor of the circus that the boy +should do as he had a mind to with the monkey, he called Mr. Stubbs; and +as he was in the custom of taking him with him at night, no one thought +that it was anything strange that he should take him from the cage now. + +Mr. Lord or Mr. Castle might possibly have thought it queer had either +of them seen the two bundles which Toby carried, but, fortunately for +the boy's scheme, they both believed that he was in the dressing tent, +and consequently thought that he was perfectly safe. + +Toby's hand shook so that he could hardly undo the fastening of the +cage, and when he attempted to call the monkey to him his voice sounded +so strange and husky that it startled him. + +The old monkey seemed to prefer sleeping with Toby rather than with +those of his kind in the cage; and as the boy took him with him almost +every night, he came on this particular occasion as soon as Toby called, +regardless of the strange sound of his master's voice. + +With his bundles under his arm and the monkey on his shoulder, with both +paws tightly clasped around his neck, Toby made his way out of the tent +with beating heart and bated breath. + +Neither Mr. Lord, Castle, nor Jacobs were in sight, and everything +seemed favorable for his flight. During the afternoon he had carefully +noted the direction of the woods, and he started swiftly toward them +now, stopping only long enough, as he was well clear of the tents, to +say, in a whisper: + +"Goodby, Mr. Treat, an' Mrs. Treat, an' Ella, an' Ben. Sometime, when +I'm a man, I'll come back an' bring you lots of nice things, an' I'll +never forget you--never. When I have a chance to be good to some little +boy that felt as bad as I did I'll do it, an' tell him that it was you +did it. Goodby." + +Then, turning around, he ran toward the woods as swiftly as if his +escape had been discovered and the entire company were in pursuit. + + + + +XVIII. A DAY OF FREEDOM + + +Toby ran at the top of his speed over the rough road; and the monkey, +jolted from one side to the other, clutched his paws more tightly around +the boy's neck, looking around into his face as if to ask what was the +meaning of this very singular proceeding. + +When he was so very nearly breathless as to be able to run no more, but +was forced to walk, Toby looked behind him, and there he could see the +bright lights of the circus and hear the strains of the music as he had +heard them on the night when he was getting ready to run away from +Uncle Daniel; and those very sounds, which reminded him forcibly of how +ungrateful he had been to the old man who had cared for him when there +was no one else in the world who would do so, made it more easy for him +to leave those behind who had been so kind to him when he stood so much +in need of kindness. + +"We are goin' home, Mr. Stubbs!" he said, exultantly, to the +monkey--"home to Uncle Dan'l an' the boys; an' won't you have a good +time when we get there! You can run all over the barn, an' up in the +trees, an' do just what you want to, an' there'll be plenty of fellows +to play with you. You don't know half how good a place Guilford is, Mr. +Stubbs." + +The monkey chattered away as if he were anticipating lots of fun on his +arrival at Toby's home, and the boy chattered back, his spirits rising +at every step which took him farther away from the collection of tents +where he had spent so many wretched hours. + +A brisk walk of half an hour sufficed to take Toby to the woods, and +after some little search he found a thick clump of bushes in which he +concluded he could sleep without the risk of being seen by anyone who +might pass that way before he should be awake in the morning. + +He had not much choice in the way of a bed, for it was so dark in the +woods that it was impossible to collect moss or leaves to make a soft +resting place, and the few leaves and pine boughs which he did gather +made his place for sleeping but very little softer. + +But during the ten weeks that Toby had been with the circus his bed had +seldom been anything softer than the seat of the wagon, and it troubled +him very little that he was to sleep with nothing but a few leaves +between himself and the earth. + +Using the bundle in which was his riding costume for a pillow, and +placing the lunch Mrs. Treat had given him near by, where the monkey +could not get at it conveniently, he cuddled Mr. Stubbs up to his bosom +and lay down to sleep. + +"Mr. Lord won't wake us up in the mornin' an' swear at us for not +washin' the tumblers," said Toby, in a tone of satisfaction, to the +monkey; "an' we won't have to go into the tent tomorrow an' sell sick +lemonade an' poor peanuts. But"--and here his tone changed to one of +sorrow--"there'll be some there that 'll be sorry not to see us in the +mornin', Mr. Stubbs, though they'll be glad to know that we got away all +right. But won't Mr. Lord swear, an' won't Mr. Castle crack his whip, +when they come to look round for us in the mornin' an' find that we +hain't there!" + +The reply which the monkey made to this was to nestle his head closer +under Toby's coat, and to show, in the most decided manner, that he was +ready to go to sleep. + +And Toby was quite as ready to go to sleep as he was. He had worked +hard that day, but the excitement of escaping had prevented him from +realizing his fatigue until after he had lain down; and almost before he +had got through congratulating himself upon the ease with which he had +gotten free both he and the monkey were as sound asleep as if they had +been tucked up in the softest bed that was ever made. + +Toby's very weariness was a friend to him that night, for it prevented +him from waking; which, if he had done so, might have been unpleasant +when he fully realized that he was all alone in the forest, and the +sounds that are always heard in the woods might have frightened him just +the least bit. + +The sun was shining directly in his face when Toby awoke on the +following morning, and the old monkey was still snugly nestled under his +coat. He sat up rather dazed at first, and then, as he fully realized +that he was actually free from all that had made his life such a sad and +hard one for so many weeks, he shouted aloud, reveling in his freedom. + +The monkey, awakened by Toby's cries, started from his sleep in affright +and jumped into the nearest tree, only to chatter, jump, and swing from +the boughs when he saw that there was nothing very unusual going on, +save that he and Toby were out in the woods again, where they could have +no end of a good time and do just as they liked. + +After a few moments spent in a short jubilee at their escape Toby took +the monkey on his shoulder and the bundles under his arm again, and went +cautiously out to the edge of the thicket, where he could form some idea +as to whether or no they were pursued. + +He had entered the woods at the brow of a small hill when he had fled +so hastily on the previous evening, and, looking down, he could see the +spot whereon the tents of the circus had been pitched, but not a sign +of them was now visible. He could see a number of people walking around, +and he fancied that they looked up every now and then to where he stood +concealed by the foliage. + +This gave him no little uneasiness, for he feared that Mr. Lord or Mr. +Castle might be among the number, and he believed that they would begin +a search for him at once, and that the spot where their attention would +first be drawn was exactly where he was then standing. + +"This won't do, Mr. Stubbs," he said, as he pushed the monkey higher +up on his shoulder and started into the thickest part of the woods; "we +must get out of this place an' go farther down, where we can hide till +tomorrow mornin'. Besides, we must find some water where we can wash our +faces." + +The old monkey would hardly have been troubled if they had not got their +faces washed for the next month to come; but he grinned and talked as +Toby trudged along, attempting to catch hold of the leaves as they were +passed, and in various other ways impeding his master's progress, until +Toby was obliged to give him a most severe scolding in order to make him +behave himself in anything like a decent manner. + +At last, after fully half an hour's rapid walking, Toby found just +the place he wanted in which to pass the time he concluded it would be +necessary to spend before he dare venture out to start for home. + +It was a little valley entirely filled by trees, which grew so thickly, +save in one little spot, as to make it almost impossible to walk +through. The one clear spot was not more than ten feet square, but it +was just at the edge of a swiftly running brook; and a more beautiful +or convenient place for a boy and a monkey to stop who had no tent, nor +means to build one, could not well be imagined. + +Toby's first act was to wash his face, and he tried to make the monkey +do the same; but Mr. Stubbs had no idea of doing any such foolish thing. +He would come down close to the edge of the water and look in; but the +moment that Toby tried to make him go in he would rush back among the +trees, climb out on some slender bough, and then swing himself down by +the tail, and chatter away as if making sport of his young master for +thinking that he would be so foolish as to soil his face with water. + +After Toby had made his toilet he unfastened the bundle which the fat +lady had given him, for the purpose of having breakfast. As much of an +eater as Toby was, he could not but be surprised at the quantity of food +which Mrs. Treat called a lunch. There were two whole pies and half of +another, as many as two dozen doughnuts, several large pieces of cheese, +six sandwiches, with a plentiful amount of meat, half a dozen biscuits, +nicely buttered, and a large piece of cake. + +The monkey had come down from the tree as soon as he saw Toby untying +the bundle, and there was quite as much pleasure depicted on his face, +when he saw the good things that were spread out before him, as there +was on Toby's; and he showed his thankfulness at Mrs. Treat's foresight +by suddenly snatching one of the doughnuts and running with it up the +tree, where he knew Toby could not follow. + +"Now look here, Mr. Stubbs!" said Toby, sternly, "you can have all you +want to eat, but you must take it in a decent way, an' not go to cuttin' +up any such shines as that." + +And after giving this command--which, by the way, was obeyed just about +as well as it was understood--Toby devoted his time to his breakfast, +and he reduced the amount of eatables very considerably before he had +finished. + +Toby cleared off his table by gathering the food together and putting it +back into the paper as well as possible, and then he sat down to think +over the situation and to decide what he had better do. + +He felt rather nervous about venturing out when it was possible for Mr. +Lord or Mr. Castle to get hold of him again; and as the weather was +yet warm during the night, his camping place everything that could be +desired, and the stock of food likely to hold out, he concluded that +he had better remain there for two days at least, and then he would be +reasonably sure that if either of the men whom he so dreaded to see had +remained behind for the purpose of catching him, he would have got tired +out and gone on. + +This point decided upon, the next was to try to fix up something soft +for a bed. He had his pocketknife with him, and in his little valley +were pine and hemlock trees in abundance. From the tips of their +branches he knew that he could make a bed as soft and fragrant as any +that could be thought of, and he set to work at once, while Mr. Stubbs +continued his antics above his head. + +After about two hours' steady work he had cut enough of the tender +branches to make himself a bed into which he and the monkey could burrow +and sleep as comfortably as if they were in the softest bed in Uncle +Daniel's house. + +When Toby first began to cut the boughs he had an idea that he might +possibly make some sort of a hut; but the two hours' work had blistered +his hands, and he was perfectly ready to sit down and rest, without the +slightest desire for any other kind of a hut than that formed by the +trees themselves. + +Toby imagined that in that beautiful place he could, with the monkey, +stay contented for any number of days; but after he had rested a time, +played with his pet a little, and eaten just a trifle more of the lunch, +the time passed so slowly that he soon made up his mind to run the risk +of meeting Mr. Lord or Mr. Castle again by going out of the woods the +first thing the next morning. + +Very many times before the sun set that day was Toby tempted to run +the risk that night, for the sake of the change, if no more; but as he +thought the matter over he saw how dangerous such a course would be and +he forced himself to wait. + +That night he did not sleep as soundly as on the previous one, for the +very good reason that he was not as tired. He awoke several times; and +the noise of the night birds alarmed him to such an extent that he was +obliged to awaken the old monkey for company. + +But the night passed despite his fears, as all nights will, whether +a boy is out in the woods alone or tucked up in his own little bed at +home. In the morning Toby made all possible haste to get away, for each +moment that he stayed now made him more impatient to be moving toward +home. + +He washed himself as quickly as possible, ate his breakfast with the +most unseemly haste, and, taking up his bundles and the monkey, once +more started, as he supposed, in the direction from which he had entered +the woods. + +Toby walked briskly along, in the best possible spirits, for his running +away was now an accomplished fact, and he was going toward Uncle Daniel +and home just as fast as possible. He sang "Old Hundred" through five +or six times by way of showing his happiness. It is quite likely that +he would have sung something a little more lively had he known anything +else; but "Old Hundred" was the extent of his musical education, and he +kept repeating that, which was quite as satisfactory as if he had been +able to go through with every opera that was ever written. + +The monkey would jump from his shoulder into the branches above, run +along on the trees for a short distance, and then wait until Toby came +along, when he would drop down on his shoulder suddenly, and in every +other way of displaying monkey delight he showed that he was just as +happy as it was possible. + +Toby trudged on in this contented way for nearly an hour, and every +moment expected to step out to the edge of the woods, where he could see +houses and men once more. But instead of doing so the forest seemed +to grow more dense, and nothing betokened his approach to the village. +There was a great fear came into Toby's heart just then, and for a +moment he halted in helpless perplexity. His lips began to quiver, his +face grew white, and his hand trembled so that the old monkey took hold +of one of his fingers and looked at it wonderingly. + + + + +XIX. MR STUBBS'S MISCHIEF, AND HIS SAD FATE + + +Toby had begun to realize that he was lost in the woods, and the thought +was sufficient to cause alarm in the mind of one much older than the +boy. He said to himself that he would keep on in the direction he was +then traveling for fifteen minutes; and as he had no means of computing +the time he sat down on a log, took out the bit of pencil with which he +had written the letter to Ella, and multiplied sixty by fifteen. He +knew that there were sixty seconds to the minute, and that he could +ordinarily count one to each second; therefore, when he learned that +there were nine hundred seconds in fifteen minutes he resolved to walk +as nearly straight ahead as possible until he should have counted that +number. + +He walked on, counting as regularly as he could, and thought to himself +that he never before realized how long fifteen minutes were. + +It really seemed to him that an hour had passed before he finished +counting, and then when he stopped there were no more signs that he was +near a clearing than there had been before he started. + +"Ah, Mr. Stubbs, we're lost! we're lost!" he cried, as he laid his cheek +on the monkey's head and gave way to the lonesome grief that came over +him. "What shall we do? Perhaps we won't ever find our way out, but will +die here, an' then Uncle Dan'l won't ever know how sorry I was that I +ran away." + +Then Toby lay right down on the ground and cried so hard that the monkey +acted as if it were frightened, and tried to turn the boy's face over, +and finally leaned down and licked Toby's ear. + +This little act, which seemed so much like a kiss, caused Toby to feel +no small amount of comfort, and he sat up again, took the monkey in his +arms, and began seriously to discuss some definite plan of action. + +"It won't do to keep on the way we've been goin', Mr. Stubbs," said +Toby, as he looked full in his pet's face--and the old monkey sat +as still and looked as grave as it was possible for him to look and +sit--"for we must be going into the woods deeper. Let's start off this +way"--and Toby pointed at right angles with the course they had been +pursuing--"an' keep right on that way till we come to something, or till +we drop right down an' die." + +It is fair to presume that the old monkey agreed to Toby's plan; for +although he said nothing in favor of it, he certainly made no objections +to it, which to Toby was the same as if his companion had assented to it +in the plainest English. + +Both the bundles and the monkey were rather a heavy load for a small boy +like Toby to carry; but he clung manfully to them, walked resolutely on, +without looking to the right or to the left, glad when the old monkey +would take a run among the trees, for then he would be relieved of his +weight, and glad when he returned, for then he had his company, and that +repaid him for any labor which he might have to perform. + +Toby was in a hard plight as it was; but without the old monkey for a +companion he would have thought his condition was a hundred times worse, +and would hardly have had the courage to go on as he was going. + +On and on he walked, until it seemed to him that he could really go no +farther, and yet he could see no signs which indicated the end of the +woods, and at last he sank upon the ground, too tired to walk another +step, saying to the monkey--who was looking as if he would like to know +the reason of this pause, "It's no use, Mr. Stubbs, I've got to sit down +here an' rest awhile anyhow; besides, I'm awfully hungry." + +Then Toby commenced to eat his dinner, and to give the monkey his, until +the thought came to him that he neither had any water nor did he know +where to find it, and then, of course, he immediately became so thirsty +that it was impossible for him to eat any more. + +"We can't stand this," moaned Toby to the monkey; "we've got to have +something to drink, or else we can't eat all these sweet things, an' I'm +so tired that I can't go any farther. Don't let's eat dinner now, but +let's stay here an' rest, an' then we can keep on an' look for water." + +Toby's resting spell was a long one, for as soon as he stretched himself +out on the ground he was asleep from actual exhaustion, and did not +awaken until the sun was just setting, and then he saw that, hard as +his troubles had been before, they were about to become, or in fact had +become, worse. + +He had paid no attention to his bundles when he lay down, and when he +awoke he was puzzled to make out what it was that was strewn around the +ground so thickly. + +He had looked at it but a very short time when he saw that it was what +had been the lunch he had carried so far. After having had the sad +experience of losing his money he understood very readily that the old +monkey had taken the lunch while he slept, and had amused himself by +picking it apart into the smallest particles possible, and then strewn +them around on the ground where he now saw them. + +Toby looked at them in almost speechless surprise, and then he turned to +where the old monkey lay, apparently asleep; but as the boy watched him +intently he could see that the cunning animal was really watching him +out of one half closed eye. + +"Now you have killed us, Mr. Stubbs," wailed Toby. "We never can find +our way out of here; an' now we hain't got anything to eat, and by +tomorrow we shall be starved to death. Oh dear! wasn't you bad enough +when you threw all the money away, so you had to go an' do this just +when we was in awful trouble?" + +Mr. Stubbs now looked up as if he had just been awakened by Toby's +grief, looked around him leisurely as if to see what could be the +matter, and then, apparently seeing for the first time the crumbs +that were lying around on the ground, took up some and examined them +intently. + +"Now don't go to makin' believe that you don't know how they come +there," said Toby, showing anger toward his pet for the first time. "You +know it was you who did it, for there wasn't anyone else here, an' you +can't fool me by lookin' so surprised." + +It seemed as if the monkey had come to the conclusion that his little +plan of ignorance wasn't the most perfect success, for he walked meekly +toward his young master, climbed up on his shoulder, and sat there +kissing his ear or looking down into his eyes, until the boy could +resist the mute appeal no longer, and took him into his arms and hugged +him closely as he said: + +"It can't be helped now, I s'pose, an' we shall have to get along the +best way we can; but it was awful wicked of you, Mr. Stubbs, an I don't +know what we're goin' to do for something to eat." + +While the destructive fit was on him the old monkey had not spared the +smallest bit' of food, but had picked everything into such minute shreds +that none of it could be gathered up, and everything was surely wasted. + +While Toby sat bemoaning his fate and trying to make out what was to +be done for food, the darkness, which had just begun to gather when he +first awoke, now commenced to settle around, and he was obliged to seek +for some convenient place in which to spend the night before it became +so dark as to make the search impossible. + +Owing to the fact that he had slept nearly the entire afternoon, and +also rendered wakeful by the loss he had just sustained, Toby lay awake +on the hard ground, with the monkey on his arm, hour after hour, until +all kinds of fancies came to him, and in every sound feared he heard +someone from the circus coming to capture him, or some wild beast intent +on picking his bones. + +The cold sweat of fear stood out on his brow, and he hardly dared to +breathe, much more to speak, lest the sound of his voice should betray +his whereabouts and thus bring his enemies down upon him. The minutes +seemed like hours, and the hours like days, as he lay there, listening +fearfully to every one of the night sounds of the forest; and it seemed +to him that he had been there very many hours when at last he fell +asleep and was thus freed from his fears. + +Bright and early on the following morning Toby was awake, and as he came +to a realizing sense of all the dangers and trouble that surrounded him +he was disposed to give way again to his sorrow; but he said resolutely +to himself, "It might be a good deal worse than it is, an' Mr. Stubbs +an' I can get along one day without anything to eat; an' perhaps by +night we shall be out of the woods, an' then what we get will taste good +to us." + +He began his walk--which possibly might not end that day--manfully, and +his courage was rewarded by soon reaching a number of bushes that were +literally loaded down with blackberries. From these he made a hearty +meal, and the old monkey fairly reveled in them, for he ate all he +possibly could, and then stowed enough in his cheeks to make a good +sized luncheon when he should be hungry again. + +Refreshed very much by his breakfast of fruit, Toby again started on his +journey with renewed vigor, and the world began to look very bright to +him. He had not thought that he might find berries when the thoughts of +starvation came into his mind, and, now that his hunger was satisfied, +he began to believe that he might possibly be able to live, perhaps for +weeks, in the woods solely upon what he might find growing there. + +Shortly after he had breakfast he came upon a brook, which he thought +was the same upon whose banks he had encamped the first night he spent +in the woods, and, pulling off his clothes, he waded into the deepest +part and had a most refreshing bath, although the water was rather cold. + +Not having any towels with which to dry himself, he was obliged to sit +in the sun until the moisture had been dried from his skin and he could +put his clothes on once more. Then he started out on his walk again, +feeling that sooner or later he would come out all right. + +All this time he had been traveling without any guide to tell him +whether he was going straight ahead or around in a circle, and he now +concluded to follow the course of the brook, believing that that would +lead him out of the forest some time. + +During the afternoon he walked steadily, but not so fast that he would +get exhausted quickly, and when by the position of the sun he judged +that it was noon he lay down on a mossy bank to rest. + +He was beginning to feel sad again. He had found no more berries, and +the elation which had been caused by his breakfast and his bath was +quickly passing away. The old monkey was in a tree almost directly above +his head, stretched out on one of the limbs in the most contented manner +possible; and as Toby watched him, and thought of all the trouble he had +caused by wasting the food, thoughts of starvation again came into his +mind, and he believed that he should not live to see Uncle Daniel again. + +Just as he was feeling the most sad and lonely, and where thoughts of +death from starvation were most vivid in his mind, he heard the barking +of a dog, which sounded close at hand. + +His first thought was that at last he was saved, and he was just +starting to his feet to shout for help when he heard the sharp report of +a gun and an agonizing cry from the branches above, and the old monkey +fell to the ground with a thud that told he had received his death +wound. + +All this had taken place so quickly that Toby did not at first +comprehend the extent of the misfortune which had overtaken him; but +a groan from the poor monkey, as he placed one little brown paw to his +breast, from which the blood was flowing freely, and looked up into his +master's face with a most piteous expression, showed the poor little boy +what a great trouble it was which had now come. + +Poor Toby uttered a loud cry of agony, which could not have been +more full of anguish had he received the ball in his own breast, and, +flinging himself by the side of the dying monkey, he gathered him +close to his breast, regardless of the blood that poured over him, +and, stroking tenderly the little head that had nestled so often in his +bosom, said, over and over again, as the monkey uttered short moans of +agony: "Who could have been so cruel? Who could have been so cruel?" + +Toby's tears ran like rain down his face, and he kissed his dying pet +again and again, as if he would take all the pain to himself. + +"Oh, if you could only speak to me!" he cried, as he took one of the +poor monkey's paws in his hand, and, finding that it was growing cold +with the chill of death, put it on his neck to warm it. "How I love you, +Mr. Stubbs! An' now you're goin' to die an leave me! Oh, if I hadn't +spoken cross to you yesterday, an' if I hadn't a'most choked you the day +that we went to the skeleton's to dinner! Forgive me for ever bein' bad +to you, won't you, Mr. Stubbs?" + +As the monkey's groans increased in number, but diminished in force, +Toby ran to the brook, filled his hands with water, and held it to the +poor animal's mouth. + +He lapped the water quickly and looked up with a human look of gratitude +in his eyes, as if thanking his master for that much relief. Then Toby +tried to wash the blood from his breast; but it flowed quite as fast as +he could wash it away, and he ceased his efforts in that direction, and +paid every attention to making his friend and pet more comfortable. +He took off his jacket and laid it on the ground for the monkey to lie +upon; picked a quantity of large green leaves as a cooling rest for his +head, and then sat by his side, holding his paws and talking to him +with the most tender words his lips--quivering with sorrow as they +were--could fashion. + + + + +XX. HOME AND UNCLE DANIEL + + +Meanwhile the author of all this misery had come upon the scene. He was +a young man, whose rifle and well filled game bag showed that he had +been hunting, and his face expressed the liveliest sorrow for what he +had so unwittingly done. + +"I didn't know I was firing at your pet," he said to Toby as he laid his +hand on his shoulder and endeavored to make him look up. "I only saw a +little patch of fur through the trees, and, thinking it was some wild +animal, I fired. Forgive me, won't you, and let me put the poor brute +out of his misery?" + +Toby looked up fiercely at the murderer of his pet and asked, savagely: +"Why don't you go away? Don't you see that you have killed Mr. Stubbs, +an' you'll be hung for murder?" + +"I wouldn't have done it under any circumstances," said the young man, +pitying Toby's grief most sincerely. "Come away and let me put the poor +thing out of its agony." + +"How can you do it?" asked Toby, bitterly. "He's dying already." + +"I know it, and it will be a kindness to put a bullet through his head." + +If Toby had been big enough, perhaps there might really have been a +murder committed, for he looked up at the man who so coolly proposed to +kill the poor monkey after he had already received his death wound that +the young man stepped back quickly, as if really afraid that in his +desperation the boy might do him some injury. + +"Go 'way off," said Toby, passionately, "an' don't ever come here again. +You've killed all I ever had in this world of my own to love me, an' I +hate you--I hate you!" + +Then, turning again to the monkey, he put his hands on each side of his +head, and, leaning down, kissed the little brown lips as tenderly as a +mother would kiss her child. + +The monkey was growing more and more feeble, and when Toby had shown +this act of affection he reached up his tiny paws, grasped Toby's +finger, half raised himself from the ground, and then with a convulsive +struggle fell back dead, while the tiny fingers slowly relaxed their +hold of the boy's hand. + +Toby feared that it was death, and yet hoped that he was mistaken; he +looked into the half open, fast glazing eyes, put his hand over his +heart, to learn if it were still beating; and, getting no responsive +look from the dead eyes, feeling no heart throbs from under that gory +breast, he knew that his pet was really dead, and flung himself by his +side in all the childish abandonment of grief. + +He called the monkey by name, implored him to look at him, and finally +bewailed that he had ever left the circus, where at least his pet's life +was safe, even if his own back received its daily flogging. + +The young man, who stood a silent spectator of this painful scene, +understood everything from Toby's mourning. He knew that a boy had run +away from the circus, for Messrs. Lord and Castle had stayed behind one +day, in the hope of capturing the fugitive, and they had told their own +version of Toby's flight. + +For nearly an hour Toby lay by the dead monkey's side, crying as if his +heart would break, and the young man waited until his grief should have +somewhat exhausted itself, and then approached the boy again. + +"Won't you believe that I didn't mean to do this cruel thing?" he asked, +in a kindly voice. "And won't you believe that I would do anything in my +power to bring your pet back to life?" + +Toby looked at him a moment earnestly, and then said, slowly, "Yes, I'll +try to." + +"Now will you come with me, and let me talk to you? For I know who you +are, and why you are here." + +"How do you know that?" + +"Two men stayed behind after the circus had left, and they hunted +everywhere for you." + +"I wish they had caught me," moaned Toby; "I wish they had caught me, +for then Mr. Stubbs wouldn't be here dead." + +And Toby's grief broke out afresh as he again looked at the poor little +stiff form that had been a source of so much comfort and joy to him. + +"Try not to think of that now, but think of yourself and of what you +will do," said the man, soothingly, anxious to divert Toby's mind from +the monkey's death as much as possible. + +"I don't want to think of myself, and I don't care what I'll do," sobbed +the boy, passionately. + +"But you must; you can't stay here always, and I will try to help you +to get home, or wherever it is you want to go, if you will tell me all +about it." + +It was some time before Toby could be persuaded to speak or think of +anything but the death of his pet; but the young man finally succeeded +in drawing his story from him, and then tried to induce him to leave +that place and accompany him to town. + +"I can't leave Mr. Stubbs," said the boy, firmly; "he never left me the +night I got thrown out of the wagon an' he thought I was hurt." + +Then came another struggle to induce him to bury his pet; and finally +Toby, after realizing the fact that he could not carry a dead monkey +with him, agreed to it; but he would not allow the young man to help him +in any way, or even to touch the monkey's body. + +He dug a grave under a little fir tree near by, and lined it with wild +flowers and leaves, and even then hesitated to cover the body with the +earth. At last he bethought himself of the fanciful costume which the +skeleton and his wife had given him, and in this he carefully wrapped +his dead pet. He had not one regret at leaving the bespangled suit, for +it was the best he could command, and surely nothing could be too good +for Mr. Stubbs. + +Tenderly he laid him in the little grave, and, covering the body with +flowers, said, pausing a moment before he covered it over with earth, +and while his voice was choked with emotion: "Goodby, Mr. Stubbs, +goodby! I wish it had been me instead of you that died, for I'm an awful +sorry little boy, now that you're dead!" + +Even after the grave had been filled, and a little mound made over it, +the young man had the greatest difficulty to persuade Toby to go with +him; and when the boy did consent to go at last he walked very slowly +away, and kept turning his head to look back just so long as the little +grave could be seen. + +Then, when the trees shut it completely out from sight, the tears +commenced again to roll down Toby's cheeks, and he sobbed out: "I wish I +hadn't left him. Oh, why didn't I make him lie down by me? an' then he'd +be alive now; an' how glad he'd be to know that we was getting out of +the woods at last!" + +But the man who had caused Toby this sorrow talked to him about other +matters, thus taking his mind from the monkey's death as much as +possible, and by the time the boy reached the village he had told his +story exactly as it was, without casting any reproaches on Mr. Lord, and +giving himself the full share of censure for leaving his home as he did. + +Mr. Lord and Mr. Castle had remained in the town but one day, for they +were told that a boy had taken the night train that passed through the +town about two hours after Toby had escaped, and they had set off at +once to act on that information. + +Therefore Toby need have no fears of meeting either of them just then, +and he could start on his homeward journey in peace. + +The young man who had caused the monkey's death tried first to persuade +Toby to remain a day or two with him, and, failing in that, he did all +he could toward getting the boy home as quickly and safely as possible. +He insisted on paying for his ticket on the steamboat, although Toby did +all he could to prevent him, and he even accompanied Toby to the next +town, where he was to take the steamer. + +He had not only paid for Toby's ticket, but he had paid for a stateroom +for him; and when the boy said that he could sleep anywhere, and that +there was no need of such expense, the man replied: "Those men who were +hunting for you have gone down the river, and will be very likely to +search the boat, when they discover that they started on the wrong +scent. They will never suspect that you have got a stateroom; and if +you are careful to remain in it during the trip you will get through +safely." + +Then, when the time came for the steamer to start, the young man said to +Toby: "Now, my boy, you won't feel hard at me for shooting the monkey, +will you? I would have done anything to bring him back to life, but, as +I could not do that, helping you to get home was the next best thing I +could do." + +"I know you didn't mean to shoot Mr. Stubbs," said Toby, with moistening +eyes as he spoke of his pet, "an' I'm sorry I said what I did to you in +the woods." + +Before there was time to say any more the warning whistle was sounded, +the plank pulled in, the great wheels commenced to revolve, and Toby was +really on his way to Uncle Daniel and Guilford. + +It was then but five o'clock in the afternoon, and he could not expect +to reach home until two or three o'clock in the afternoon of the next +day; but he was in a tremor of excitement as he thought that he should +walk through the streets of Guilford once more, see all the boys, and go +home to Uncle Daniel. + +And yet, whenever he thought of that home, of meeting those boys, of +going once more to all those old familiar places, the memory of all that +he had planned when he should take the monkey with him would come into +his mind and damp even his joy, great as it was. + +That night he had considerable difficulty in falling asleep, but did +finally succeed in doing so; and when he awoke the steamer was going +up the river, whose waters seemed like an old friend, because they had +flowed right down past Guilford on their way to the sea. + +At each town where a landing was made Toby looked eagerly out on the +pier, thinking that by chance someone from his home might be there and +he would see a familiar face again. But all this time he heeded the +advice given him and remained in his room, where he could see and not +be seen; and it was well for him that he did so, for at one of the +landings he saw both Mr. Lord and Mr. Castle come on board the boat. + +Toby's heart beat fast and furious, and he expected every moment to hear +them at the door, demanding admittance, for it seemed to him that they +must know exactly where he was secreted. + +But no such misfortune occurred. The men had evidently only boarded the +boat to search for the boy, for they landed again before the steamer +started, and Toby had the satisfaction of seeing their backs as they +walked away from the pier. It was some time before he recovered from the +fright which the sight of them gave him; but when he did his thoughts +and hopes far outstripped the steamer, which, it seemed, was going so +slowly, and he longed to see Guilford with an impatience that could +hardly be restrained. + +At last he could see the spire of the little church on the hill, and +when the steamer rounded the point, affording a full view of the town, +and sounded her whistle as a signal for those on the shore to come to +the pier, Toby could hardly restrain himself from jumping up and down +and shouting in his delight. + +He was at the gangplank ready to land fully five minutes before the +steamer was anywhere near the wharf, and when he recognized the first +face on the pier what a happy boy he was! + +He was at home! The dream of the past ten weeks was at length realized, +and neither Mr. Lord nor Mr. Castle had any terrors for him now. + +He ran down the gangplank before it was ready, and clasped every boy he +saw there round the neck, and would have kissed them if they had shown +an inclination to let him do so. + +Of course he was overwhelmed with questions, but before he would answer +any he asked for Uncle Daniel and the others at home. + +Some of the boys ventured to predict that Toby would get a jolly good +whipping for running away, and the only reply which the happy Toby made +to that was: + +"I hope I will, an' then I'll feel as if I had kinder paid for runnin' +away. If Uncle Dan'l will only let me stay with him again he may whip me +every mornin', an' I won't open my mouth to holler." + +The boys were impatient to hear the story of Toby's travels, but he +refused to tell it them, saying: + +"I'll go home, an' if Uncle Dan'l forgives me for bein' so wicked I'll +sit down this afternoon an' tell you all you want to know about the +circus." + +Then, far more rapidly than he had run away from it, Toby ran toward the +home which he had called his ever since he could remember, and his heart +was full almost to bursting as he thought that perhaps he would be told +that he had forfeited all claim to it, and that he could never more call +it "home" again. + +When he entered the old familiar sitting room Uncle Daniel was seated +near the window, alone, looking out wistfully--as Toby thought--across +the fields of yellow waving grain. + +Toby crept softly in, and, going up to the old man, knelt down and said, +very humbly, and with his whole soul in the words, "Oh, Uncle Dan'l! +if you'll only forgive me for bein' wicked an' runnin' away, an' let me +stay here again--for it's all the home I ever had--I'll do everything +you tell me to, an never whisper in meetin' or do anything bad." + +And then he waited for the words which would seal his fate. They were +not long in coming. + +"My poor boy," said Uncle Daniel, softly, as he stroked Toby's +refractory red hair, "my love for you was greater than I knew, and when +you left me I cried aloud to the Lord as if it had been my own flesh and +blood that had gone afar from me. Stay here, Toby, my son, and help to +support this poor old body as it goes down into the dark valley of the +shadow of death; and then, in the bright light of that glorious future, +Uncle Daniel will wait to go with you into the presence of Him who is +ever a father to the fatherless." + +And in Uncle Daniel's kindly care we may safely leave Toby Tyler. + +THE END + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Toby Tyler, by James Otis + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TOBY TYLER *** + +***** This file should be named 7478.txt or 7478.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/7/4/7/7478/ + +Produced by Martin Robb + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: Toby Tyler + +Author: James Otis + +Release Date: February, 2005 [EBook #7478] +[This file was first posted on May 8, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: US-ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, TOBY TYLER *** + + + + +This etext was produced by Martin Robb <MartinRobb@ieee.org> + + + +TOBY TYLER + +or + +Ten Weeks with a Circus + +by James Otis + + + +I: TOBY'S INTRODUCTION TO THE CIRCUS + + +"Wouldn't you give more 'n six peanuts for a cent?" was a question +asked by a very small boy, with big, staring eyes, of a candy +vender at a circus booth. And as he spoke he looked wistfully at +the quantity of nuts piled high up on the basket, and then at the +six, each of which now looked so small as he held them in his hand. + +"Couldn't do it," was the reply of the proprietor of the booth, as +he put the boy's penny carefully away in the drawer. + +The little fellow looked for another moment at his purchase, and +then carefully cracked the largest one. + +A shade -- and a very deep shade it was -- of disappointment passed +over his face, and then, looking up anxiously, he asked, "Don't +you swap 'em when they're bad?" + +The man's face looked as if a smile had been a stranger to it for +a long time; but one did pay it a visit just then, and he tossed +the boy two nuts, and asked him a question at the same time. "What +is your name?" + +The big brown eyes looked up for an instant, as if to learn whether +the question was asked in good faith, and then their owner said, +as he carefully picked apart another nut, "Toby Tyler." + +"Well, that's a queer name." + +"Yes, I s'pose so, myself; but, you see, I don't expect that's the +name that belongs to me. But the fellers call me so, an' so does +Uncle Dan'l." + +"Who is Uncle Daniel?" was the next question. In the absence of +other customers the man seemed disposed to get as much amusement +out of the boy as possible. + +"He hain't my uncle at all; I only call him so because all the boys +do, an' I live with him." + +"Where's your father and mother?" + +"I don't know," said Toby, rather carelessly. "I don't know much +about 'em, an' Uncle Dan'l says they don't know much about me. +Here's another bad nut; goin' to give me two more?" + +The two nuts were given him, and he said, as he put them in his +pocket and turned over and over again those which he held in his +hand: "I shouldn't wonder if all of these was bad. S'posen you +give me two for each one of 'em before I crack 'em, an' then they +won't be spoiled so you can't sell 'em again." + +As this offer of barter was made, the man looked amused, and he +asked, as he counted out the number which Toby desired, "If I give +you these, I suppose you'll want me to give you two more for each +one, and you'll keep that kind of a trade going until you get my +whole stock?" + +"I won't open my head if every one of em's bad." + +"All right; you can keep what you've got, and I'll give you these +besides; but I don't want you to buy any more, for I don't want to +do that kind of business." + +Toby took the nuts offered, not in the least abashed, and seated +himself on a convenient stone to eat them, and at the same time to +see all that was going on around him. The coming of a circus to the +little town of Guilford was an event, and Toby had hardly thought +of anything else since the highly colored posters had first been +put up. It was yet quite early in the morning, and the tents were +just being erected by the men. Toby had followed, with eager eyes, +everything that looked as if it belonged to the circus, from the +time the first wagon had entered the town until the street parade +had been made and everything was being prepared for the afternoon's +performance. + +The man who had made the losing trade in peanuts seemed disposed +to question the boy still further, probably owing to the fact that +he had nothing better to do. + +"Who is this Uncle Daniel you say you live with? Is he a farmer?" + +"No; he's a deacon, an' he raps me over the head with the hymn book +whenever I go to sleep in meetin', an' he says I eat four times as +much as I earn. I blame him for hittin' so hard when I go to sleep, +but I s'pose he's right about my eatin'. You see," and here his +tone grew both confidential and mournful, "I am an awful eater, an' +I can't seem to help it. Somehow I'm hungry all the time. I don't +seem ever to get enough till carrot time comes, an' then I can get +all I want without troublin' anybody." + +"Didn't you ever have enough to eat?" + +"I s'pose I did; but you see Uncle Dan'l he found me one mornin' +on his hay, an' he says I was cryin' for something to eat then, an' +I've kept it up ever since. I tried to get him to give me money +enough to go into the circus with; but he said a cent was all +he could spare these hard times, an' I'd better take that an' buy +something to eat with it, for the show wasn't very good, anyway. +I wish peanuts wasn't but a cent a bushel." + +"Then you would make yourself sick eating them." + +"Yes, I s'pose I should; Uncle Dan'l says I'd eat till I was sick, +if I got the chance; but I'd like to try it once." + +He was a very small boy, with a round head covered with short red +hair, a face as speckled as any turkey's egg, but thoroughly good +natured looking; and as he sat there on the rather sharp point of +the rock, swaying his body to and fro as he hugged his knees with +his hands, and kept his eyes fastened on the tempting display of +good things before him, it would have been a very hard hearted man +who would not have given him something. + +But Mr. Job Lord, the proprietor of the booth, was a hard hearted +man, and he did not make the slightest advance toward offering the +little fellow anything. + +Toby rocked himself silently for a moment, and then he said, +hesitatingly, "I don't suppose you'd like to sell me some things, +an' let me pay you when I get older, would you?" + +Mr. Lord shook his head decidedly at this proposition. + +"I didn't s'pose you would," said Toby, quickly; "but you didn't +seem to be selling anything, an' I thought I'd just see what you'd +say about it." And then he appeared suddenly to see something +wonderfully interesting behind him, which served as an excuse to +turn his reddening face away. + +"I suppose your uncle Daniel makes you work for your living, don't +he?" asked Mr. Lord, after he had rearranged his stock of candy and +had added a couple of slices of lemon peel to what was popularly +supposed to be lemonade. + +"That's what I think; but he says that all the work I do wouldn't +pay for the meal that one chicken would eat, an' I s'pose it's so, +for I don't like to work as well as a feller without any father and +mother ought to. I don't know why it is, but I guess it's because +I take up so much time eatin' that it kinder tires me out. I s'pose +you go into the circus whenever you want to, don't you?" + +"Oh yes; I'm there at every performance, for I keep the stand under +the big canvas as well as this one out here." + +There was a great big sigh from out Toby's little round stomach, +as he thought what bliss it must be to own all those good things +and to see the circus wherever it went. + +"It must be nice," he said, as he faced the booth and its hard +visaged proprietor once more. + +"How would you like it?" asked Mr. Lord, patronizingly, as he +looked Toby over in a business way, very much as if he contemplated +purchasing him. + +"Like it!" echoed Toby. "Why, I'd grow fat on it!" + +"I don't know as that would be any advantage," continued Mr. Lord, +reflectively, "for it strikes me that you're about as fat now as +a boy of your age ought to be. But I've a great mind to give you +a chance." + +"What!" cried Toby, in amazement, and his eyes opened to their +widest extent as this possible opportunity of leading a delightful +life presented itself. + +"Yes, I've a great mind to give you the chance. You see," and now +it was Mr. Lord's turn to grow confidential, "I've had a boy with +me this season, but he cleared out at the last town, and I'm running +the business alone now." + +Toby's face expressed all the contempt he felt for the boy who +would run away from such a glorious life as Mr. Lord's assistant +must lead; but he said not a word, waiting in breathless expectation +for the offer which he now felt certain would be made him. + +"Now I ain't hard on a boy," continued Mr. Lord, still confidentially, +"and yet that one seemed to think that he was treated worse and +made to work harder than any boy in the world." + +"He ought to live with Uncle Dan'l a week," said Toby, eagerly. + +"Here I was just like a father to him," said Mr. Lord, paying no +attention to the interruption, "and I gave him his board and lodging, +and a dollar a week besides." + +"Could he do what he wanted to with the dollar?" + +"Of course he could. I never checked him, no matter how extravagant +he was, an' yet I've seen him spend his whole week's wages at this +very stand in one afternoon. And even after his money had all gone +that way, I've paid for peppermint and ginger out of my own pocket +just to cure his stomach ache." + +Toby shook his head mournfully, as if deploring that depravity which +could cause a boy to run away from such a tender hearted employer +and from such a desirable position. But even as he shook his head +so sadly he looked wistfully at the peanuts, and Mr. Lord observed +the look. + +It may have been that Mr. Job Lord was the tender hearted man he +prided himself upon being, or it may have been that he wished to +purchase Toby's sympathy; but, at all events, he gave him a large +handful of nuts, and Toby never bothered his little round head as +to what motive prompted the gift. Now he could listen to the story +of the boy's treachery and eat at the same time; therefore he was +an attentive listener. + +"All in the world that boy had to do," continued Mr. Lord, in the +same injured tone he had previously used, "was to help me set things +to rights when we struck a town in the morning, and then tend to +the counter till we left the town at night, and all the rest of +the time he had to himself. Yet that boy was ungrateful enough to +run away." + +Mr. Lord paused, as if expecting some expression of sympathy from +his listener; but Toby was so busily engaged with his unexpected +feast, and his mouth was so full, that it did not seem even possible +for him to shake his head. + +"Now what should you say if I told you that you looked to me like +a boy that was made especially to help run a candy counter at a +circus, and if I offered the place to you?" + +Toby made one frantic effort to swallow the very large mouthful, +and in a choking voice he answered, quickly, "I should say I'd go +with you, an' be mighty glad of the chance." + +"Then it's a bargain, my boy, and you shall leave town with me +tonight." + + + +II: TOBY RUNS AWAY FROM HOME + + +Toby could scarcely restrain himself at the prospect of this golden +future that had so suddenly opened before him. He tried to express +his gratitude, but could only do so by evincing his willingness to +commence work at once. + +"No, no, that won't do," said Mr. Lord, cautiously. "If your uncle +Daniel should see you working here, he might mistrust something, +and then you couldn't get away." + +"I don't believe he'd try to stop me," said Toby, confidently; "for +he's told me lots of times that it was a sorry day for him when he +found me." + +"We won't take any chances, my son," was the reply, in a very +benevolent tone, as he patted Toby on the head and at the same +time handed him a piece of pasteboard. "There's a ticket for the +circus, and you come around to see me about ten o'clock tonight. +I'll put you on one of the wagons, and by' tomorrow morning your +uncle Daniel will have hard work to find you." + +If Toby had followed his inclinations, the chances are that he +would have fallen on his knees and kissed Mr. Lord's hands in the +excess of his gratitude. But not knowing exactly how such a show of +thankfulness might be received, he contented himself by repeatedly +promising that he would be punctual to the time and place appointed. + +He would have loitered in the vicinity of the candy stand in order +that he might gain some insight into the business; but Mr. Lord +advised him to remain away, lest his uncle Daniel would see him, +and suspect where he had gone when he was missed in the morning. + +As Toby walked around the circus grounds, whereon was so much to +attract his attention, he could not prevent himself from assuming +an air of proprietorship. His interest in all that was going on +was redoubled, and in his anxiety that everything should be done +correctly and in the proper order he actually, and perhaps for the +first time in his life, forgot that he was hungry. He was really to +travel with a circus, to become a part, as it were, of the whole, +and to be able to see its many wonderful and beautiful attractions +every day. + +Even the very tent ropes had acquired a new interest for him, and +the faces of the men at work seemed suddenly to have become those +of friends. How hard it was for him to walk around unconcernedly: +and how especially hard to prevent his feet from straying toward +that tempting display of dainties which he was to sell to those who +came to see and enjoy, and who would look at him with wonder and +curiosity! It was very hard not to be allowed to tell his playmates +of his wonderfully good fortune; but silence meant success, and he +locked his secret in his bosom, not even daring to talk with anyone +he knew, lest he should betray himself by some incautious word. + +He did not go home to dinner that day, and once or twice he felt +impelled to walk past the candy stand, giving a mysterious shake of +the head at the proprietor as he did so. The afternoon performance +passed off as usual to all of the spectators save Toby. He imagined +that each one of the performers knew that he was about to join them; +and even as he passed the cage containing the monkeys he fancied +that one particularly old one knew all about his intention of +running away. + +Of course it was necessary for him to go home at the close of the +afternoon's performance, in order to get one or two valuable articles +of his own -- such as a boat, a kite, and a pair of skates -- and +in order that his actions might not seem suspicious. Before he left +the grounds, however, he stole slyly around to the candy stand, and +informed Mr. Job Lord, in a very hoarse whisper, that he would be +on hand at the time appointed. + +Mr. Lord patted him on the head, gave him two large sticks of candy, +and, what was more kind and surprising, considering the fact that +he wore glasses and was cross eyed, he winked at Toby. A wink from +Mr. Lord must have been intended to convey a great deal, because, +owing to the defect in his eyes, it required no little exertion, +and even then could not be considered as a really first class wink. + +That wink, distorted as it was, gladdened Toby's heart immensely +and took away nearly all the sting of the scolding with which Uncle +Daniel greeted him when he reached home. + +That night -- despite the fact that he was going to travel with the +circus, despite the fact that his home was not a happy or cheerful +one -- Toby was not in a pleasant frame of mind. He began to feel +for the first time that he was doing wrong; and as he gazed at +Uncle Daniel's stern, forbidding looking face, it seemed to have +changed somewhat from its severity, and caused a great lump of +something to come up in his throat as he thought that perhaps he +should never see it again. Just then one or two kind words would +have prevented him from running away, bright as the prospect of +circus life appeared. + +It was almost impossible for him to eat anything, and this very +surprising state of affairs attracted the attention of Uncle Daniel. + +"Bless my heart! what ails the boy?" asked the old man, as he peered +over his glasses at Toby's well filled plate, which was usually +emptied so quickly. "Are ye sick, Toby, or what is the matter with +ye?" + +"No, I hain't sick," said Toby, with a sigh; "but I've been to the +circus, an' I got a good deal to eat." + +"Oho! You spent that cent I give ye, eh, an' got so much that it +made ye sick?" + +Toby thought of the six peanuts which he had bought with the penny +Uncle Daniel had given him; and, amid all his homesickness, he +could not help wondering if Uncle Daniel ever made himself sick +with only six peanuts when he was a boy. + +As no one paid any further attention to Toby, he pushed back his +plate, arose from the table, and went with a heavy heart to attend +to his regular evening chores. The cow, the hens, and even the pigs +came in for a share of his unusually kind attention; and as he fed +them all the big tears rolled down his cheeks as he thought that +perhaps never again would he see any of them. These dumb animals +had all been Toby's confidants; he had poured out his griefs in +their ears, and fancied, when the world or Uncle Daniel had used +him unusually hard, that they sympathized with him. Now he was +leaving them forever, and as he locked the stable door he could +hear the sounds of music coming from the direction of the circus +grounds, and he was angry at it, because it represented that which +was taking him away from his home, even though it was not as pleasant +as it might have been. + +Still, he had no thought of breaking the engagement which he had +made. He went to his room, made a bundle of his worldly possessions, +and crept out of the back door, down the road to the circus. + +Mr. Lord saw him as soon as he arrived on the grounds, and as he +passed another ticket to Toby he took his bundle from him, saying, +as he did so: "I'll pack up your bundle with my things, and then +you'll be sure not to lose it. Don't you want some candy?" + +Toby shook his head; he had just discovered that there was possibly +some connection between his heart and his stomach, for his grief +at leaving home had taken from him all desire for good things. It +is also more than possible that Mr. Lord had had experience enough +with boys to know that they might be homesick on the eve of starting +to travel with a circus; and in order to make sure that Toby would +keep to his engagement he was unusually kind. + +That evening was the longest Toby ever knew. He wandered from one +cage of animals to another; then to see the performance in the +ring, and back again to the animals, in the vain hope of passing +the time pleasantly. + +But it was of no use; that lump in his throat would remain there, +and the thoughts of what he was about to do would trouble him +severely. The performance failed to interest him, and the animals +did not attract until he had visited the monkey cage for the third +or fourth time. Then he fancied that the same venerable monkey +who had looked so knowing in the afternoon was gazing at him with +a sadness which could only have come from a thorough knowledge of +all the grief and doubt that was in his heart. + +There was no one around the cages, and Toby got just as near to +the iron bars as possible. No sooner had he flattened his little +pug nose against the iron than the aged monkey came down from the +ring in which he had been swinging, and, seating himself directly +in front of Toby's face, looked at him most compassionately. + +It would not have surprised the boy just then if the animal had +spoken; but as he did not, Toby did the next best thing and spoke +to him. + +"I s'pose you remember that you saw me this afternoon, an' somebody +told you that I was goin' to join the circus, didn't they?" + +The monkey made no reply, though Toby fancied that he winked an +affirmative answer; and he looked so sympathetic that he continued, +confidentially: + +"Well, I'm the same feller, an' I don't mind telling you that I'm +awfully sorry that I promised that candy man I'd go with him. Do +you know that I came near crying at the supper table tonight; an' +Uncle Dan'l looked real good an' nice, though I never thought so +before. I wish I wasn't goin', after all, 'cause it don't seem a +bit like a good time now; but I s'pose I must, 'cause I promised +to, an' 'cause the candy man has got all my things." + +The big tears had begun to roll down Toby's cheeks, and as he +ceased speaking the monkey reached out one little paw, which Toby +took as earnestly as if it had been done purposely to console him. + +"You're real good, you are," continued Toby; "an' I hope I shall +see you real often, for it seems to me now, when there hain't any +folks around, as if you was the only friend I've got in this great +big world. It's awful when a feller feels the way I do, an' when +he don't seem to want anything to eat. Now if you'll stick to me +I'll stick to you, an' then it won't be half so bad when we feel +this way." + +During this speech Toby had still clung to the little brown paw, +which the monkey now withdrew, and continued to gaze into the boy's +face. + +"The fellers all say I don't amount to anything," sobbed Toby, +"an' Uncle Dan'l says I don't, an' I s'pose they know; but I tell +you I feel just as bad, now that I'm goin' away from them all, as +if I was as good as any of them." + +At this moment Toby saw Mr. Lord enter the tent, and he knew that +the summons to start was about to be given. + +"Goodby," he said to the monkey, as he vainly tried to take him +by the hand again. "Remember what I've told you, an' don't forget +that Toby Tyler is feelin' worse tonight than if he was twice as +big an' twice as good." + +Mr. Lord had come to summon him away, and he now told Toby that he +would show him with which man he was to ride that night. + +Toby looked another goodby at the venerable monkey, who was watching +him closely, and then followed his employer out of the tent, among +the ropes and poles and general confusion attendant upon the removal +of a circus from one place to another. + + + +III: THE NIGHT RIDE + + +The wagon on which Mr. Lord was to send his new found employee was, +by the most singular chance, the one containing the monkeys, and +Toby accepted this as a good omen. He would be near his venerable +friend all night, and there was some consolation in that. The +driver instructed the boy to watch his movements, and when he saw +him leading his horses around, "to look lively and be on hand, for +he never waited for anyone." + +Toby not only promised to do as ordered, but he followed the +driver around so closely that, had he desired, he could not have +rid himself of his little companion. + +The scene which presented itself to Toby's view was strange and +weird in the extreme. Shortly after he had attached himself to the +man with whom he was to ride, the performance was over, and the work +of putting the show and its belongings into such a shape as could +be conveyed from one town to another was soon in active operation. +Toby forgot his grief, forgot that he was running away from the +only home he had ever known -- in fact, forgot everything concerning +himself -- so interested was he in that which was going on about +him. + +As soon as the audience had got out of the tent and almost before +the work of taking down the canvas was begun. + +Torches were stuck in the earth at regular intervals, the lights +that had shone so brilliantly in and around the ring had been +extinguished, the canvas sides had been taken off, and the boards that +had formed the seats were being packed into one of the carts with +a rattling sound that seemed as if a regular fusillade of musketry +was being indulged in. Men were shouting; horses were being driven +hither and thither, harnessed to the wagons, or drawing the huge +carts away as soon as they were loaded; and everything seemed in +the greatest state of confusion, while really the work was being +done in the most systematic manner possible. + +Toby had not long to wait before the driver informed him that the +time for starting had arrived, and assisted him to climb up to the +narrow seat whereon he was to ride that night. + +The scene was so exciting, and his efforts to stick to the narrow +seat so great, that he really had no time to attend to the homesick +feeling that had crept over him during the first part of the evening. + +The long procession of carts and wagons drove slowly out of the +town, and when the last familiar house had been passed the driver +spoke to Toby for the first time, since they started. + +"Pretty hard work to keep on -- eh, sonny?" + +"Yes," replied the boy, as the wagon jolted over a rock, bouncing +him high in air, and he, by strenuous efforts, barely succeeded in +alighting on the seat again, "it is pretty hard work; an' my name's +Toby Tyler." + +Toby heard a queer sound that seemed to come from the man's throat, +and for a few moments he feared that his companion was choking. +But he soon understood that this was simply an attempt to laugh, +and he at once decided that it was a very poor style of laughing. + +"So you object to being called sonny, do you?" + +"Well, I'd rather be called Toby, for, you see, that's my name." + +"All right, my boy; we'll call you Toby. I suppose you thought it +was a mighty fine thing to run away an' jine a circus, didn't you?" + +Toby started in affright, looked around cautiously, and then tried +to peer down through the small square aperture, guarded by iron +rods, that opened into the cage just back of the seat they were +sitting on. Then he turned slowly around to the driver, and asked, +in a voice sunk to a whisper: "How did you know that I was runnin' +away? Did he tell you?" and Toby motioned with his thumb as if he +were pointing out someone behind him. + +It was the driver's turn now to look around in search of the "he" +referred to by Toby. + +"Who do you mean?" asked the man, impatiently. + +"Why, the old feller; the one in the cart there. I think he knew +I was runnin' away, though he didn't say anything about it; but he +looked just as if he did." + +The driver looked at Toby in perfect amazement for a moment, and +then, as if suddenly understanding the boy, relapsed into one of +those convulsive efforts that caused the blood to rush up into his +face and gave him every appearance of having a fit. + +"You must mean one of the monkeys," said the driver, after he had +recovered his breath, which had been almost shaken out of his body +by the silent laughter. "So you thought a monkey had told me what +any fool could have seen if he had watched you for five minutes." + +"Well," said Toby, slowly, as if he feared he might provoke one of +those terrible laughing spells again, "I saw him tonight, an' he +looked as if he knew what I was doin'; so I up an' told him, an' +I didn't know but he'd told you, though he didn't look to me like +a feller that would be mean." + +There was another internal shaking on the part of the driver, which +Toby did not fear so much, since he was getting accustomed to it, +and then the man said, "Well, you are the queerest little cove I +ever saw." + +"I s'pose I am," was the reply, accompanied by a long drawn sigh. +"I don't seem to amount to so much as the other fellers do, an' I +guess it's because I'm always hungry; you see, I eat awful, Uncle +Dan'l says." + +The only reply which the driver made to this plaintive confession +was to put his hand down into the deepest recesses of one of his +deep pockets and to draw therefrom a huge doughnut, which he handed +to his companion. + +Toby was so much at his ease by this time that the appetite which +had failed him at supper had now returned in full force, and he +devoured the doughnut in a most ravenous manner. + +"You're too small to eat so fast," said the man, in a warning +tone, as the last morsel of the greasy sweetness disappeared, and +he fished up another for the boy. "Some time you'll get hold of +one of the India rubber doughnuts that they feed to circus people, +an' choke yourself to death." + +Toby shook his head, and devoured this second cake as quickly as +he had the first, craning his neck, and uttering a funny little +squeak as the last bit went down, just as a chicken does when he +gets too large a mouthful of dough. + +"I'll never choke," he said, confidently. "I'm used to it; and Uncle +Dan'l says I could eat a pair of boots an' never wink at 'em; but +I don't just believe that." + +As the driver made no reply to this remark Toby watched with no +little interest all that was passing on around him. Each of the +wagons had a lantern fastened to the hind axle, and these lights +could be seen far ahead on the road, as if a party of fireflies +had started in single file on an excursion. The trees by the side +of the road stood out weird and ghostly looking in the darkness, +and the rumble of the carts ahead and behind formed a musical +accompaniment to the picture that sounded strangely doleful. + +Mile after mile was passed over in perfect silence, save now and +then when the driver would whistle a few bars of some very dismal +tune that would fairly make Toby shiver with its mournfulness. +Eighteen miles was the distance from Guilford to the town where +the next performance of the circus was to be given, and as Toby +thought of the ride before them it seemed as if the time would +be almost interminable. He curled himself up on one corner of the +seat, and tried very hard to go to sleep; but just as his eyes began +to grow heavy the wagon would jolt over some rock or sink deep in +some rut, till Toby, the breath very nearly shaken out of his body, +and his neck almost dislocated, would sit bolt upright, clinging +to the seat with both hands, as if he expected each moment to be +pitched out into the mud. + +The driver watched him closely, and each time that he saw him shaken +up and awakened so thoroughly he would indulge in one of his silent +laughing spells, until Toby would wonder whether he would ever +recover from it. Several times had Toby been awakened, and each time +he had seen the amusement his sufferings caused, until he finally +resolved to put an end to the sport by keeping awake. + +"What is your name?" he asked of the driver, thinking a conversation +would be the best way to rouse himself into wakefulness. + +"Waal," said the driver, as he gathered the reins carefully in one +hand, and seemed to be debating in his mind how he should answer +the question, "I don't know as I know myself, it's been so long +since I've heard it." + +Toby was wide enough awake now, as this rather singular problem +was forced upon his mind. He revolved the matter silently for some +moments, and at last he asked, "What do folks call you when they +want to speak to you?" + +"They always call me Old Ben, an' I've got so used to the name that +I don't need any other." + +Toby wanted very much to ask more questions, but he wisely concluded +that it would not be agreeable to his companion. + +"I'll ask the old man about it," said Toby to himself, referring to +the aged monkey, whom he seemed to feel acquainted with; "he most +likely knows, if he'll say anything." + +After this the conversation ceased, until Toby again ventured to +suggest, "It's a pretty long drive, hain't it?" + +"You want to wait till you've been in this business a year or two," +said Ben, sagely, "an' then you won't think much of it. Why, I've +known the show towns to be thirty miles apart, an' them was the +times when we had lively work of it. Riding all night and working +all day kind of wears on a fellow." + +"Yes, I s'pose so," said Toby, with a sigh, as he wondered whether +he had got to work as hard as that; "but I s'pose you get all you +want to eat, don't you?" + +"Now you've struck it!" said Ben, with the air of one about to impart +a world of wisdom, as he crossed one leg over the other, that his +position might be as comfortable as possible while he was initiating +his young companion into the mysteries of the life. "I've had all +the boys ride with me since I've been with this show, an' I've +tried to start them right; but they didn't seem to profit by it, +an' always got sick of the show an' run away, just because they +didn't look out for themselves as they ought to. Now listen to me, +Toby, an' remember what I say. You see they put us all in a hotel +together, an' some of these places where we go don't have any too +much stuff on the table. Whenever we strike a new town you find +out at the hotel what time they have the grub ready, an' you be +on hand, so's to get in with the first. Eat all you can, an' fill +your pockets." + +"If that's all a feller has to do to travel with a circus," said +Toby, "I'm just the one, 'cause I always used to do just that when +I hadn't any idea of bein' a circus man." + +"Then you'll get along all right," said Ben, as he checked the speed +of his horses and, looking carefully ahead, said, as he guided +his team to one side of the road, "This is as far as we're going +tonight." + +Toby learned that they were within a couple of miles of the town, +and that the entire procession would remain by the roadside until +time to make the grand entree into the village, when every wagon, +horse, and man would be decked out in the most gorgeous array, as +they had been when they entered Guilford. + +Under Ben's direction he wrapped himself in an old horse blanket, +and lay down on the top of the wagon; and he was so tired from the +excitement of the day and night that he had hardly stretched out +at full length before he was fast asleep. + + + +IV: THE FIRST DAY WITH THE CIRCUS + + +When Toby awakened and looked around he could hardly realize where +he was or bow he came there. As far ahead and behind on the road as +he could see the carts were drawn up on one side; men were hurrying +to and fro, orders were being shouted, and everything showed that +the entry into the town was about to be made. Directly opposite +the wagon on which he had been sleeping were the four elephants and +two camels, and close behind, contentedly munching their breakfasts, +were a number of tiny ponies. Troops of horses were being groomed +and attended to; the road was littered with saddles, flags, and +general decorations, until it seemed to Toby that there must have +been a smash up, and that he now beheld ruins rather than systematic +disorder. + +How different everything looked now, compared to the time when +the cavalcade marched into Guilford, dazzling everyone with the +gorgeous display! Then the horses pranced gayly under their gaudy +decorations, the wagons were bright with glass, gilt, and flags, the +lumbering elephants and awkward camels were covered with fancifully +embroidered velvets, and even the drivers of the wagons were +resplendent in their uniforms of scarlet and gold. Now, in the +gray light of the early morning, everything was changed. The horses +were tired and muddy, and wore old and dirty harness; the gilded +chariots were covered with mud bespattered canvas, which caused +them to look like the most ordinary of market wagons; the elephants +and camels looked dingy, dirty, almost repulsive; and the drivers +were only a sleepy looking set of men, who, in their shirt sleeves, +were getting ready for the change which would dazzle the eyes of +the inhabitants of the town. + +Toby descended from his lofty bed, rubbed his eyes to thoroughly +awaken himself, and, under the guidance of Ben, went to a little +brook near by and washed his face. He had been with the circus +not quite ten hours, but now he could not realize that it had ever +seemed bright and beautiful. He missed his comfortable bed, the +quiet and cleanliness, and the well spread table; even although +he had felt the lack of parents' care, Uncle Daniel's home seemed +the very abode of love and friendly feeling compared with this +condition, where no one appeared to care even enough for him to +scold at him. He was thoroughly homesick, and heartily wished that +he was back in his old native town. + +While he was washing his face in the brook he saw some of the boys +who had come out from the town to catch the first glimpse of the +circus, and he saw at once that he was the object of their admiring +gaze. He heard one of the boys say, when they first discovered him: + +"There's one of them, an' he's only a little feller; so I'm going +to talk to him." + +The evident admiration which the boys had for Toby pleased him, +and this pleasure was the only drop of comfort he had had since +he started. He hoped they would come and talk with him; and, that +they might have the opportunity, he was purposely slow in making +his toilet. + +The boys approached him shyly, as if they had their doubts whether +he was made of the same material as themselves, and when they got +quite near to him and satisfied themselves that he was only washing +his face in much the same way that any well regulated boy would do, +the one who had called attention to him said, half timidly, "Hello!" + +"Hello!" responded Toby, in a tone that was meant to invite +confidence. + +"Do you belong to the circus?" + +"Yes," said Toby, a little doubtfully. + +Then the boys stared at him again as if he were one of the strange +looking animals, and the one who had been the spokesman drew a +long breath of envy as he said, longingly, "My! what a nice time +you must have!" + +Toby remembered that only yesterday he himself had thought that +boys must have a nice time with a circus, and he now felt what +a mistake that thought was; but he concluded that he would not +undeceive his new acquaintance. + +"And do they give you frogs to eat, so's to make you limber?" + +This was the first time that Toby had thought of breakfast, and the +very mention of eating made him hungry. He was just at that moment +so very hungry that he did not think he was replying to the question +when he said, quickly: "Eat frogs! I could eat anything, if I only +had the chance." + +The boys took this as an answer to their question, and felt perfectly +convinced that the agility of circus riders and tumblers depended +upon the quantity of frogs eaten, and they looked upon Toby with +no little degree of awe. + +Toby might have undeceived them as to the kind of food he ate, +but just at that moment the harsh voice of Mr. Job Lord was heard +calling him, and he hurried away to commence his first day's work. + +Toby's employer was not the same pleasant, kindly spoken man that +he had been during the time they were in Guilford and before the +boy was absolutely under his control. He looked cross, he acted +cross, and it did not take the boy very long to find out that he +was very cross. + +He scolded Toby roundly, and launched more oaths at his defenseless +head than Toby had ever heard in his life. He was angry that the +boy had not been on hand to help him, and also that he had been +obliged to hunt for him. + +Toby tried to explain that he had no idea of what he was expected +to do, and that he had been on the wagon to which he had been sent, +only leaving it to wash his face; but the angry man grew still more +furious. + +"Went to wash your face, did yer? Want to set yourself up for a +dandy, I suppose, and think that you must souse that speckled face +of yours into every brook you come to? I'll soon break you of +that; and the sooner you understand that I can't afford to have +you wasting your time in washing the better it will be for you." + +Toby now grew angry, and, not realizing how wholly he was in +the man's power, he retorted: "If you think I'm going round with +a dirty face, even if it is speckled, for a dollar a week, you're +mistaken, that's all. How many folks would eat your candy if they +knew you handled it over before you washed your hands?" + +"Oho! I've picked up a preacher, have I? Now I want you to understand, +my bantam, that I do all the preaching as well as the practicing +myself, and this is about as quick a way as I know of to make you +understand it." + +As the man spoke he grasped the boy by the coat collar with one +hand and with the other plied a thin rubber cane with no gentle +force to every portion of Toby's body that he could reach. + +Every blow caused the poor boy the most intense pain; but he +determined that his tormentor should not have the satisfaction of +forcing an outcry from him, and he closed his lips so tightly that +not a single sound could escape from them. + +This very silence enraged the man so much that he redoubled the +force and rapidity of his blows, and it is impossible to say what +might have been the consequences had not Ben come that way just +then and changed the aspect of affairs. + +"Up to your old tricks of whipping the boys, are you, Job?" he +said, as he wrested the cane from the man's hand and held him off +at arm's length, to prevent him from doing Toby more mischief. + +Mr. Lord struggled to release himself, and insisted that, since the +boy was in his employ, he should do with him just as he saw fit. + +"Now look here, Mr. Lord," said Ben, as gravely as if he was +delivering some profound piece of wisdom, "I've never interfered +with you before; but now I'm going to stop your game of thrashing +your boy every morning before breakfast. You just tell this youngster +what you want him to do, and if he don't do it you can discharge +him. If I hear of your flogging him, I shall attend to your case +at once. You hear me?" + +Ben shook the now terrified candy vender much as if he had been a +child, and then released him, saying to Toby as he did so, "Now, my +boy, you attend to your business as you ought to, and I'll settle +his accounts if he tries the flogging game again." + +"You see, I don't know what there is for me to do," sobbed Toby, +for the kindly interference of Ben had made him show more feeling +than Mr. Lord's blows had done. + +"Tell him what he must do," said Ben, sternly. + +"I want him to go to work and wash the tumblers, and fix up the +things in that green box, so we can commence to sell as soon as +we get into town," snarled Mr. Lord, as he motioned toward a large +green chest that had been taken out of one of the carts, and which +Toby saw was filled with dirty glasses, spoons, knives, and other +utensils such as were necessary to carry on the business. + +Toby got a pail of water from the brook, hunted around and found +towels and soap, and devoted himself to his work with such industry +that Mr. Lord could not repress a grunt of satisfaction as he +passed him, however angry he felt because he could not administer +the whipping which would have smoothed his ruffled temper. + +By the time the procession was ready to start for the town Toby had +as much of his work done as he could find that it was necessary to +do, and his master, in his surly way, half acknowledged that this +last boy of his was better than any he had had before. + +Although Toby had done his work so well he was far from feeling +happy; he was both angry and sad as he thought of the cruel blows +that had been inflicted, and he had plenty of leisure to repent of +the rash step he had taken, although he could not see very clearly +how he was to get away from it. He thought that he could not go +back to Guilford, for Uncle Daniel would not allow him to come to +his house again; and the hot scalding tears ran down his cheeks as +he realized that he was homeless and friendless in this great big +world. + +It was while he was in this frame of mind that the procession, all +gaudy with flags, streamers, and banners, entered the town. Under +different circumstances this would have been a most delightful +day for him, for the entrance of a circus into Guilford had always +been a source of one day's solid enjoyment; but now he was the most +disconsolate and unhappy boy in all that crowd. + +He did not ride throughout the entire route of the procession, for +Mr. Lord was anxious to begin business, and the moment the tenting +ground was reached the wagon containing Mr. Lord's goods was driven +into the inclosure and Toby's day's work began. + +He was obliged to bring water, to cut up the lemons, fetch and carry +fruit from the booth in the big tent to the booth on the outside, +until he was ready to drop with fatigue, and, having had no time +for breakfast, was nearly famished. + +It was quite noon before he was permitted to go to the hotel for +something to eat, and then Ben's advice to be one of the first to +get to the tables was not needed. + +In the eating line that day he astonished the servants, the members +of the company, and even himself, and by the time he arose from +the table, with both pockets and his stomach full to bursting, the +tables had been set and cleared away twice while he was making one +meal. + +"Well, I guess you didn't hurry yourself much," said Mr. Lord, when +Toby returned to the circus ground. + +"Oh yes, I did," was Toby's innocent reply: "I ate just as fast +as I could"; and a satisfied smile stole over the boy's face as he +thought of the amount of solid food he had consumed. + +The answer was not one which was calculated to make Mr. Lord feel +any more agreeably disposed toward his new clerk, and he showed +his ill temper very plainly as he said, "It must take a good deal +to satisfy you." + +"I s'pose it does," calmly replied Toby. "Sam Merrill used to say +that I took after Aunt Olive and Uncle Dan'l; one ate a good while, +an' the other ate awful fast." + +Toby could not understand what it was that Mr. Lord said in reply, +but he could understand that his employer was angry at somebody +or something, and he tried unusually hard to please him. He talked +to the boys who had gathered around, to induce them to buy, washed +the glasses as fast as they were used, tried to keep off the flies, +and in every way he could think of endeavored to please his master. + + + +V: THE COUNTERFEIT TEN CENT PIECE + + +When the doors of the big tent were opened, and the people began +to crowd in, just as Toby had seen them do at Guilford, Mr. Lord +announced to his young clerk that it was time for him to go into +the tent to work. Then it was that Toby learned for the first time +that he had two masters instead of one, and this knowledge caused +him no little uneasiness. If the other one was anything like Mr. +Lord, his lot would be just twice as bad, and he began to wonder +whether he could even stand it one day longer. + +As the boy passed through the tent on his way to the candy stand, +where he was really to enter upon the duties for which he had run +away from home, he wanted to stop for a moment and speak with the +old monkey who he thought had taken such an interest in him. But +when he reached the cage in which his friend was confined, there +was such a crowd around it that it was impossible for him to get +near enough to speak without being overheard. + +This was such a disappointment to the little fellow that the big +tears came into his eyes, and in another instant would have gone +rolling down his cheeks if his aged friend had not chanced to look +toward him. Toby fancied that the monkey looked at him in the most +friendly way, and then he was Certain that he winked one eye. Toby +felt that there was no mistake about that wink, and it seemed as +if it was intended to convey comfort to him in his troubles. He +winked back at the monkey in the most emphatic and grave manner +possible, and then went on his way, feeling wonderfully comforted. + +The work inside the tent was far different and much harder than +it was outside. He was obliged to carry around among the audience +trays of candy, nuts, and lemonade for sale, and he was expected +to cry aloud the description of that which he offered. The partner +of Mr. Lord, who had charge of the stand inside the tent, showed +himself to be neither better nor worse than Mr. Lord himself. When +Toby first presented himself for work he handed him a tray filled +with glasses of lemonade, and told him to go among the audience, +crying, "Here's your nice cold lemonade, only five cents a glass!" + +Toby started to do as he was bidden; but when he tried to repeat +the words in anything like a loud tone of voice they stuck in his +throat, and he found it next to impossible to utter a sound above +a whisper. It seemed to him that everyone in the audience was +looking only at him, and the very sound of his own voice made him +afraid. + +He went entirely around the tent once without making a sale, and +when he returned to the stand he was at once convinced that one of +his masters was quite as bad as the other. This one -- and he knew +that his name was Jacobs, for he heard someone call him so -- very +kindly told him that he would break every bone in his body if he +didn't sell something, and Toby confidently believed that he would +carry out his threat. + +It was with a very heavy heart that he started around again in +obedience to Mr. Jacobs's angry command; but this time he did manage +to cry out, in a very thin and very squeaky voice, the words which +he had been told to repeat. + +This time -- perhaps owing to his pitiful and imploring look, +certainly not because of the noise he made -- he met with very +good luck, and sold every glass of the mixture which Messrs. Lord +and Jacobs called lemonade, and went back to the stand for more. + +He certainly thought he had earned a word of praise, and fully +expected it as he put the empty glasses and money on the stand in +front of Mr. Jacobs. But, instead of the kind words, he was greeted +with a volley of curses; and the reason for it was that he had +taken in payment for two of the glasses a lead ten cent piece. Mr. +Jacobs, after scolding poor little Toby to his heart's content, +vowed that the amount should be kept from his first week's wages, +and then handed back the coin, with orders to give it to the first +man who gave him money to change, under the penalty of a severe +flogging if he failed to do so. + +Poor Toby tried to explain matters by saying: "You see, I don't +know anything about money; I never had more 'n a cent at a time, +an' you mustn't expect me to get posted all at once." + +"I'll post you with a stick if you do it again; an' it won't be +well for you if you bring that ten cent piece back here!" + +Now Toby was very well aware that to pass the coin, knowing it to +be bad, would be a crime, and be resolved to take the consequences +of which Mr. Jacobs had intimated, if he could not find the one +who had given him the counterfeit and persuade him to give him good +money in its stead. He remembered very plainly where he had sold +each glass of lemonade, and he retraced his steps, glancing at each +face carefully as he passed. At last he was confident that he saw +the man who had gotten him into such trouble, and he climbed up +the board seats, saying, as he stood in front of him and held out +the coin: "Mister, this money that you gave me is bad. Won't you +give me another one for it?" + +The man was a rough looking party who had taken his girl to the +circus, and who did not seem at all disposed to pay any heed to +Toby's request. Therefore he repeated it, and this time more loudly. + +"Get out the way!" said the man, angrily. "How can you expect me +to see the show if you stand right in front of me?" + +"You'll like it better," said Toby, earnestly, "if you give me +another ten cent piece." + +"Get out an' don't bother me!" was the angry rejoinder; and the +little fellow began to think that perhaps he would be obliged to +"get out" without getting his money. + +It was becoming a desperate case, for the man was growing angry +very fast and if Toby did not succeed in getting good money for +the bad, he would have to take the consequences of which Mr. Jacobs +had spoken. + +"Please, mister," he said, imploringly -- for his heart began to +grow very heavy, and he was fearing that he should not succeed -- +"won't you please give me the money back? You know you gave it to +me, an' I'll have to pay it if you don't." + +The boy's lip was quivering, and those around began to be interested +in the affair, while several in the immediate vicinity gave vent +to their indignation that a man should try to cheat a boy out of +ten cents by giving him counterfeit money. + +The man whom Toby was speaking to was about to dismiss him with +an angry reply, when he saw that those about him were not only +interested in the matter, but were evidently taking sides with the +boy against him; and knowing well that he had given the counterfeit +money, he took another coin from his pocket and, handing it to Toby, +said, "I didn't give you the lead piece; but you're making such a +fuss about it that here's ten cents to make you keep quiet." + +"I'm sure you did give me the money," said Toby, as he took the +extended coin, "an' I'm much obliged to you for takin' it back. I +didn't want to tell you before, 'cause you'd thought I was beggin'; +but if you hadn't given me this, I 'xpect I'd have got an awful +whippin', for Mr. Jacobs said he'd fix me if I didn't get the money +for it." + +The man looked sheepish enough as he put the bad money in his +pocket, and Toby's innocently told story caused such a feeling in +his behalf among those who sat near that he not only disposed of +his entire stock then and there, but received from one gentleman +twenty-five cents for himself. He was both proud and happy as +he returned to Mr. Jacobs with empty glasses, and with the money +to refund the amount of loss which would have been caused by the +counterfeit. + +But the worthy partner of Mr. Lord's candy business had no words +of encouragement for the boy who was trying so hard to please. + +"Let that make you keep your eyes open," he growled out, sulkily; +"an' if you get caught in that trap again, you won't be let off so +easy." + +Poor little Toby! his heart seemed ready to break; but his few hours' +previous experience had taught him that there was but one thing +to do, and that was to work just as hard as possible, trusting to +some good fortune to enable him to get out of the very disagreeable +position in which he had voluntarily placed himself. + +He took the basket of candy that Mr. Jacobs handed him, and +trudged around the circle of seats, selling far more because of +the pitifulness of his face than because of the excellence of his +goods; and even this worked to his disadvantage. Mr. Jacobs was +keen enough to see why his little clerk sold so many goods, and +each time that he returned to the stand he said something to him +in an angry tone, which had the effect of deepening the shadow on +the boy's face and at the same time increasing trade. + +By the time the performance was over Toby had in his pocket a +dollar and twenty- five cents which had been given him for himself +by some of the kind hearted in the audience, and he kept his hand +almost constantly upon it, for the money seemed to him like some +kind friend who would help him out of his present difficulties. + +After the audience had dispersed, Mr. Jacobs set Toby at work +washing the glasses and clearing up generally, and then the boy +started toward the other portion of the store -- that watched over +by Mr. Lord. Not a person save the watchman was in the tent, and as +Toby went toward the door he saw his friend the monkey sitting in +one corner of the cage, and apparently watching his every movement. + +It was as if he had suddenly seen one of the boys from home, and +Toby, uttering an exclamation of delight, ran up to the cage and +put his hand through the wires. + +The monkey, in the gravest possible manner, took one of the fingers +in his paw, and Toby shook hands with him very earnestly. + +"I was sorry that I couldn't speak to you when I went in this noon," +said Toby, as if making an apology; "but, you see, there were so +many around here to see you that I couldn't get the chance. Did +you see me wink at you?" + +The monkey made no reply, but he twisted his face into such a funny +little grimace that Toby was quite as well satisfied as if he had +spoken. + +"I wonder if you hain't some relation to Steve Stubbs?" Toby +continued, earnestly, "for you look just like him, only he don't +have quite so many whiskers. What I wanted to say was that I'm +awful sorry I run away. I used to think that Uncle Dan'l was bad +enough; but he was just a perfect good Samarathon to what Mr. Lord +an' Mr. Jacobs are; an' when Mr. Lord looks at me with that crooked +eye of his I feel it 'way down in my boots. Do you know" -- and +here Toby put his mouth nearer to the monkey's head and whispered +-- "I'd run away from this circus if I could get the chance. Wouldn't +you?" + +Just at this point, as if in answer to the question, the monkey +stood up on his hind feet and reached out his paw to the boy, who +seemed to think this was his way of being more emphatic in saying +"Yes." + +Toby took the paw in his hand, shook it again earnestly, and said, +as he released it: "I was pretty sure you felt just about the same +way I did, Mr. Stubbs, when I passed you this noon. Look here" -- +and Toby took the money from his pocket which had been given him +-- "I got all that this afternoon, an' I'll try an' stick it out +somehow till I get as much as ten dollars, an' then we'll run away +some night, an' go 'way off as far as -- as -- as out West; an' +we'll stay there, too." + +The monkey, probably tired with remaining in one position so long; +started toward the top of the cage, chattering and screaming, +joining the other monkeys, who had gathered in a little group in +one of the swings. + +"Now see here, Mr. Stubbs," said Toby, in alarm, "you mustn't go to +telling everybody about it, or Mr. Lord will know, an' then we'll +be dished, sure." + +The monkey sat quietly in the swing, as if he felt reproved by what +the boy had said; and Toby, considerably relieved by his silence, +said, as he started toward the door, "That's right -- mum's the +word; you keep quiet, an' so will I, an' pretty soon we'll get away +from the whole crowd." + +All the monkeys chattered; and Toby, believing that everything +which he had said had been understood by the animals, went out of +the door to meet his other taskmaster. + + + +VI: A TENDER HEARTED SKELETON + + +"Now, then, lazybones," was Mr. Lord's warning cry as Toby came +out of the tent, "if you've fooled away enough of your time, you +can come here an' tend shop for me while I go to supper. You crammed +yourself this noon, an' it 'll teach you a good lesson to make you +go without anything to eat tonight; it 'll make you move round more +lively in future." + +Instead of becoming accustomed to such treatment as he was receiving +from his employers, Toby's heart grew more tender with each brutal +word, and this last punishment -- that of losing his supper -- +caused the poor boy more sorrow than blows would. Mr. Lord started +for the hotel as he concluded his cruel speech; and poor little +Toby, going behind the counter, leaned his head upon the rough +boards and cried as if his heart would break. + +All the fancied brightness and pleasure of a circus life had vanished, +and in its place was the bitterness of remorse that he had repaid +Uncle Daniel's kindness by the ingratitude of running away. Toby +thought that if he could only nestle his little red head on the +pillows of his little bed in that rough room at Uncle Daniel's, +he would be the happiest and best boy, in the future, in all the +great wide world. + +While he was still sobbing away at a most furious rate he heard +a voice close at his elbow, and, looking up, saw the thinnest man +he had ever seen in all his life. The man had flesh colored tights +on, and a spangled red velvet garment -- that was neither pants, +because there were no legs to it, nor a coat, because it did not +come above his waist -- made up the remainder of his costume. + +Because he was so wonderfully thin, because of the costume which +he wore, and because of a highly colored painting which was hanging +in front of one of the small tents, Toby knew that the Living Skeleton +was before him, and his big brown eyes opened all the wider as he +gazed at him. + +"What is the matter, little fellow?" asked the man, in a kindly +tone. "What makes you cry so? Has Job been up to his old tricks +again?" + +"I don't know what his old tricks are --" and Toby sobbed, the +tears coming again because of the sympathy which this man's voice +expressed for him -- "but I know that he's a mean, ugly thing -- +that's what I know; an' if I could only get back to Uncle Dan'l, +there hain't elephants enough in all the circuses in the world to +pull me away again." + +"Oh, you run away from home, did you?" + +"Yes, I did," sobbed Toby, "an' there hain't any boy in any Sunday +School book that ever I read that was half so sorry he'd been bad +as I am. It's awful; an' now I can't have any supper, 'cause I +stopped to talk with Mr. Stubbs." + +"Is Mr. Stubbs one of your friends?" asked the skeleton, as he +seated himself in Mr. Lord's own private chair. + +"Yes, he is, an' he's the only one in this whole circus who 'pears +to be sorry for me. You'd better not let Mr. Lord see you sittin' +in that chair or he'll raise a row." + +"Job won't raise any row with me," said the skeleton. "But who is +this Mr. Stubbs? I don't seem to know anybody by that name." + +"I don't think that is his name. I only call him so, 'cause he +looks so much like a feller I know who is named Stubbs." + +This satisfied the skeleton that this Mr. Stubbs must be someone +attached to the show, and he asked: + +"Has Job been whipping you?" + +"No; Ben, the driver on the wagon where I ride, told him not to do +that again; but he hain't going to let me have any supper, 'cause +I was so slow about my work -- though I wasn't slow; I only talked +to Mr. Stubbs when there wasn't anybody round his cage." + +"Sam! Sam! Sam-u-el!" + +This name, which was shouted twice in a quick, loud voice, and the +third time in a slow manner, ending almost in a screech, did not +come from either Toby or the skeleton, but from an enormously large +woman, dressed in a gaudy red and black dress, cut very short, and +with low neck and an apology for sleeves, who had just come out +from the tent whereon the picture of the Living Skeleton hung. + +"Samuel," she screamed again, "come inside this minute, or you'll +catch your death o' cold, an' I shall have you wheezin' around with +the phthisic all night. Come in, Sam-u-el." + +"That's her," said the skeleton to Toby, as he pointed his thumb +in the direction of the fat woman, but paying no attention to +the outcry she was making -- "that's my wife Lilly, an' she's the +Fat Woman of the show. She's always yellin' after me that way the +minute I get out for a little fresh air, an' she's always sayin' +just the same thing. Bless you, I never have the phthisic, but she +does awful; an' I s'pose 'cause she's so large she can't feel all +over her, an' thinks it's me that has it." + +"Is -- is all that -- is that your wife?" stammered Toby, in +astonishment, as he looked at the enormously fat woman who stood in +the tent door, and then at the wonderfully thin man who sat beside +him. + +"Yes, that's her," said the skeleton. "She weighs pretty nigh four +hundred, though of course the show cards says it's over six hundred, +an' she earns almost as much money as I do. Of course she can't +get so much, for skeletons is much scarcer than fat folks; but we +make a pretty good thing travelin' together." + +"Sam-u-el!" again came the cry from the fat woman, "are you never +coming in?" + +"Not yet, my angel," said the skeleton, placidly, as he crossed +one thin leg over the other and looked calmly at her. "Come here +an' see Job's new boy." + +"Your imprudence is wearin' me away so that I sha'n't be worth five +dollars a week to any circus," she said, impatiently, at the same +time coming toward the candy stand quite as rapidly as her very +great size would admit. + +"This is my wife Lilly -- Mrs. Treat," said the skeleton, with a +proud wave of his hand, as he rose from his seat and gazed admiringly +at her. "This is my flower -- my queen, Mr. -- Mr. --" + +"Tyler," said Toby, supplying the name which the skeleton -- or Mr. +Treat, as Toby now learned his name was -- did not know; "Tyler is +my name -- Toby Tyler." + +"Why, what a little chap you are!" said Mrs. Treat, paying no +attention to the awkward little bend of the head which Toby intended +for a bow. "How small he is, Samuel!" + +"Yes," said the skeleton, reflectively, as he looked Toby over from +head to foot, as if he were mentally trying to calculate exactly +how many inches high he was, "he is small; but he's got all the +world before him to grow in, an' if he only eats enough -- There, +that reminds me. Job isn't going to give him any supper, because +he didn't work hard enough." + +"He won't, won't he?" exclaimed the large lady, savagely. "Oh, he's +a precious one, he is! An' some day I shall just give him a good +shakin' up, that's what I'll do. I get all out of patience with +that man's ugliness." + +"An' she'll do just what she says," said the skeleton to Toby, +with an admiring shake of the head. "That woman hain't afraid of +anybody, an' I wouldn't be a bit surprised if she did give Job a +pretty rough time." + +Toby thought, as he looked at her, that she was large enough to +give 'most anyone a pretty rough time, but he did not venture to +say so. While he was looking first at her, and then at her very +thin husband, the skeleton told his wife the little that he had +learned regarding the boy's history; and when he had concluded she +waddled away toward her tent. + +"Great woman that," said the skeleton, as he saw her disappear +within the tent. + +"Yes," said Toby, "she's the greatest I ever saw." + +"I mean that she's got a great head. Now you'll see about how much +she cares for what Job says." + +"If I was as big as her," said Toby, with just a shade of envy in +his voice, "I wouldn't be afraid of anybody." + +"It hain't so much the size," said the skeleton, sagely -- "it +hain't so much the size, my boy; for I can scare that woman almost +to death when I feel like it." + +Toby looked for a moment at Mr. Treat's thin legs and arms, and +then he said, warningly, "I wouldn't feel like it very often if I +was you, Mr. Treat, 'cause she might break some of your bones if +you didn't happen to scare her enough." + +"Don't fear for me, my boy -- don't fear for me; you'll see how +I manage her if you stay with the circus long enough. Now I often +--" + +If Mr. Treat was about to confide a family secret to Toby, it was +fated that he should not hear it then, for Mrs. Treat had just come +out of her tent, carrying in her hands a large tin plate piled high +with a miscellaneous assortment of pie, cake, bread, and meat. + +She placed this in front of Toby, and as she did so she handed him +two pictures. + +"There, little Toby Tyler," she said -- "there's something for you +to eat, if Mr. Job Lord and his precious partner Jacobs did say +you shouldn't have any supper; an' I've brought you a picture of +Samuel an' me. We sell 'em for ten cents apiece, but I'm going to +give them to you, because I like the looks of you." + +Toby was quite overcome with the presents, and seemed at a loss +how to thank her for them. He attempted to speak, but could not +get the words out at first; and then he said, as he put the two +photographs in the same pocket with his money: "You're awful good +to me, an' when I get to be a man I'll give you lots of things. +I wasn't so very hungry, if I am such a big eater, but I did want +something." + +"Bless your dear little heart, and you shall have something to +eat," said the Fat Woman, as she seized Toby, squeezed him close +up to her, and kissed his freckled face as kindly as if it had been +as fair and white as possible. "You shall eat all you want to; an' +if you get the stomachache, as Samuel does sometimes when he's been +eatin' too much, I'll give you some catnip tea out of the same +dipper that I give him his. He's a great eater, Samuel is," she +added, in a burst of confidence, "an' it's a wonder to me what he +does with it all sometimes." + +"Is he?" exclaimed Toby, quickly. "How funny that is! for I'm an +awful eater. Why, Uncle Dan'l used to say that I ate twice as much +as I ought to, an' it never made me any bigger. I wonder what's +the reason?" + +"I declare I don't know," said the Fat Woman, thoughtfully, "an' +I've wondered at it time an' time again. Some folks is made that +way, an' some folks is made different. Now I don't eat enough to +keep a chicken alive, an' yet I grow fatter an' fatter every day +-- don't I, Samuel?" + +"Indeed you do, my love," said the skeleton, with a world of pride +in his voice; "but you mustn't feel bad about it, for every pound +you gain makes you worth just so much more to the show." + +"Oh, I wasn't worryin', I was only wonderin'. But we must go, Samuel, +for the poor child won't eat a bit while we are here. After you've +eaten what there is there, bring the plate in to me," she said to +Toby, as she took her lean husband by the arm and walked him off +toward their own tent. + +Toby gazed after them a moment, and then he commenced a vigorous +attack upon the eatables which had been so kindly given him. Of +the food which he had taken from the dinner table he had eaten some +while he was in the tent, and after that he had entirely forgotten +that he had any in his pocket; therefore, at the time that Mrs. Treat +had brought him such a liberal supply he was really very hungry. + +He succeeded in eating nearly all the food which had been brought +to him, and the very small quantity which remained he readily found +room for in his pockets. Then he washed the plate nicely; and seeing +no one in sight, he thought he could leave the booth long enough +to return the plate. + +He ran with it quickly into the tent occupied by the thin man and +fat woman, and handed it to her, with a profusion of thanks for +her kindness. + +"Did you eat it all?" she asked. + +"Well," hesitated Toby, "there was two doughnuts an' a piece of +pie left over, an' I put them in my pocket. If you don't care, I'll +eat them some time tonight." + +"You shall eat it whenever you want to; an' any time that you get +hungry again you come right to me." + +"Thank you, marm. I must go now, for I left the store all alone." + +"Run, then; an' if Job abuses you, just let me know it, an' I'll +keep him from cuttin' up any monkeyshines." + +Toby hardly heard the end of her sentence, so great was his haste +to get back to the booth; and just as he emerged from the tent, on +a quick run, he received a blow on the ear which sent him sprawling +in the dust, and he heard Mr. Job Lord's angry voice as it said, + +"So, just the moment my back is turned you leave the stand to take +care of itself, do you, an' run around tryin' to plot some mischief +against me, eh?" And the brute kicked the prostrate boy twice with +his heavy boot. + +"Please don't kick me again!" pleaded Toby. "I wasn't gone but a +minute, an' I wasn't doing anything bad." + +"You're lying now, an' you know it, you young cub!" exclaimed the +angry man as he advanced to kick the boy again. "I'll let you know +who you've got to deal with when you get hold of me!" + +"And I'll let you know who you've got to deal with when you get +hold of me!" said a woman's voice; and just as Mr. Lord raised his +foot to kick the boy again the fat woman seized him by the collar, +jerked him back over one of the tent ropes, and left him quite as +prostrate as he had left Toby. + +"Now, Job Lord," said the angry woman, as she towered above the +thoroughly enraged but thoroughly frightened man, "I want you to +understand that you can't knock and beat this boy while I'm around. +I've seen enough of your capers, an' I'm going to put a stop to +them. That boy wasn't in this tent more than two minutes, an' he +attends to his work better than anyone you have ever had; so see +that you treat him decent. Get up," she said to Toby, who had not +dared to rise from the ground; "and if he offers to strike you +again, come to me." + +Toby scrambled to his feet, and ran to the booth in time to attend +to one or two customers who had just come up. He could see from out +the corner of his eye that Mr. Lord had arisen to his feet also, +and was engaged in an angry conversation with Mrs. Treat, the result +of which he very much feared would be another and a worse whipping +for him. + +But in this he was mistaken, for Mr. Lord, after the conversation +was ended, came toward the booth, and began to attend to his business +without speaking one word to Toby. When Mr. Jacobs returned from +his supper, Mr. Lord took him by the arm and walked him out toward +the rear of the tents; and Tony was very positive that he was to +be the subject of their conversation, which made him not a little +uneasy. + +It was not until nearly time for the performance to begin that Mr. +Lord returned, and he had nothing to say to Toby save to tell him +to go into the tent and begin his work there. The boy was only +too glad to escape so easily, and he went to his work with as much +alacrity as if he were about entering upon some pleasure. + +When he met Mr. Jacobs that gentleman spoke to him very sharply +about being late, and seemed to think it no excuse at all that he +had just been relieved from the outside work by Mr. Lord. + + + +VII: AN ACCIDENT AND ITS CONSEQUENCES + + +Toby's experience in the evening was very similar to that of the +afternoon, save that he was so fortunate as not to take any more +bad money in payment for his goods. Mr. Jacobs scolded and swore +alternately, and the boy really surprised him by his way of selling +goods, though he was very careful not to say anything about it, +but made Toby believe that he was doing only about half as much +work as he ought to do. Toby's private hoard of money was increased +that evening, by presents, ninety cents, and he began to look upon +himself as almost a rich man. + +When the performance was nearly over Mr. Jacobs called to him to +help in packing up; and by the time the last spectator had left +the tent the worldly possessions of Messrs. Lord and Jacobs were +ready for removal, and Toby allowed to do as he had a mind to, +so long as he was careful to be on hand when Old Ben was ready to +start. + +Toby thought that he would have time to pay a visit to his friends +the skeleton and the Fat Woman, and to that end started toward +the place where their tent had been standing; but to his sorrow he +found that it was already being taken down, and he had only time +to thank Mrs. Treat and to press the fleshless hand of her shadowy +husband as they entered their wagon to drive away. + +He was disappointed, for he had hoped to be able to speak with his +new made friends a few moments before the weary night's ride commenced; +but, failing in that, he went hastily back to the monkeys' cage. +Old Ben was there, getting things ready for a start; but the wooden +sides of the cage had not been put up, and Toby had no difficulty +in calling the aged monkey up to the bars. He held one of the Fat +Woman's doughnuts in his hand, and said, as he passed it through +to the animal: + +"I thought perhaps you might be hungry, Mr. Stubbs, and this is +some of what the skeleton's wife gave me. I hain't got very much +time to talk with you now; but the first chance I can get away +tomorrow, an' when there hain't anybody round, I want to tell you +something." + +The monkey had taken the doughnut in his handlike paws, and was +tearing it to pieces, eating small portions of it very rapidly. + +"Don't hurry yourself," said Toby, warningly, "for Uncle Dan'l +always told me the worst thing a feller could do was to eat fast. +If you want any more, after we start, just put your hand through +the little hole up there near the seat, an' I'll give you all you +want." + +From the look on his face Toby confidently believed the monkey +was about to make some reply; but just then Ben shut up the sides, +separating Toby and Mr. Stubbs, and the order was given to start. + +Toby clambered up on to the high seat, Ben followed him, and in +another instant the team was moving along slowly down the dusty +road, preceded and followed by the many wagons, with their tiny +swinging lights. + +"Well," said Ben, when he had got his team well under way and felt +that he could indulge in a little conversation, "how did you get +along today?" + +Toby related all of his movements, and gave the driver a faithful +account of all that had happened to him, concluding his story by +saying, "That was one of Mrs. Treat's doughnuts that I just gave +to Mr. Stubbs." + +"To whom?" asked Ben, in surprise. + +"To Mr. Stubbs -- the old fellow here in the cart, you know, that's +been so good to me." + +Toby heard a sort of gurgling sound, saw the driver's body sway +back and forth in a trembling way, and was just becoming thoroughly +alarmed, when he thought of the previous night, and understood that +Ben was only laughing in his own peculiar way. + +"How did you know his name was Stubbs?" asked Ben, after he had +recovered his breath. + +"Oh, I don't know that that is his real name," was the quick reply; +"I only call him that because he looks so much like a feller with +that name that I knew at home. He don't seem to mind because I call +him Stubbs." + +Ben looked at Toby earnestly for a moment, acting all the time as +if he wanted to laugh again, but didn't dare to, for fear he might +burst a blood vessel; and then he said, as he patted him on the +shoulder: "Well, you are the queerest little fish that I ever saw +in all my travels. You seem to think that that monkey knows all +you say to him." + +"I'm sure he does," said Toby, positively. "He don't say anything +right out to me, but he knows everything I tell him. Do you suppose +he could talk if he tried to?" + +"Look here, Mr. Toby Tyler" -- and Ben turned half around in his +seat and looked Toby full in the face, so as to give more emphasis +to his words -- "are you heathen enough to think that that monkey +could talk if he wanted to?" + +"I know I hain't a heathen," said Toby, thoughtfully, "for if I +had been some of the missionaries would have found me out a good +while ago; but I never saw anybody like this old Mr. Stubbs before, +an' I thought he could talk if he wanted to, just as the Living +Skeleton does, or his wife. Anyhow, Mr. Stubbs winked at me; an' +how could he do that if he didn't know what I've been sayin' to +him?" + +"Look here, my son," said Ben, in a most fatherly fashion, "monkeys +hain't anything but beasts, an' they don't know how to talk any +more than they know what you say to 'em." + +"Didn't you ever hear any of them speak a word?" + +"Never. I've been in a circus, man an' boy, nigh on to forty years, +an' I never seen nothin' in a monkey more 'n any other beast, except +their awful mischiefness." + +"Well," said Toby, still unconvinced, "I believe Mr. Stubbs knows +what I say to him, anyway." + +"Now don't be foolish, Toby," pleaded Ben. "You can't show me one +thing that a monkey ever did because you told him to." + +Just at this moment Toby felt someone pulling at the back of his +coat, and, looking round, he saw it was a little brown hand, reaching +through the bars of the air hole of the cage, that was tugging away +at his coat. + +"There!" he said, triumphantly, to Ben. "Look there! I told Mr. +Stubbs if he wanted anything more to eat, to tell me an' I would +give it to him. Now you can see for yourself that he's come for +it." And Toby took a doughnut from his pocket and put it into the +tiny hand, which was immediately withdrawn. + +"Now what do you think of Mr. Stubbs knowing what I say to him?" + +"They often stick their paws up through there," said Ben, in a +matter of fact tone. "I've had 'em pull my coat in the night till +they made me as nervous as ever any old woman was. You see, Toby +my boy, monkeys is monkeys; an' you mustn't go to gettin' the idea +that they're anything else, for it's a mistake. You think this old +monkey in here knows what you say? Why, that's just the cuteness +of the old fellow -- he watches you to see if he can't do just as +you do, an' that's all there is about it." + +Toby was more than half convinced that Ben was putting the matter +in its proper light, and he would have believed all that had been +said if, just at that moment, he had not seen that brown hand +reaching through the hole to clutch him again by the coat. + +The action seemed so natural, so like a hungry boy who gropes +in the dark pantry for something to eat, that it would have taken +more arguments than Ben had at his disposal to persuade Toby that +his Mr. Stubbs could not understand all that was said to him. +Toby put another doughnut in the outstretched hand, and then sat +silently, as if in a brown study over some difficult problem. + +For some time the ride was continued in silence. Ben was going +through all the motions of whistling without uttering a sound -- a +favorite amusement of his -- and Toby's thoughts were far away in +the humble home he had scorned, with Uncle Daniel, whose virtues had +increased in his esteem with every mile of distance which had been +put between them, and whose faults had decreased in a corresponding +ratio. + +Toby's thoughtfulness had made him sleepy, and his eyes were almost +closed in slumber, when he was startled by a crashing sound, was +conscious of a feeling of being hurled from his seat by some great +force, and then he lay senseless by the side of the road, while +the wagon became a perfect wreck, from out of which a small army +of monkeys was escaping. + +Ben's experienced ear had told him at the first crash that his +wagon was breaking down, and, without having time to warn Toby of +his peril, he had leaped clear of the wreck, keeping his horses +under perfect control and thus averting more trouble. It was the +breaking of one of the axles which Toby had heard just before he +was thrown from his seat and when the body of the wagon came down +upon the hard road. + +The monkeys, thus suddenly released from confinement, had scampered +off in every direction, and by a singular chance Toby's aged friend +started for the woods in such a direction as to bring him directly +before the boy's insensible form. The monkey, on coming up to Toby, +stopped, urged by the well known curiosity of its race, and began +to examine the boy's person carefully, prying into pockets and +trying to open the boy's half closed eyelids. Fortunately for Toby, +he had fallen upon a mud bank and was only stunned for the moment, +having received no serious bruises. The attentions bestowed upon +him by the monkey served the purpose of bringing him to his senses; +and, after he had looked around him in the gray light of the coming +morning, it would have taken far more of a philosopher than Old +Ben was to persuade the boy that monkeys did not possess reasoning +faculties. + +The monkey was busy at Toby's ears, nose, and mouth, as monkeys +will do when they get an opportunity, and the expression of its face +was as grave as possible. Toby firmly believed that the monkey's +face showed sorrow at his fall, and he imagined that the attentions +which were bestowed upon him were for the purpose of learning +whether he had been injured or not. + +"Don't worry, Mr. Stubbs," said Toby, anxious to reassure his +friend, as he sat upright and looked about him. "I didn't get hurt +any; but I would like to know how I got way over here." + +It really seemed as if the monkey was pleased to know that his +little friend was not hurt, for he seated himself on his haunches, +and his face expressed the liveliest pleasure that Toby was well +again -- or at least that was how the boy interpreted the look. + +By this time the news of the accident had been shouted ahead from +one team to the other, and all hands were hurrying to the scene +for the purpose of rendering aid. As Toby saw them coming he also +saw a number of small forms, looking something like diminutive men, +hurrying past him, and for the first time he understood how it was +that the aged monkey was at liberty, and knew that those little +dusky forms were the other occupants of the cage escaping to the +woods. + +"See there, Mr. Stubbs! see there!" he exclaimed, pointing toward +the fugitives; "they're all going off into the woods! What shall +we do?" + +The sight of the runaways seemed to excite the old monkey quite as +much as it did the boy. He sprang to his feet, chattering in the +most excited way, screamed two or three times, as if he were calling +them back, and then started off in vigorous pursuit. + +"Now he's gone too!" said Toby, disconsolately, believing the old +fellow had run away from him. "I didn't think Mr. Stubbs would +treat me this way!" + + + +VIII: CAPTURE OF THE MONKEYS + + +The boy tried to rise to his feet, but his head whirled so, and +he felt so dizzy and sick from the effects of his fall, that he +was obliged to sit down again until he should feel able to stand. +Meanwhile the crowd around the wagon paid no attention to him, and +he lay there quietly enough, until he heard the hateful voice of +Mr. Lord asking if his boy were hurt. + +The sound of his voice affected Toby very much as the chills and +fever affect a sufferer, and he shook so with fear, and his heart +beat so loudly, that he thought Mr. Lord must know where he was by +the sound. Seeing, however, that his employer did not come directly +toward him, the thought flashed upon his mind that now would be a +good chance to run away, and he acted upon it at once. He rolled +himself over in the mud until he reached a low growth of fir trees +that skirted the road, and when beneath their friendly shade he +rose to his feet and walked swiftly toward the woods, following +the direction the monkeys had taken. + +He no longer felt dizzy and sick; the fear of Mr. Lord had dispelled +all that, and he felt strong and active again. + +He had walked rapidly for some distance, and was nearly beyond the +sound of the voices in the road, when he was startled by seeing +quite a procession of figures emerge from the trees and come directly +toward him. + +He could not understand the meaning of this strange company, and +it so frightened him that he attempted to hide behind a tree, in +the hope that they might pass without seeing him. But no sooner +had he secreted himself than a strange, shrill chattering came from +the foremost of the group, and in an instant Toby emerged from his +place of concealment. + +He had recognized the peculiar sound as that of the old monkey who +had left him a few moments before, and he knew now what he did not +know then, owing to the darkness. The newcomers were the monkeys +that had escaped from the cage, and had been overtaken and compelled +to come back by the old monkey, who seemed to have the most perfect +control over them. + +The old fellow was leading the band, and all were linked "hand in +hand" with each other, which gave the whole crowd a most comical +appearance as they came up to Toby, half hopping, half walking +upright, and all chattering and screaming, like a crowd of children +out for a holiday. + +Toby stepped toward the noisy crowd, held out his hand gravely to +the old monkey, and said, in tones of heartfelt sorrow: + +"I felt awful bad because I thought you had gone off an' left me, +when you went off to find the other fellows. You're awful good, +Mr. Stubbs; an' now, instead of runnin' away, as I was goin' to +do, we'll all go back together." + +The old monkey grasped Toby's extended hand with his disengaged paw, +and, clinging firmly to it, the whole crowd followed in unbroken +line, chattering and scolding at the most furious rate, while every +now and then Mr. Stubbs would look back and scream out something, +which would cause the confusion to cease for an instant. + +It was really a comical sight, but Toby seemed to think it the +most natural thing in the world that they should follow him in this +manner, and he chattered to the old monkey quite as fast as any of +the others were doing. He told him very gravely all that he knew +about the accident, explained why it was that he conceived the idea +of running away, and really believed that Mr. Stubbs understood +every word he was saying. + +Very shortly after Toby had started to run away the proprietor of +the circus drove up to the scene of disaster, and, after seeing that +the wagon was being rapidly fixed up so that it could be hauled +to the next town, he ordered that search should be made for the +monkeys. It was very important that they should be captured at once, +and he appeared to think more of the loss of the animals than of +the damage done to the wagon. + +While the men were forming a plan for a search for the truants, +so that in case of a capture they could let one another know, the +noise made by Toby and his party was heard, and the men stood still +to learn what it meant. + +The entire party burst into shouts of laughter as Toby and his +companions walked into the circle of light formed by the glare of +the lanterns, and the merriment was by no means abated at Toby's +serious demeanor. The wagon was now standing upright, with the +door open, and Toby therefore led his companions directly to it, +gravely motioning them to enter. + +The old monkey, instead of obeying, stepped back to Toby's side, +and screamed to the others in such a manner that they all entered +the cage, leaving him on the outside with the boy. + +Toby motioned him to get in, too, but he clung to his hand, and +scolded so furiously that it was apparent he had no idea of leaving +his boy companion. One of the men stepped up and was about to force +him into the wagon, when the proprietor ordered him to stop. + +"What boy is that?" he asked. + +"Job Lord's new boy," said someone in the crowd. + +The man asked Toby how it was that he had succeeded in capturing +all the runaways; and he answered, gravely: + +"Mr. Stubbs an' I are good friends, an' when he saw the others +runnin' away he just stopped 'em an' brought 'em back to me. I wish +you'd let Mr. Stubbs ride with me; we like each other a good deal." + +"You can do just what you please with Mr. Stubbs, as you call him. +I expected to lose half the monkeys in that cage, and you have +brought back every one. That monkey shall be yours, and you may put +him in the cage whenever you want to, or take him with you, just +as you choose, for he belongs entirely to you." + +Toby's joy knew no bounds; he put his arm around the monkey's +neck, and the monkey clung firmly to him, until even Job Lord was +touched at the evidence of affection between the two. + +While the wagon was being repaired Toby and the monkey stood hand +in hand watching the work go on, while those in the cage scolded +and raved because they had been induced to return to captivity. +After a while the old monkey seated himself on Toby's arm and +cuddled close up to him, uttering now and then a contented sort of +a little squeak as the boy talked to him. + +That night Mr. Stubbs slept in Toby's arms, in the band wagon, and +both boy and monkey appeared very well contented with their lot, +which a short time previous had seemed so hard. + +When Toby awakened to his second day's work with the circus his +monkey friend was seated by his side, gravely exploring his pockets, +and all the boy's treasures were being spread out on the floor of +the wagon by his side. Toby remonstrated with him on this breach +of confidence, but Mr. Stubbs was more in the mood for sport than +for grave conversation, and the more Toby talked the more mischievous +did he become, until at length the boy gathered up his little store +of treasures, took the monkey by the paw, and walked him toward +the cage from which he had escaped on the previous night. + +"Now, Mr. Stubbs," said Toby, speaking in an injured tone, "you must +go in here and stay till I have got more time to fool with you." + +He opened the door of the cage, but the monkey struggled as well +as he was able, and Toby was obliged to exert all his strength to +put him in. + +When once the door was fastened upon him Toby tried to impress upon +his monkey friend's mind the importance of being more sedate, and +he was convinced that the words had sunk deep into Mr. Stubbs's +heart, for, by the time he had concluded, the old monkey was seated +in the corner of the cage, looking up from under his shaggy eyebrows +in the most reproachful manner possible. + +Toby felt sorry that he had spoken so harshly, and was about to +make amends for his severity, when Mr. Lord's gruff voice recalled +him to the fact that his time was not his own, and he therefore +commenced his day's work, but with a lighter heart than he had had +since he stole away from Uncle Daniel and Guilford. + +This day was not very much different from the preceding one so +far as the manner of Mr. Lord and his partner toward the boy was +concerned; they seemed to have an idea that he was doing only about +half as much work as he ought to, and both united in swearing at +and abusing him as much as possible. + +So far as his relations with other members of the company were +concerned, Toby now stood in a much better position than before. +Those who had witnessed the scene told the others how Toby had led +in the monkeys on the night previous, and nearly every member of +the company had a kind word for the little fellow whose head could +hardly be seen above the counter of Messrs. Lord and Jacobs's booth. + + + +IX: THE DINNER PARTY + + +At noon Toby was thoroughly tired out, for whenever anyone spoke +kindly to him Mr. Lord seemed to take a malicious pleasure in giving +him extra tasks to do, until Toby began to hope that no one else +would pay any attention to him. On this day he was permitted to +go to dinner first, and after he returned he was left in charge of +the booth. Trade being dull -- as it usually was during the dinner +hour -- he had very little work to do after he had cleaned the +glasses and set things to rights generally. + +When, therefore, he saw the gaunt form of the skeleton emerge from +his tent and come toward him he was particularly pleased, for he +had begun to think very kindly of the thin man and his fleshy wife. + +"Well, Toby," said the skeleton, as he came up to the booth, carefully +dusted Mr. Lord's private chair, and sat down very cautiously in +it, as if he expected that it would break down under his weight, +"I hear you've been making quite a hero of yourself by capturing +the monkeys last night." + +Toby's freckled face reddened with pleasure as he heard these words, +and he stammered out, with considerable difficulty, "I didn't do +anything; it was Mr. Stubbs that brought 'em back." + +"Mr. Stubbs!" And the skeleton laughed so heartily that Toby was +afraid he would dislocate some of his thinly covered joints. "When +you was tellin' about Mr. Stubbs yesterday I thought you meant +someone belonging to the company. You ought to have seen my wife +Lilly shake with laughing when I told her who Mr. Stubbs was!" + +"Yes," said Toby, at a loss to know just what to say, "I should +think she would shake when she laughs." + +"She does," replied the skeleton. "If you could see her when +something funny strikes her you'd think she was one of those big +plates of jelly that they have in the bakeshop windows." And Mr. +Treat looked proudly at the gaudy picture which represented his +wife in all her monstrosity of flesh. "She's a great woman, Toby, +an' she's got a great head." + +Toby nodded his head in assent. He would have liked to say something +nice regarding Mrs. Treat, but he really did not know what to say, +so he simply contented himself and the fond husband by nodding. + +"She thinks a good deal of you, Toby," continued the skeleton, as +he moved his chair to a position more favorable for him to elevate +his feet on the edge of the counter, and placed his handkerchief +under him as a cushion; "she's talking of you all the time, and +if you wasn't such a little fellow I should begin to be jealous of +you -- I should, upon my word." + +"You're -- both -- very -- good," stammered Toby, so weighted down +by a sense of the honor heaped upon him as to be at a loss for +words. + +"An' she wants to see more of you. She made me come out here now, +when she knew Mr. Lord would be away, to tell you that we're goin' +to have a little kind of a friendly dinner in our tent tomorrow -- +she's cooked it all herself, or she's going to -- and we want you +to come in an' have some with us." + +Toby's eyes glistened at the thought of the unexpected pleasure, +and then his face grew sad as he replied, "I'd like to come first +rate, Mr. Treat, but I don't s'pose Mr. Lord would let me stay away +from the shop long enough." + +"Why, you won't have any work to do tomorrow, Toby -- it's Sunday." + +"So it is!" said the boy, with a pleased smile, as he thought of +the day of rest which was so near. And then he added, quickly: "An' +this is Saturday afternoon. What fun the boys at home are havin'! +You see, there hain't any school Saturday afternoon, an all the +fellers go out in the woods." + +"And you wish you were there to go with them, don't you?" asked +the skeleton, sympathetically. + +"Indeed I do!" exclaimed Toby, quickly. "It's twice as good as any +circus that ever was." + +"But you didn't think so before you came with us, did you?" + +"I didn't know so much about circuses then as I do now," replied +the boy, sadly. + +Mr. Treat saw that he was touching on a sore subject, and one which +was arousing sad thoughts in his little companion's mind, and he +hastened to change it at once. + +"Then I can tell Lilly that you'll come, can I?" + +"Oh yes, I'll be sure to be there; an' I want you to know just how +good I think you both are to me." + +"That's all right, Toby," said Mr. Treat, with a pleased expression +on his face; "an' you may bring Mr. Stubbs with you, if you want." + +"Thank you," said Toby. "I'm sure Mr. Stubbs will be just as glad +to come as I shall. But where will we be tomorrow?" + +"Right here. We always stay over Sunday at the place where we show +Saturday. But I must be going, or Lilly will worry her life out of +her for fear I'm somewhere getting cold. She's awful careful of +me, that woman is. You'll be on hand tomorrow at one o'clock, won't +you?" + +"Indeed I will," said Toby, emphatically, "an' I'll bring Mr. Stubbs +with me, too." + +With a friendly nod of his head, the skeleton hurried away +to reassure his wife that he was safe and well; and before he had +hardly disappeared within the tent Toby had another caller, who +was none other than his old friend Old Ben, the driver. + +"Well, my boy," shouted Ben, in his cheery, hearty tones, "I haven't +seen you since you left the wagon so sudden last night. Did you +get shook up much?" + +"Oh no," replied Toby. "You see I hain't very big; an' then I struck +in the mud; so I got off pretty easy." + +"That's a fact; an' you can thank your lucky stars for it, too, for +I've seen grown up men get pitched off a wagon in that way an break +their necks doin' it. But has Job told you where you was going to +sleep tonight? You know we stay over here till tomorrow." + +"I didn't think anything about that; but I s'pose I'll sleep in +the wagon, won't I?" + +"You can sleep at the hotel, if you want to; but the beds will +likely be dirty; an' if you take my advice you'll crawl into some +of the wagons in the tent." + +Ben then explained to him that, after his work was done that +night, he would not be expected to report for duty until the time +for starting on Sunday night, and concluded his remarks by saying: + +"Now you know what your rights are, an don't you let Job impose +on you in any way. I'll be round here after you get through work, +an' we'll bunk in somewhere together." + +The arrival of Messrs. Lord and Jacobs put a stop to the conversation, +and was the signal for Toby's time of trial. It seemed to him, and +with good reason, that the chief delight these men had in life was +to torment him, for neither ever spoke a pleasant word to him; and +when one was not giving him some difficult work to do, or finding +fault in some way, the other would be sure to do so; and Toby had +very little comfort from the time he began work in the morning +until he stopped at night. + +It was not until after the evening performance was over that Toby +had a chance to speak with Mr. Stubbs, and then he was so tired +that he simply took the old monkey from the cage, nestled him under +his jacket, and lay down with him to sleep in the place which Old +Ben had selected. + +When the morning came Mr. Stubbs aroused his young master at a +much 'earlier hour than he would have awakened had he been left to +himself, and the two went out for a short walk before breakfast. +They went instinctively toward the woods; and when the shade of +the trees was once reached, how the two reveled in their freedom! +Mr. Stubbs climbed into the trees, swung himself from one to +the other by means of his tail, gathered half ripe nuts, which he +threw at his master, tried to catch the birds, and had a good time +generally. + +Toby, stretched at full length on the mossy bank, watched the antics +of his pet, laughing boisterously at times as Mr. Stubbs would do +some one thing more comical than usual, and forgot there was in +this world such a thing as a circus or such a man as Job Lord. It +was to Toby a morning without a flaw, and he took no heed of the +time, until the sound of the church bells warned him of the lateness +of the hour, reminding him at the same time of where he should be +-- where he would be, if he were at home with Uncle Daniel. + +In the mean time the old monkey had been trying to attract his young +master's attention, and, failing in his efforts, he came down from +the tree, crept softly up to Toby, and nestled his head under the +boy's arm. + +This little act of devotion seemed to cause Toby's grief to burst +forth afresh, and, clasping the monkey around the neck, hugging +him close to his bosom, he sobbed: + +"Oh, Mr. Stubbs, Mr. Stubbs, how lonesome we are! If we was only +at Uncle Dan'l's we'd be the two happiest people in all this world. +We could play on the hay, or go up to the pasture, or go down to +the village; an' I'd work my fingers off if I could only be there +just once more. It was wicked for me to run away, an' now I'm +gettin' paid for it." + +He hugged the monkey closely, swaying his body to and fro, and +presenting a perfect picture of grief. The monkey, not knowing what +to make of this changed mood, cowered whimperingly in his arms, +looking up into his face, and licking the boy's hands whenever he +had the opportunity. + +It was some time before Toby's grief exhausted itself; and then, +still clasping the monkey, he hurried out of the woods toward the +town and the now thoroughly hated circus tents. + +The clocks were just striking one as Toby entered the inclosure +used by the show as a place of performance, and, remembering his +engagement with the skeleton and his wife, he went directly to +their tent. From the odors which assailed him as he entered, it was +very evident that a feast of no mean proportions was in course of +preparation, and Toby's keen appetite returned in full vigor. Even +the monkey seemed affected by the odor, for he danced about on his +master's shoulder, and chattered so that Toby was obliged to choke +him a little in order to make him present a respectable appearance. + +When Toby reached the interior of the tent he was astonished at the +extent of the preparations that were being made, and gazed around +him in surprise. The platform on which the lean man and fat woman +were in the habit of exhibiting themselves now bore a long table, +loaded with eatables; and, from the fact that eight or ten chairs +were ranged around it, Toby understood that he was not the only +guest invited to the feast. Some little attempt had also been made +at decoration by festooning that end of the tent where the platform +was placed with two or three flags and some streamers, and the tent +poles also were fringed with tissue paper of the brightest colors. + +Toby had only time enough to notice this when the skeleton advanced +toward him, and, with the liveliest appearance of pleasure, said, +as he took him by the hands with a grip that made him wince: + +"It gives me great joy, Mr. Tyler, to welcome you at one of our +little home reunions, if one can call a tent, that is moved every +day in the week, home." + +Toby hardly knew whom Mr. Treat referred to when he said "Mr. +Tyler"; but by the time his hands were released from the bony grasp +he understood that it was himself who was spoken to. + +The skeleton then formally introduced him to the other guests +present, who were sitting at one end of the tent, and evidently +anxiously awaiting the coming feast. + +"These," said Mr. Treat, as he waved his hand toward two white haired, +pink eyed young ladies who sat with their arms twined around each +other's waist, and had been eying the monkey with some appearance +of fear, "are the Miss Cushings, known to the world as the Albino +Children; they command a large salary and form a very attractive +feature of our exhibition." + +The young ladies arose at the same time, as if they had been the +Siamese Twins and could not act independently of each other, and +bowed. + +Toby made the best bow he was capable of; and the monkey made +frantic efforts to escape, as if he would enjoy twisting his paws +in their perpendicular hair. + +"And this," continued Mr. Treat, pointing to a sickly, sour looking +individual who was sitting apart from the others, with his arms +folded, and looking as if he was counting the very seconds before +the dinner should begin, "is the wonderful Signor Castro, whose +sword swallowing feats you have doubtless heard of." + +Toby stepped back just one step, as if overwhelmed by awe at +beholding the signor in the guise of a humble individual; and the +gentleman who gained his livelihood by swallowing swords unbent +his dignity so far as to unfold his arms and present a very dirty +looking hand for Toby to shake. The boy took hold of the outstretched +hand, wondering why the signor never used soap and water; and Mr. +Stubbs, apparently afraid of the sour looking man, retreated to +Toby's shoulder, where he sat chattering and scolding about the +introduction. + +Again the skeleton waved his hand, and this time he introduced +"Mademoiselle Spelletti, the wonderful snake charmer, whose exploits +in this country, and before the crowned heads of Europe had caused +the whole world to stand aghast at her daring." + +Mademoiselle Spelletti was a very ordinary looking young lady of +about twenty-five years of age, who looked very much as if her name +might originally have been Murphy, and she, too, extended a hand +for Toby to grasp -- only her hand was clean, and she appeared to +be a very much more pleasant acquaintance than the gentleman who +swallowed swords. + +This ended the introductions; and Toby was just looking around for +a seat, when Mrs. Treat, the fat lady and the giver of the feast +which was about to come, and which already smelled so invitingly, +entered from behind a curtain of canvas, where the cooking stove +was supposed to be located. + +She had every appearance of being the cook for the occasion. Her +sleeves were rolled up, her hair tumbled and frowzy, and there were +several unmistakable marks of grease on the front of her calico +dress. + +She waited for no ceremony, but rushed up to Toby and, taking him +in her arms, gave him such a squeeze that there seemed to be every +possibility that she would break all the bones in his body; and she +kept him so long in this bearlike embrace that Mr. Stubbs reached +his little brown paws over and got such a hold of her hair that +all present, save Signor Castro, rushed forward to release her from +the monkey's grasp. + +"You dear little thing!" said Mrs. Treat, paying but slight +attention to the hair pulling she had just undergone, and holding +Toby at arm's length so that she could look into his face, "you +were so late that I was afraid you wasn't coming; and my dinner +wouldn't have tasted half so good if you hadn't been here to eat +some." + +Toby hardly knew what to say for this hearty welcome, and he managed +to tell the large and kind hearted lady that he had had no idea +of missing the dinner, and that he was very glad she wanted him to +come. + +"Want you to come, you dear little thing!" she exclaimed, as she +gave him another hug, but careful not to give Mr. Stubbs a chance +of grasping her hair again. "Of course I wanted you to come, for +this dinner has been got up so that you could meet these people +here, and so that they could see you." + +Toby was entirely at a loss to know what to say to this overwhelming +compliment, and for that reason did not say anything, only submitting +patiently to the third hug, which was all Mrs. Treat had time to +give him, as she was obliged to rush behind the canvas screen again, +as there were unmistakable sounds of something boiling over on the +stove. + +"You'll excuse me," said the skeleton, with an air of dignity, +waving his hand once more toward the assembled company, "but while +introducing you to Mr. Tyler I had almost forgotten to introduce +him to you. This, ladies and gentlemen" -- and here he touched Toby +on the shoulder, as if he were some living curiosity whose habits +and mode of capture he was about to explain to a party of spectators +-- "is Mr. Toby Tyler, of whom you heard on the night when the +monkey cage was smashed, and who now carries with him the identical +monkey which was presented to him by the manager of this great +show as a token of esteem for his skill and bravery in capturing +the entire lot of monkeys without a single blow." + +By the time that Mr. Treat got through with his long speech Toby felt +very much as if he were some wonderful creature whom the skeleton +was exhibiting; but he managed to rise to his feet and duck his +little red head in his best imitation of a bow. Then he sat down +and hugged Mr. Stubbs to cover his confusion. + +One of the Albino Children now came forward, and, while stroking +Mr. Stubbs's hair, looked so intently at Toby that for the life of +him he couldn't say which she regarded as the curiosity, himself +or the monkey; therefore he hastened to say, modestly: + +"I didn't do much toward catchin' the monkeys; Mr. Stubbs here did +almost all of it, an' I only led 'em in. + +"There, there, my boy," said the skeleton, in a fatherly tone, "I've +heard the whole story from Old Ben, an' I sha'n't let you get out +of it like that. We all know what you did, an' it's no use for you +to deny any part of it." + + + +X: MR. STUBBS AT A PARTY + + +Toby was about to say that he did not intend to represent the matter +other than it really was, when a voice from behind the canvas screen +arrested further conversation. + +"Sam-u-el, come an' help me carry these things in." + +Something very like a smile of satisfaction passed over Signor +Castro's face as he heard this, which told him that the time for +the feast was near at hand; and the snake charmer, as well as the +Albino Children, seemed quite as much pleased as did the sword +swallower. + +"You will excuse me, ladies and gentlemen," said the skeleton, in +an important tone; "I must help Lilly, and then I shall have the +pleasure of helping you to some of her cooking, which, if I do +say it, that oughtn't, is as good as can be found in this entire +country." + +Then he, too, disappeared behind the canvas screen. + +Left alone, Toby looked at the ladies, and the ladies looked at +him, in perfect silence, while the sword swallower grimly regarded +them all, until Mr. Treat reappeared, bearing on a platter an +immense turkey, as nicely browned as any Thanksgiving turkey Toby +ever saw. Behind him came his fat wife, carrying several dishes, +each of which emitted a most fragrant odor; and as these were +placed upon the table the spirits of the sword swallower seemed to +revive, and he smiled pleasantly; while even the ladies appeared +animated by the sight and odor of the good things which they were +to be called upon so soon to pass judgment. + +Several times did Mr. and Mrs. Treat bustle in and out from behind +the screen, and each time they made some addition to that which +was upon the table, until Toby began to fear that they would never +finish, and the sword swallower seemed unable to restrain his +impatience. + +At last the finishing touch had been put to the table, the last +dish placed in position, and then, with a certain kind of grace, +which no one but a man as thin as Mr. Treat could assume, he advanced +to the edge of the platform and said: + +"Ladies and gentlemen, nothing gives me greater pleasure than to +invite you all, including Mr. Tyler's friend Stubbs, to the bountiful +repast which my Lilly has prepared for --" + +At this point Mr. Treat's speech -- for it certainly seemed as if +he had commenced to make one -- was broken off in a most summary +manner. His wife had come up behind him and, with as much ease as +if he had been a child, lifted him from off the floor and placed +him gently in the chair at the head of the table. + +"Come right up and get dinner," she said to her guests. "If you +had waited until Samuel had finished his speech everything on the +table would have been stone cold." + +The guests proceeded to obey her kindly command; and it is to +be regretted that the sword swallower had no better manners than +to jump on to the platform with one bound and seat himself at the +table with the most unseemly haste. The others, and more especially +Toby, proceeded in a leisurely and more dignified manner. + +A seat had been placed by the side of the one intended for Toby for +the accommodation of Mr. Stubbs, who suffered a napkin to be tied +under his chin, and behaved generally in a manner that gladdened +the heart of his young master. + +Mr. Treat cut generous slices from the turkey for each guest, and +Mrs. Treat piled their plates high with all sorts of vegetables, +complaining, after the manner of housewives generally, that the +food was not cooked as she would like to have had it, and declaring +that she had had poor luck with everything that morning, when she +firmly believed in her heart that her table had never looked better. + +After the company had had the edge taken off their appetites -- +which effect was produced on the sword swallower only after he had +been helped three different times, the conversation began by the +fat woman asking Toby how he got along with Mr. Lord. + +Toby could not give a very good account of his employer, but he +had the good sense not to cast a damper on a party of pleasure by +reciting his own troubles; so he said, evasively: + +"I guess I shall get along pretty well, now that I have got so many +friends." + +Just as he had commenced to speak the skeleton had put into his +mouth a very large piece of turkey -- very much larger in proportion +than himself -- and when Toby had finished speaking he started to +say something evidently not very complimentary to Mr. Lord. But what +it was the company never knew; for just as he opened his mouth to +speak, the food went down the wrong way, his face became a bright +purple, and it was quite evident that he was choking. + +Toby was alarmed, and sprang from his chair to assist his friend, +upsetting Mr. Stubbs from his seat, causing him to scamper up the +tent pole, with the napkin still tied around his neck, and to scold +in his most vehement manner. Before Toby could reach the skeleton, +however, the fat woman had darted toward her lean husband, caught +him by the arm, and was pounding his back, by the time Toby got +there, so vigorously that the boy was afraid her enormous hand +would go through his tissue paper like frame. + +"I wouldn't," said Toby, in alarm; "you may break him." + +"Don't you get frightened," said Mrs. Treat, turning her husband +completely over, and still continuing the drumming process. "He's +often taken this way; he's such a glutton that he'd try to swallow +the turkey whole if he could get it in his mouth, an' he's so thin +that 'most anything sticks in his throat." + +"I should think you'd break him all up," said Toby, apologetically, +as he resumed his seat at the table; "he don't look as if he could +stand very much of that sort of thing." + +But apparently Mr. Treat could stand very much more than Toby gave +him credit for, because at this juncture he stopped coughing, and +his face fast assumed its natural hue. + +His attentive wife, seeing that he had ceased struggling, lifted +him in her arms and sat him down in his chair with a force that +threatened to snap his head off. + +"There!" she said, as he wheezed a little from the effects of the +shock, "now see if you can behave yourself an' chew your meat as +you ought to! One of these days when you're alone you'll try that +game, and that 'll be the last of you." + +"If he'd try to do one of my tricks long enough he'd get so that +there wouldn't hardly anything choke him," the sword swallower +ventured to suggest, mildly, as he wiped a small stream of cranberry +sauce from his chin and laid a well polished turkey bone by the +side of his plate. + +"I'd like to see him try it!" said the fat lady, with just a shade +of anger in her voice. Then turning toward her husband, she said, +emphatically, "Samuel, don't you ever let me catch you swallowing +a sword!" + +"I won't, my love, I won't; and I will try to chew my meat more," +replied the very thin glutton, in a feeble tone. Toby thought that +perhaps the skeleton might keep the first part of that promise, +but he was not quite sure about the last. + +It required no little coaxing on the part of both Toby and Mrs. +Treat to induce Mr. Stubbs to come down from his lofty perch; but +the task was accomplished at last, and by the gift of a very large +doughnut he was induced to resume his seat at the table. + +The time had now come when the duties of a host, in his own peculiar +way of viewing them, devolved upon Mr. Treat, and he said, as he +pushed his chair back a short distance from the table and tried to +polish the front of his vest with his napkin: + +"I don't want this fact lost sight of, because it is an important +one: everyone must remember that we have gathered here to meet and +become better acquainted with the latest and best addition to this +circus, Mr. Toby Tyler." + +Poor Toby! As the company all looked directly at him, and Mrs. +Treat nodded her enormous head energetically, as if to say that +she agreed exactly with her husband, the poor boy's face grew very +red and the squash pie lost its flavor. + +"Although Mr. Tyler may not be exactly one of us, owing to the fact +that he does not belong to the profession, but is only one of the +adjuncts to it, so to speak," continued the skeleton, in a voice +which was fast being raised to its highest pitch, "we feel proud, +after his exploits at the time of the accident, to have him with +us, and gladly welcome him now, through the medium of this little +feast prepared by my Lilly." + +Here the Albino Children nodded their heads in approval, and the +sword swallower gave a grunt of assent; and, thus encouraged, the +skeleton proceeded: + +"I feel, when I say that we like and admire Mr. Tyler, all present +will agree with me and all would like to hear him say a word for +himself." + +The skeleton seemed to have expressed the views of those present +remarkably well, judging from their expressions of pleasure and +assent, and all waited for the honored guest to speak. + +Toby knew that he must say something, but he couldn't think of +a single thing; he tried over and over again to call to his mind +something which he had read as to how people acted and what they +said when they were expected to speak at a dinner table, but his +thoughts refused to go back for him, and the silence was actually +becoming painful. Finally, and with the greatest effort, he managed +to say, with a very perceptible stammer, and while his face was +growing very red: + +"I know I ought to say something to pay for this big dinner that +you said was gotten up for me, but I don't know what to say, unless +to thank you for it. You see, I hain't big enough to say much, +an', as Uncle Dan'l says, I don't amount to very much, 'cept for +eatin', an' I guess he's right. You're all real good to me, an' +when I get to be a man I'll try to do as much for you." + +Toby had risen to his feet when he began to make his speech, and +while he was speaking Mr. Stubbs had crawled over into his chair. +When he finished he sat down again without looking behind him, and +of course sat plump on the monkey. There was a loud outcry from +Mr. Stubbs, a little frightened noise from Toby, an instant's +scrambling, and then boy, monkey, and chair tumbled off the platform, +landing on the ground in an indescribable mass, from which the +monkey extricated himself more quickly than Toby could, and again +took refuge on the top of the tent pole. + +Of course all the guests ran to Toby's assistance; and while the +fat woman poked him all over to see that none of his bones were +broken, the skeleton brushed the dirt from his clothes. + +All this time the monkey screamed, yelled, and danced around on the +tent pole and ropes, as if his feelings had received a shock from +which he could never recover. + +"I didn't mean to end it up that way, but it was Mr. Stubbs's fault," +said Toby, as soon as quiet had been restored and the guests, with +the exception of the monkey, were seated at the table once more. + +"Of course you didn't," said Mrs. Treat, in a kindly tone. "But +don't you feel bad about it one bit, for you ought to thank your +lucky stars that you didn't break any of your bones." + +"I s'pose I had," said Toby, soberly, as he looked back at the +scene of his disaster, and then up at the chattering monkey that +had caused all the trouble. + +Shortly after this, Mr. Stubbs having again been coaxed down from +his lofty position, Toby took his departure, promising to call +as often during the week as he could get away from his exacting +employers. + +Just outside the tent he met Old Ben, who said, as he showed signs +of indulging in another of his internal laughing spells: + +"Hello! has the skeleton an' his lily of a wife been givin' a +blowout to you, too?" + +"They invited me in there to dinner," said Toby, modestly. + +"Of course they did -- of course they did," replied Ben, with a +chuckle; "they carries a cookin' stove along with 'em, so's they can +give these little spreads whenever we stay over a day in a place. +Oh, I've been there!" + +"And did they ask you to make a speech?" + +"Of course. Did they try it on you?" + +"Yes," said Toby, mournfully, "an' I tumbled off the platform when +I got through." + +"I didn't do exactly that," replied Ben, thoughtfully; "but I s'pose +you got too much steam on, seein' 's how it was likely your first +speech. Now you'd better go into the tent an try to get a little +sleep, 'cause we've got a long ride tonight over a rough road, an' +you won't get more 'n a cat nap all night." + +"But where are you going?" asked Toby, as he shifted Mr. Stubbs +over to his other shoulder, preparatory to following his friend's +advice. + +"I'm goin' to church," said Ben, and then Toby noticed for the +first time that the old driver had made some attempt at dressing up. +"I've been with the circus, man an boy, for nigh to forty years, +an' I allus go to meetin' once on Sunday. It's somethin' I promised +my old mother I would do, an' I hain't broke my promise yet." + +"Why don't you take me with you?" asked Toby, wistfully, as he +thought of the little church on the hill at home, and wished -- +oh, so earnestly! -- that he was there then, even at the risk of +being thumped on the head with Uncle Daniel's book. + +"If I'd seen you this mornin' I would," said Ben; "but now you must +try to bottle up some sleep ag'in' tonight, an' next Sunday I'll +take you." + +With these words Old Ben started off, and Toby proceeded to carry +out his wishes, although he rather doubted the possibility of +"bottling up" any sleep that afternoon. + +He lay down on the top of the wagon, after having put Mr. Stubbs +inside, with the others of his tribe, and in a very few moments +the boy was sound asleep, dreaming of a dinner party at which Mr. +Stubbs made a speech and he himself scampered up and down the tent +pole. + + + +XI: A STORMY NIGHT + + +When Toby awoke it was nearly dark, and the bustle around him told +very plainly that the time for departure was near at hand. He rubbed +his eyes just enough to make sure that he was thoroughly awake, +and then jumped down from his rather lofty bed, and ran around to +the door of the cage to assure himself that Mr. Stubbs was safe. +This done, his preparations for the journey were made. + +Now Toby noticed that each one of the drivers was clad in rubber +clothing, and, after listening for a moment, he learned the cause +of their waterproof garments. It was raining very hard, and Toby +thought with dismay of the long ride that he would have to take +on the top of the monkeys' cage, with no protection whatever save +that afforded by his ordinary clothing. + +While he was standing by the side of his wagon, wondering how +he should get along, Old Ben came in. The water was pouring from +his clothes in little rivulets, and he afforded most unmistakable +evidence of the damp state of the weather. + +"It's a nasty night, my boy," said the old driver, in much the same +cheery tone that he would have used had he been informing Toby that +it was a beautiful moonlight evening. + +"I guess I'll get wet," said Toby, ruefully, as he looked up at +the lofty seat which he was to occupy. + +"Bless me!" said Ben, as if the thought had just come to him, "it +won't do for you to ride outside on a night like this. You wait +here, an' I'll see what I can do for you." + +The old man hurried off to the other end of the tent, and almost +before Toby thought he had time to go as far as the ring he returned. + +"It's all right," he said, and this time in a gruff voice, as if +he were announcing some misfortune; "you 're to ride in the women's +wagon. Come with me." + +Toby followed without a question, though he was wholly at a loss +to understand what the "women's wagon" was, for he had never seen +anything which looked like one. + +He soon learned, however, when Old Ben stopped in front -- or, +rather, at the end -- of a long, covered wagon that looked like +an omnibus, except that it was considerably longer, and the seats +inside were divided by arms, padded, to make them comfortable to +lean against. + +"Here's the boy," said Ben, as he lifted Toby up on the step, gave +him a gentle push to intimate that he was to get inside, and then +left him. + +As Toby stepped inside he saw that the wagon was nearly full of +women and children; and fearing lest he should take a seat that +belonged to someone else, he stood in the middle of the wagon, not +knowing what to do. + +"Why don't you sit down, little boy?" asked one of the ladies, +after Toby had remained standing nearly five minutes and the wagon +was about to start. + +"Well," said Toby, with some hesitation, as he looked around at +the two or three empty seats that remained, "I didn't want to get +in anybody else's place an' I didn't know where to sit." + +"Come right here," said the lady, as she pointed to a seat by the +side of a little girl who did not look any older than Toby; "the +lady who usually occupies that seat will not be here tonight, and +you can have it." + +"Thank you, ma'am," said Toby, as he sat timidly down on the edge +of the seat, hardly daring to sit back comfortably, and feeling +very awkward meanwhile, but congratulating himself on being thus +protected from the pouring rain. + +The wagon started, and as each one talked with her neighbor, Toby +felt a most dismal sense of loneliness, and almost wished that he was +riding on the monkey cart with Ben, where he could have someone to +talk with. He gradually pushed himself back into a more comfortable +position, and had then an opportunity of seeing more plainly the +young girl who rode by his side. + +She was quite as young as Toby, and small of her age; but there +was an old look about her face that made the boy think of her as +being an old woman cut down to fit children's clothes. Toby had +looked at her so earnestly that she observed him, and asked, "What +is your name?" + +"Toby Tyler." + +"What do you do in the circus?" + +"Sell candy for Mr. Lord." + +"Oh! I thought you was a new member of the company." + +Toby knew by the tone of her voice that he had fallen considerably +in her estimation by not being one of the performers, and it was +some little time before he ventured to speak; and then he asked, +timidly, "What do you do?" + +"I ride one of the horses with mother." + +"Are you the little girl that comes out with the lady an' four +horses?" asked Toby, in awe that he should be conversing with so +famous a person. + +"Yes, I am. Don't I do it nicely?" + +"Why, you're a perfect little -- little -- fairy!" exclaimed Toby, +after hesitating a moment to find some word which would exactly +express his idea. + +This praise seemed to please the young lady, and in a short time +the two became very good friends, even if Toby did not occupy a +more exalted position than that of candy seller. She had learned +from him all about the accident to the monkey cage, and about Mr. +Stubbs, and in return had told him that her name was Ella Mason, +though on the bills she was called "Mademoiselle Jeannette." + +For a long time the two children sat talking together, and then +Mademoiselle Jeannette curled herself up on the seat, with her head +in her mother's lap, and went to sleep. + +Toby had resolved to keep awake and watch her, for he was struck +with admiration at her face; but sleep got the better of him in +less than five minutes after he had made the resolution, and he +sat bolt upright, with his little round head nodding and bobbing +until it seemed almost certain that he would shake it off. + +When Toby awoke the wagon was drawn up by the side of the road, +the sun was shining brightly, preparations were being made for the +entree into town, and the harsh voice of Mr. Job Lord was shouting +his name in a tone that boded no good for poor Toby when he should +make his appearance. + +Toby would have hesitated before meeting his angry employer but +that he knew it would only make matters worse for him when he did +show himself, and he mentally braced himself for the trouble which +he knew was coming. The little girl whose acquaintance he had made +the night previous was still sleeping; and, wishing to say goodby +to her in some way without awakening her, he stooped down and gently +kissed the skirt of her dress. Then he went out to meet his master. + +Mr. Lord was thoroughly enraged when Toby left the wagon, and saw +the boy just as he stepped to the ground. The angry man gave a +quick glance around, to make sure that none of Toby's friends were +in sight, and then caught him by the coat collar and commenced to +whip him severely with the small rubber cane that he usually carried. + +Mr. Job Lord lifted the poor boy entirely clear of the ground, and +each blow that he struck could be heard almost the entire length +of the circus train. + +"You've been makin' so many acquaintances here that you hain't +willin' to do any work," he said, savagely, as he redoubled the +force of his blows. + +"Oh, please stop! please stop!" shrieked the poor boy in his agony. +"I'll do everything you tell me to, if you won't strike me again!" + +This piteous appeal seemed to have no effect upon the cruel man, +and he continued to whip the boy, despite his cries and entreaties, +until his arm fairly ached from the exertion and Toby's body was +crossed and recrossed with the livid marks of the cane. + +"Now let's see whether you'll 'tend to your work or not!" said the +man as he flung Toby from him with such force that the boy staggered, +reeled, and nearly fell into the little brook that flowed by the +roadside. "I'll make you understand that all the friends you've +whined around in this show can't save you from a lickin' when I get +ready to give you one! Now go an' do your work that ought to have +been done an hour ago!" + +Mr. Lord walked away with the proud consciousness of a man who +has achieved a great victory, and Toby was limping painfully along +toward the cart that was used in conveying Mr. Lord's stock in +trade, when he felt a tiny hand slip into his and heard a childish +voice say: + +"Don't cry, Toby. Sometime, when I get big enough, I'll make Mr. +Lord sorry that he whipped you as he did; and I'm big enough now +to tell him just what kind of a man I think he is." + +Looking around, Toby saw his little acquaintance of the evening +previous, and he tried to force back the big tears that were rolling +down his cheeks as he said, in a voice choked with grief: "You're +awful good, an' I don't mind the lickin' when you say you're sorry +for me. I s'pose I deserve it for runnin' away from Uncle Dan'l." + +"Did it hurt you much?" she asked, feelingly. + +"It did when he was doin' it," replied Toby, manfully, "but it +don't a bit, now that you've come." + +"Then I'll go and talk to that Mr. Lord, and I'll come and see you +again after we get into town," said the little miss, as she hurried +away to tell the candy vender what she thought of him. + +That day, as on all others since he had been with the circus, Toby +went to his work with a heavy heart, and time and time again did he +count the money which had been given him by kind hearted strangers, +to see whether he had enough to warrant his attempting to run +away. Three dollars and twenty-five cents was the total amount of +his treasure, and, large as that sum appeared to him, he could not +satisfy himself that he had sufficient to enable him to get back +to the home which he had so wickedly left. Whenever he thought of +this home, of the Uncle Daniel who had in charity cared for him -- +a motherless, fatherless boy -- and of returning to it, with not +even as much right as the Prodigal Son, of whom he had heard Uncle +Daniel tell, his heart sank within him and he doubted whether he +would be allowed to remain even if he should be so fortunate as +ever to reach Guilford again. + +This day passed, so far as Toby was concerned, very much as had the +others: he could not satisfy either of his employers, try as hard +as he might; but, as usual, he met with two or three kindly disposed +people, who added to the fund that he was accumulating for his +second venture of running away by little gifts of money, each one +of which gladdened his heart and made his trouble a trifle less +hard to bear. + +During the entire week he was thus equally fortunate. Each day +added something to his fund, and each night it seemed to Toby that +he was one day nearer the freedom for which he so ardently longed. + +The skeleton, the fat lady, Old Ben, the Albino Children, little +Ella, and even the sword swallower, all gave him a kindly word +as they passed him while he was at his work, or saw him as the +preparations for the grand entree were being made. + +The time had passed slowly to Toby, and yet Sunday came again -- as +Sundays always come; and on this day Old Ben hunted him up, made +him wash his face and hands until they fairly shone from very +cleanliness, and then took him to church. Toby was surprised to +find that it was really a pleasant thing to be able to go to church +after being deprived of it, and was more light hearted than he had +yet been since he left Guilford when he returned to the tent at +noon. + +The skeleton had invited him to another dinner party, but Toby had +declined the invitation, agreeing to present himself in time for +supper instead. He hardly cared to go through the ordeal of another +state dinner; and besides, he wanted to go off to the woods with +the old monkey, where he could enjoy the silence of the forest, +which seemed like a friend to him, because it reminded him of home. + +Taking the monkey with him as usual, he inquired the nearest way +to a grove, and, without waiting for dinner, started off for an +afternoon's quiet enjoyment. + + + +XII: TOBY'S GREAT MISFORTUNE + + +The town in which the circus remained over Sunday was a small +one, and a brisk walk of ten minutes sufficed to take Toby into a +secluded portion of a very thickly grown wood, where he could lie +upon the mossy ground and fairly revel in freedom. + +As he lay upon his back, his hands under his head, and his +eyes directed to the branches of the trees above, where the birds +twittered and sung, and the squirrels played in fearless sport, +the monkey enjoyed himself in his way, by playing all the monkey +antics he knew of. + +He scrambled from tree to tree, swung himself from one branch to +the other by the aid of his tail, and amused both himself and his +master, until, tired by his exertions, he crept down by Toby's side +and lay there in quiet, restful content. + +One of Toby's reasons for wishing to be by himself that afternoon +was that he wanted to think over some plan of escape, for he believed +that he had nearly money enough to enable him to make a bold stroke +for freedom and Uncle Daniel's. Therefore, when the monkey nestled +down by his side he was all ready to confide in him that which had +been occupying his busy little brain for the past three days. + +"Mr. Stubbs," he said to the monkey, in a solemn tone, "we're goin' +to run away in a day or two." + +Mr. Stubbs did not seem to be moved in the least at this very startling +piece of intelligence, but winked his bright eyes in unconcern; +and Toby, seeming to think that everything which he said had been +understood by the monkey, continued: "I've got a good deal of +money now, an' I guess there's enough for us to start out on. We'll +get away some night, an' stay in the woods till they get through +hunting for us, an' then we'll go back to Guilford an' tell Uncle +Dan'l if he'll only take us back we'll never go to sleep in meetin' +any more, an' we'll be just as good as we know how. Now let's see +how much money we've got." + +Toby drew from a pocket, which he had been at a great deal of +trouble to make in his shirt, a small bag of silver, and spread it +upon the ground, where he could count it at his leisure. + +The glittering coin instantly attracted the monkey's attention, +and he tried by every means to thrust his little black paw into +the pile; but Toby would allow nothing of that sort, and pushed him +away quite roughly. Then he grew excited, and danced and scolded +around Toby's treasure until the boy had hard work to count it. + +He did succeed, however, and as he carefully replaced it in the bag +he said to the monkey: "There's seven dollars an' thirty cents in +that bag, an' every cent of it is mine. That ought to take care +of us for a good while, Mr. Stubbs; an' by the time we get home we +shall be rich men." + +The monkey showed his pleasure at this intelligence by putting his +hand inside Toby's clothes to find the bag of treasure that he had +seen secreted there, and two or three times, to the great delight +of both himself and the boy, he drew forth the bag, which was +immediately taken away from him. + +The shadows were beginning to lengthen in the woods, and, heeding +this warning of the coming night, Toby took the monkey on his arm +and started for home, or for the tent, which was the only place he +could call home. + +As he walked along he tried to talk to his pet in a serious manner, +but the monkey, remembering where he had seen the bright coins +secreted, tried so hard to get at them that finally Toby lost all +patience and gave him quite a hard cuff on the ear, which had the +effect of keeping him quiet for a time. + +That night Toby took supper with the skeleton and his wife, and he +enjoyed the meal, even though it was made from what had been left +of the turkey that served as the noonday feast, more than he did +the state dinner, where he was obliged to pay for what he ate by +the torture of making a speech. + +There were no guests but Toby present; and Mr. and Mrs. Treat were +not only very kind, but so attentive that he was actually afraid +he should eat so much as to stand in need of some of the catnip +tea which Mrs. Treat had said she gave to her husband when he had +been equally foolish. The skeleton would pile his plate high with +turkey bones from one side, and the fat lady would heap it up, +whenever she could find a chance, with all sorts of food from the +other, until Toby pushed back his chair, his appetite completely +satisfied, if it never had been so before. + +Toby had discussed the temper of his employer with his host and +hostess, and, after some considerable conversation, confided in +them his determination to run away. + +"I'd hate awfully to have you go," said Mrs. Treat, reflectively; +"but it's a good deal better for you to get away from that Job Lord +if you can. It wouldn't do to let him know that you had any idea +of goin', for he'd watch you as a cat watches a mouse, an never let +you go so long as he saw a chance to keep you. I heard him tellin' +one of the drivers the other day that you sold more goods than any +other boy he ever had, an' he was going to keep you with him all +summer." + +"Be careful in what you do, my boy," said the skeleton, sagely, as +he arranged a large cushion in an armchair, and proceeded to make +ready for his after dinner nap; "be sure that you're all ready before +you start, an', when you do go, get a good ways ahead of him; for +if he should ever catch you the trouncin' you'd get would be awful." + +Toby assured his friends that he would use every endeavor to make +his escape successful when he did start; and Mrs. Treat, with an +eye to the boy's comfort, said, "Let me know the night you're goin', +an' I'll fix you up something to eat, so's you won't be hungry +before you come to a place where you can buy something." + +As these kind hearted people talked with him, and were ready thus +to aid him in every way that lay in their power, Toby thought that +he had been very fortunate in thus having made so many kind friends +in a place where he was having so much trouble. + +It was not until he heard the sounds of preparation for departure +that he left the skeleton's tent, and then, with Mr. Stubbs clasped +tightly to his breast, he hurried over to the wagon where Old Ben +was nearly ready to start. + +"All right, Toby," said the old driver, as the boy came in sight. +"I was afraid you was goin' to keep me waitin' for the first time. +Jump right up on the box, for there hain't no time to lose, an' +I guess you'll have to carry the monkey in your arms, for I don't +want to stop to open the cage now." + +"I'd just as soon carry him, an' a little rather," said Toby, as +he clambered up on the high seat and arranged a comfortable place +in his lap for his pet to sit. + +In another moment the heavy team had started, and nearly the entire +circus was on the move. "Now tell me what you've been doin' since +I left you," said Old Ben, after they were well clear of the town +and he could trust his horses to follow the team ahead. "I s'pose +you've been to see the skeleton an' his mountain of a wife?" + +Toby gave a clear account of where he had been and what he had done, +and when he concluded he told Old Ben of his determination to run +away, and asked his advice on the matter. + +"My advice," said Ben, after he had waited some time, to give due +weight to his words, "is that you clear out from this show just as +soon as you can. This hain't no fit place for a boy of your age to +be in, an' the sooner you get back where you started from, an get +to school, the better. But Job Lord will do all he can to keep you +from goin', if he thinks you have any idea of leavin' him." + +Toby assured Ben, as he had assured the skeleton and his wife, that +he would be very careful in all he did, and lay his plans with the +utmost secrecy; and then he asked whether Ben thought the amount +of money which he had would be sufficient to carry him home. + +"Waal, that depends," said the driver, slowly. "If you go to +spreadin' yourself all over creation, as boys are very apt to do, +your money won't go very far; but if you look at your money two +or three times afore you spend it, you ought to get back and have +a dollar or two left." + +The two talked, and Old Ben offered advice, until Toby could +hardly keep his eyes open, and almost before the driver concluded +his sage remarks the boy had stretched himself on the top of the +wagon, where he had learned to sleep without being shaken off, and +was soon in dreamland. + +The monkey, nestled down snug in Toby's bosom, did not appear to +be as sleepy as was his master, but popped his head in and out from +under the coat, as if watching whether the boy was asleep or not. + +Toby was awakened by a scratching on his face, as if the monkey was +dancing a hornpipe on that portion of his body, and by a shrill, +quick chattering, which caused him to assume an upright position +instantly. + +He was frightened, although he knew not at what, and looked around +quickly to discover the cause of the monkey's excitement. + +Old Ben was asleep on his box, while the horses jogged along behind +the other teams, and Toby failed to see anything whatever which +should have caused his pet to become so excited. + +"Lie down an' behave yourself," said Toby, as sternly as possible, +and as he spoke he took his pet by the collar, to oblige him to +obey his command. + +The moment that he did this he saw the monkey throw something +out into the road, and the next instant he also saw that he held +something tightly clutched in his other paw. + +It required some little exertion and active movement on Toby's +part to enable him to get hold of that paw, in order to discover +what it was which Mr. Stubbs had captured; but the instant he did +succeed, there went up from his heart such a cry of sorrow as caused +Old Ben to start up in alarm and the monkey to cower and whimper +like a whipped dog. + +"What is it, Toby? What's the matter?" asked the old driver, as +he peered out into the darkness ahead, as if he feared some danger +threatened them from that quarter. "I don't see anything. What is +it?" + +"Mr. Stubbs has thrown all my money away," cried Toby, holding up +the almost empty bag, which a short time previous had been so well +filled with silver. + +"Stubbs -- thrown -- the -- money -- away?" repeated Ben, with a +pause between each word, as if he could not understand that which +he himself was saying. + +"Yes," sobbed Toby, as he shook out the remaining contents of the +bag, "there's only half a dollar, an' all the rest is gone." + +"The rest gone!" again repeated Ben. "But how come the monkey to +have the money?" + +"He tried to get at it out in the woods, an' I s'pose the moment +I got asleep he felt for it in my pockets. This is all there is +left, an' he threw away some just as I woke up." + +Again Toby held the bag up where Ben could see it, and again his +grief broke out anew. + +Ben could say nothing; he realized the whole situation -- that the +monkey had got the moneybag while Toby was sleeping; that in his +play he had thrown it away piece by piece; and he knew that that +small amount of silver represented liberty in the boy's eyes. He +felt that there was nothing he could say which would assuage Toby's +grief, and he remained silent. + +"Don't you s'pose we could go back an' get it?" asked the boy, +after the intensity of his grief had somewhat subsided. + +"No, Toby, it's gone," replied Ben, sorrowfully. "You couldn't find +it if it was daylight, an' you don't stand a ghost of a chance now +in the dark. Don't take on so, my boy. I'll see if we can't make +it up to you in some way." + +Toby gave no heed to this last remark of Ben's. He hugged the monkey +convulsively to his breast, as if he would seek consolation from +the very one who had wrought the ruin, and, rocking himself to and +fro, he said, in a voice full of tears and sorrow: + +"Oh, Mr. Stubbs, why did you do it? -- why did you do it? That money +would have got us away from this hateful place, an' we'd have gone +back to Uncle Dan'l's, where we'd have been so happy, you an' me. +An' now it's all gone -- all gone. What made you, Mr. Stubbs -- +what made you do such a bad, cruel thing? Oh, what made you?" + +"Don't, Toby -- don't take on so," said Ben, soothingly. "There +wasn't so very much money there, after all, an' you'll soon get as +much more." + +"But it won't be for a good while, an' we could have been in the +good old home long before I can get so much again." + +"That's true, my boy; but you must kinder brace up an' not give +way so about it. Perhaps I can fix it so the fellers will make it +up to you. Give Stubbs a good poundin', an' perhaps that 'll make +you feel better." + +"That won't bring back my money an' I don't want to whip him," +cried Toby, hugging his pet the closer because of this suggestion. +"I know what it is to get a whippin', an' I wouldn't whip a dog, +much less Mr. Stubbs, who didn't know any better." + +"Then you must try to take it like a man," said Ben, who could +think of no other plan by which the boy might soothe his feelings. +"It hain't half so bad as it might be, an' you must try to keep a +stiff upper lip, even if it does seem hard at first." + +This keeping a stiff upper lip in the face of all the trouble he was +having was all very well to talk about, but Toby could not reduce +it to practice, or, at least, not so soon after he knew of his loss, +and he continued to rock the monkey back and forth, to whisper in +his ear now and then, and to cry as if his heart was breaking, for +nearly an hour. + +Ben tried, in his rough, honest way, to comfort him, but without +success; and it was not until the boy's grief had spent itself that +he would listen to any reasoning. + +All this time the monkey had remained perfectly quiet, submitting +to Toby's squeezing without making any effort to get away, and +behaving as if he knew he had done wrong, and was trying to atone +for it. He looked up into the boy's face every now and then with such +a penitent expression that Toby finally assured him of forgiveness +and begged him not to feel so badly. + + + +XIII: TOBY ATTEMPTS TO RESIGN HIS SITUATION + + +At last it was possible for Toby to speak of his loss with some +degree of calmness, and then he immediately began to reckon up what +he could have done with the money if he had not lost it. + +"Now see here, Toby," said Ben, earnestly, "don't go to doin' +anything of that kind. The money's lost, an' you can't get it back +by talkin'; so the very best thing for you is to stop thinkin' what +you could do if you had it, an' just to look at it as a goner." + +"But --" persisted Toby. + +"I tell you there's no buts about it," said Ben, rather sharply. +"Stop talkin' about what's gone, an' just go to thinkin' how you'll +get more. Do what you've a mind to the monkey, but don't keep +broodin' over what you can't help." + +Toby knew that the advice was good and he struggled manfully to +carry it into execution, but it was very hard work. At all events, +there was no sleep for his eyes that night; and when, just about +daylight, the train halted to wait a more seasonable hour in which +to enter the town, the thought of what he might have done with his +lost money was still in Toby's mind. + +Only once did he speak crossly to the monkey, and that was when +he put him into the cage preparatory to commencing his morning's +work. Then he said: + +"You wouldn't had to go into this place many times more if you +hadn't been so wicked, for by tomorrow night we'd been away from +this circus an' on the way to home an' Uncle Dan'l. Now you've +spoiled my chance an' your own for a good while to come, an' I hope +before the day is over you'll feel as bad about it as I do." + +It seemed to Toby as if the monkey understood just what he said +to him, for he sneaked over into one corner, away from the other +monkeys, and sat there looking very penitent and very dejected. + +Then, with a heavy heart, Toby began his day's work. + +Hard as had been Toby's lot previous to losing his money, and +difficult as it had been to bear the cruelty of Mr. Job Lord and +his precious partner, Mr. Jacobs, it was doubly hard now while this +sorrow was fresh upon him. + +Previous to this, when he had been kicked or cursed by one or the +other of the partners, Toby thought exultantly that the time was not +very far distant when he should be beyond the reach of his brutal +taskmasters, and that thought had given him strength to bear all +that had been put upon him. + +Now the time of his deliverance from this bondage seemed very far +off, and each cruel word or blow caused him the greater sorrow, +because of the thought that but for the monkey's wickedness he +would have been nearly free from that which made his life so very +miserable. + +If he had looked sad and mournful before, he looked doubly so now, +as he went his dreary round of the tent, crying, "Here's your cold +lemonade," or "Fresh baked peanuts, ten cents a quart"; and each +day there were some in the audience who pitied the boy because of +the misery which showed so plainly in his face, and they gave him +a few cents more than his price for what he was selling, or gave +him money without buying anything at all, thereby aiding him to +lay up something again toward making his escape. + +Those few belonging to the circus who knew of Toby's intention to +escape tried their best to console him for the loss of his money, +and that kind hearted couple, the skeleton and his fat wife, tried +to force him to take a portion of their scanty earnings in the place +of that which the monkey had thrown away. But this Toby positively +refused to do; and to the arguments which they advanced as reasons +why they should help him along he only replied that until he could +get the money by his own exertions he would remain with Messrs. +Lord and Jacobs and get along as best he could. + +Every hour in the day the thought of what might have been if he had +not lost his money so haunted his mind that finally he resolved to +make one bold stroke and tell Mr. Job Lord that he did not want to +travel with the circus any longer. + +As yet he had not received the two dollars which had been promised +him for his two weeks' work, and another one was nearly due. If +he could get this money it might, with what he had saved again, +suffice to pay his railroad fare to Guilford; and if it would not, +he resolved to accept from the skeleton sufficient to make up the +amount needed. + +He naturally shrank from the task; but the hope that he might possibly +succeed gave him the necessary amount of courage, and when he had +gotten his work done, on the third morning after he had lost his +money, and Mr. Lord appeared to be in an unusually good temper, he +resolved to try the plan. + +It was just before the dinner hour. Trade had been exceptionally +good, and Mr. Lord had even spoken in a pleasant tone to Toby when +he told him to fill up the lemonade pail with water, so that the +stock might not be disposed of too quickly and with too little +profit. + +Toby poured in quite as much water as he thought the already weak +mixture could receive and retain any flavor of lemon; and then, as +his employer motioned him to add more, he mixed another quart in, +secretly wondering what it would taste like. + +"When you're mixin' lemonade for circus trade," said Mr. Lord, in +such a benign, fatherly tone that one would have found it difficult +to believe that he ever spoke harshly, "don't be afraid of water, +for there's where the profit comes in. Always have a piece of +lemon peel floatin' on the top of every glass, an' it tastes just +as good to people as if it cost twice as much." + +Toby could not agree exactly with that opinion, neither did he +think it wise to disagree, more especially since he was going to +ask the very great favor of being discharged; therefore he nodded +his head gravely, and began to stir up what it pleased Mr. Lord to +call lemonade, so that the last addition might be more thoroughly +mixed with the others. + +Two or three times he attempted to ask the favor which seemed such +a great one, and each time the words stuck in his throat, until it +seemed to him that he should never succeed in getting them out. + +Finally, in his despair, he stammered out: "Don't you think you +could find another boy in this town, Mr. Lord?" + +Mr. Lord moved round sideways, in order to bring his crooked eye +to bear squarely on Toby, and then there was a long interval of +silence, during which time the boy's color rapidly came and went +and his heart beat very fast with suspense and fear. + +"Well, what if I could?" he said, at length. "Do you think that +trade is so good I could afford to keep two boys, when there isn't +half work enough for one?" + +Toby stirred the lemonade with renewed activity, as if by this +process he was making both it and his courage stronger, and said, +in a low voice, which Mr. Lord could scarcely hear: + +"I didn't think that; but you see I ought to go home, for Uncle +Dan'l will worry about me; an', besides, I don't like a circus very +well." + +Again there was silence on Mr. Lord's part, and again the crooked +eye glowered down on Toby. + +"So," he said -- and Toby could see that his anger was rising very +fast -- "you don't like a circus very well, an' you begin to think +that your uncle Daniel will worry about you, eh? Well, I want you +to understand that it don't make any difference to me whether you +like a circus or not, and I don't care how much your uncle Daniel +worries. You mean that you want to get away from me, after I've +been to all the trouble and expense of teaching you the business?" + +Toby bent his head over the pail and stirred away as if for dear +life. + +"If you think you're going to get away from here until you've paid +me for all you've eat, an' all the time I've spent on you, you're +mistaken, that's all. You've had an easy time with me -- too easy, +in fact -- and that's what ails you. Now you just let me hear two +words more out of your head about going away -- only two more -- +an' I'll show you what a whipping is. I've only been playing with +you before when you thought you were getting a whipping; but you'll +find out what it means if I so much as see a thought in your eyes +about goin' away. An' don't you dare to try to give me the slip in +the night an run away; for if you do I'll follow you an' have you +arrested. Now you mind your eye in the future." + +It is impossible to say how much longer Mr. Lord might have continued +this tirade had not a member of the company -- one of the principal +riders -- called him to one side to speak with him. + +Poor Toby was so much confused by the angry words which had followed +his very natural and certainly very reasonable suggestion that he +paid no attention to anything around him until he heard his own name +mentioned; and then, fearing lest some new misfortune was about to +befall him, he listened intently. + +"I'm afraid you couldn't do much of anything with him," he heard +Mr. Lord say. "He's had enough of this kind of life already, so he +says, an' I expect the next thing he does will be to try and run +away." + +"I'll risk his getting away from you, Job," he heard the other say; +"but of course I've got to take my chances. I'll take him in hand +from eleven to twelve each day -- just your slack time of trade +-- and I'll not only give you half of what he can earn in the next +two years, but I'll pay you for his time, if he gives you the slip +before the season is out." + +Toby knew that they were speaking of him, but what it all meant he +could not imagine. + +"What are you going to do with him first?" Job asked. + +"Just put him right in the ring and teach him what riding is. +I tell you, Job, the boy's smart enough, and before the season's +over I'll have him so that he can do some of the bareback acts, and +perhaps we'll get some money out of him before we go into winter +quarters." + +Toby understood the meaning of their conversation only too well, +and he knew that his lot, which before seemed harder than he could +bear, was about to be intensified through this Mr. Castle, of whom +he had frequently heard, and who was said to be a rival of Mr. +Lord's so far as brutality went. The two men now walked toward the +large tent, and Toby was left alone with his thoughts and two or +three little boy customers, who looked at him wonderingly and envied +him because he belonged to the circus. + +During the ride that night he told Old Ben what he had heard, +confidently expecting that that friend at least would console him; +but Ben was not the champion which he had expected. The old man, +who had been with a circus, "man and boy, nigh to forty years," +did not seem to think it any calamity that he was to be taught to +ride. + +"That Mr. Castle is a little rough on boys," Old Ben said, thoughtfully; +"but it'll be a good thing for you, Toby. Just so long as you stay +with Job you won't be nothin' more 'n a candy boy; but after you +know how to ride it 'll be another thing, an' you can earn a good +deal of money an' be your own boss." + +"But I don't want to stay with the circus," whined Toby; "I don't +want to learn to ride, an' I do want to get back to Uncle Dan'l." + +"That may all be true, an' I don't dispute it," said Ben; "but you +see you didn't stay with your uncle Daniel when you had the chance, +an' you did come with the circus. You've told Job you wanted +to leave, an' he 'll be watchin' you all the time to see that you +don't give him the slip. Now what's the consequence? Why, you can't +get away for a while, anyhow, an' you'd better try to amount to +something while you are here. Perhaps after you've got so you can +ride you may want to stay; an' I'll see to it that you get all of +your wages, except enough to pay Castle for learnin' of you." + +"I sha'n't want to stay," said Toby. "I wouldn't stay if I could +ride all the horses at once an' was gettin' a hundred dollars a +day." + +"But you can't ride one horse, an' you hain't gettin' but a dollar +a week, an' still I don't see any chance of your gettin' away yet +awhile," said Ben, in a matter of fact tone, as he devoted his +attention again to his horses, leaving Toby to his own sad reflections +and the positive conviction that boys who run away from home do +not have a good time, except in stories. + +The next forenoon, while Toby was deep in the excitement of selling +to a boy no larger than himself, and with just as red hair, three +cents' worth of peanuts and two sticks of candy, and while the boy +was trying to induce him to "throw in" a piece of gum, because of +the quantity purchased, Job Lord called him aside, and Toby knew +that his troubles had begun. + +"I want you to go in an' see Mr. Castle; he's goin' to show you +how to ride," said Mr. Lord, in as kindly a tone as if he were +conferring some favor on the boy. + +If Toby had dared to, he would have rebelled then and there and +refused to go; but, as he hadn't the courage for such proceeding, +he walked meekly into the tent and toward the ring. + + + +XIV: MR. CASTLE TEACHES TOBY TO RIDE + + +When Toby got within sight of the ring he was astonished at what +he saw. A horse, with a broad wooden saddle, was being led slowly +around the ring; Mr. Castle was standing on one side, with a long +whip in his hand; and on the tent pole, which stood in the center +of the ring, was a long arm, from which dangled a leathern belt +attached to a long rope that was carried through the end of the +arm and run down to the base of the pole. + +Toby knew well enough why the horse, the whip, and the man were +there, but the wooden projection from the tent pole, which looked +so much like a gallows, he could not understand at all. + +"Come, now," said Mr. Castle, cracking his whip ominously as Toby +came in sight, "why weren't you here before?" + +"Mr. Lord just sent me in," said Toby, not expecting that his excuse +would be received, for they never had been since he had arrived at +the height of his ambition by joining the circus. + +"Then I'll make Mr. Job understand that I am to have my full hour +of your time; and if I don't get it there 'll be trouble between +us." + +It would have pleased Toby very well to have had Mr. Castle go out +with his long whip just then and make trouble for Mr. Lord; but Mr. +Castle had not the time to spare, because of the trouble which he +was about to make for Toby, and that he commenced on at once. + +"Well, get in here and don't waste any more time," he said, sharply. + +Toby looked around curiously for a moment, and, not understanding +exactly what he was expected to get in and do, asked, "What shall +I do?" + +"Pull off your boots, coat, and vest." + +Since there was no other course than to learn to ride, Toby wisely +concluded that the best thing he could do would be to obey his new +master without question; so he began to take off his clothes with +as much alacrity as if learning to ride was the one thing upon +which he had long set his heart. + +Mr. Castle was evidently accustomed to prompt obedience, for he not +only took it as a matter of course, but endeavored to hurry Toby +in the work of undressing. + +With his desire to please, and urged by Mr. Castle's words and the +ominous shaking of his whip, Toby's preparations were soon made, +and he stood before his instructor clad only in his shirt, trousers, +and stockings. + +The horse was led around to where he stood, and when Mr. Castle held +out his hand to help him to mount Toby jumped up quickly without +aid, thereby making a good impression at the start as a willing +lad. + +"Now," said the instructor, as he pulled down the leathern belt which +hung from the rope and fastened it around Toby's waist, "stand up +in the saddle, and try to keep there. You can't fall, because the +rope will hold you up, even if the horse goes out from under you; +but it isn't hard work to keep on if you mind what you are about; +and if you don't this whip will help you. Now stand up." + +Toby did as he was bid; and as the horse was led at a walk, and as +he had the long bridle to aid him in keeping his footing, he had +no difficulty in standing during the time that the horse went once +around the ring; but that was all. + +Mr. Castle seemed to think that this was preparation enough for +the boy to be able to understand how to ride, and he started the +horse into a canter. As might have been expected, Toby lost his +balance, the horse went on ahead, and he was left dangling at the +end of the rope, very much like a crab that has just been caught +by the means of a pole and line. + +Toby kicked, waved his hands, and floundered about generally, +but all to no purpose, until the horse came round again, and then +he made frantic efforts to regain his footing, which efforts were +aided -- or perhaps it would be more proper to say retarded -- by +the long lash of Mr. Castle's whip, that played around his legs +with merciless severity. + +"Stand up! stand up!" cried his instructor, as Toby reeled first +to one side and then to the other, now standing erect in the saddle +and now dangling at the end of the rope, with the horse almost out +from under him. + +This command seemed needless, as it was exactly what Toby was trying +to do; but as it was given he struggled all the harder, until it +seemed to him that the more he tried the less did he succeed. + +And this first lesson progressed in about the same way until the +hour was over, save that now and then Mr. Castle would give him +some good advice, but oftener he would twist the long lash of the +whip around the boy's legs with such force that Toby believed the +skin had been taken entirely off. + +It may have been a relief to Mr. Castle when this first lesson +was concluded, and it certainly was to Toby, for he had had all +the teaching in horsemanship that he wanted, and he thought, with +deepest sorrow, that this would be of daily occurrence during all +the time that he remained with the circus. + +As he went out of the tent he stopped to speak with his friend +the old monkey, and his troubles seemed to have increased when he +stood in front of the cage calling, "Mr. Stubbs! Mr. Stubbs!" and +the old fellow would not even come down from off the lofty perch +where he was engaged in monkey gymnastics with several younger +companions. It seemed to him, as he afterward told Ben, "as if Mr. +Stubbs had gone back on him because he knew that he was in trouble." + +When he went toward the booth Mr. Lord looked at him around the +corner of the canvas -- for it seemed to Toby that his employer +could look around a square corner with much greater ease than he +could straight ahead -- with a disagreeable leer in his eye, as +though he enjoyed the misery which he knew his little clerk had +just undergone. + +"Can you ride yet?" he asked, mockingly, as Toby stepped behind +the counter to attend to his regular line of business. + +Toby made no reply, for he knew that the question was only asked +sarcastically and not through any desire for information. In a few +moments Mr. Lord left him to attend to the booth alone and went into +the tent, where Toby rightly conjectured he had gone to question +Mr. Castle upon the result of the lesson just given. + +That night Old Ben asked him how he had got on while under the +teaching of Mr. Castle; and Toby, knowing that the question was +asked because of the real interest which Ben had in his welfare, +replied: + +"If I was tryin' to learn how to swing round the ring, strapped to +a rope, I should say that I got along first rate; but I don't know +much about the horse, for I was only on his back a little while at +a time." + +"You'll get over that soon," said Old Ben, patronizingly, as he +patted him on the back. "You remember my words, now: I say that +you've got it in you, an' if you've a mind to take hold an' try +to learn you'll come out on the top of the heap yet, an' be one of +the smartest riders they've got in this show." + +"I don't want to be a rider," said Toby, sadly; "I only want to +get back home once more, an' then you'll see how much it 'll take +to get me away again." + +"Well," said Ben, quietly, "be that as it may, while you're here +the best thing you can do is to take hold an' get ahead just as +fast as you can; it 'll make it a mighty sight easier for you while +you're with the show, an' it won't spoil any of your chances for +runnin' away whenever the time comes." + +Toby fully appreciated the truth of this remark, and he assured +Ben that he should do all in his power to profit by the instruction +given, and to please this new master who had been placed over him. + +And with this promise he lay back on the seat and went to sleep, +not to awaken until the preparations were being made for the entree +into the next town, and Mr. Lord's harsh voice had cried out his +name, with no gentle tone, several times. + +Toby's first lesson with Mr. Castle was the most pleasant one +he had; for after the boy had once been into the ring his master +seemed to expect that he could do everything which he was told to +do, and when he failed in any little particular the long lash of +the whip would go curling around his legs or arms, until the little +fellow's body and limbs were nearly covered with the blue and black +stripes. + +For three lessons only was the wooden upright used to keep him from +falling; after that he was forced to ride standing erect on the +broad wooden saddle, or pad, as it is properly called; and whenever +he lost his balance and fell there was no question asked as to +whether or not he had hurt himself, but he was mercilessly cut with +the whip. + +Messrs. Lord and Jacobs gained very much by comparison with Mr. +Castle in Toby's mind. He had thought that his lot could not be +harder than it was with them; but when he had experienced the pains +of two or three of Mr. Castle's lessons in horsemanship he thought +that he would stay with the candy venders all the season cheerfully +rather than take six more lessons of Mr. Castle. + +Night after night he fell asleep from the sheer exhaustion of crying, +as he had been pouring out his woes in the old monkey's ears and +laying his plans to run away. Now more than ever was he anxious +to get away, and yet each day was taking him farther from home and +consequently necessitating a larger amount of money with which to +start. As Old Ben did not give him as much sympathy as Toby thought +he ought to give -- for the old man, while he would not allow Mr. +Job Lord to strike the boy if he was near, thought it a necessary +portion of the education for Mr. Castle to lash him all he had a +mind to -- he poured out all his troubles in the old monkey's ears, +and kept him with him from the time he ceased work at night until +he was obliged to commence again in the morning. + +The skeleton and his wife thought Toby's lot a hard one, and tried +by every means in their power to cheer the poor boy. Neither one +of them could say to Mr. Castle what they had said to Mr. Lord, for +the rider was a far different sort of a person and one whom they +would not be allowed to interfere with in any way. Therefore poor +Toby was obliged to bear his troubles and his whippings as best +he might, with only the thought to cheer him of the time when he +could leave them all by running away. + +But, despite all his troubles, Toby learned to ride faster than his +teacher had expected he would, and in three weeks he found little +or no difficulty in standing erect while his horse went around +the ring at his fastest gait. After that had been accomplished his +progress was more rapid, and he gave promise of be- coming a very +good rider -- a fact which pleased both Mr. Castle and Mr. Lord +very much, as they fancied that in another year Toby would be the +source of a very good income to them. + +The proprietor of the circus took considerable interest in Toby's +instruction, and promised Mr. Castle that Mademoiselle Jeannette +and Toby should do an act together in the performance just as soon +as the latter was sufficiently advanced. The boy's costume had +been changed after he could ride without falling off, and now while +he was in the ring he wore the same as that used by the regular +performers. + +The little girl had, after it was announced that she and Toby were +to perform together, been an attentive observer during the hour +that Toby was under Mr. Castle's direction, and she gave him many +suggestions that were far more valuable, and quicker to be acted +upon, than those given by the teacher himself. + +"Tomorrow you two will go through the exercise together," said Mr. +Castle to Toby and Ella, at the close of one of Toby's lessons, +after he had become so skillful that he could stand with ease on +the pad, and even advanced so far that he could jump through a hoop +without falling more than twice out of three times. + +The little girl appeared highly delighted by this information, and +expressed her joy. + +"It will be real nice," she said to Toby, after Mr. Castle had left +them alone. "I can help you lots, and it won't be very long before +we can do an act all by ourselves in the performance, and then +won't the people clap their hands when we come in!" + +"It 'll be better for you tomorrow than it will for me," said Toby, +rubbing his legs sorrowfully, still feeling the sting of the whip. +"You see, Mr. Castle won't dare to whip you, an' he 'll make it all +count on me, 'cause he knows Mr. Lord likes to have him whip me." + +"But I sha'n't make any mistake," said Ella, confidently, "and so +you won't have to be whipped on my account; and while I am on the +horse you can't be whipped, for he couldn't do it without whipping +me, so you see you won't get only half as much." + +Toby brightened up a little under the influence of this argument; +but his countenance fell again as he thought that his chances for +getting away from the circus were growing less each day. + +"You see I want to get back to Uncle Dan'l an' Guilford," he said, +confidentially; "I don't want to stay here a single minute." + +Ella opened her eyes in wide astonishment as she cried: "Don't want +to stay here? Why don't you go home, then?" + +"'Cause Job Lord won't let me," said Toby, wondering if it was +possible that his little companion did not know exactly what sort +of a man his master was. + +Then he told her -- after making her give him all kinds of promises, +including the ceremony of crossing her throat, that she would never +tell a single soul -- that he had had many thoughts, and had formed +all kinds of plans for running away. He told her about losing his +money, about his friendship for the skeleton and the fat lady, and +at last he confided in her that he was intending to take the old +monkey with him when he should make the attempt. + +She listened with the closest attention, and when he told her that +his little hoard had now reached the sum of seven dollars and ten +cents -- almost as much as he had before -- she said, eagerly: "I've +got three little gold dollars in my trunk, an' you shall have them +all; they're my very own, for mamma gave them to me to do just what +I wanted to with them. But I don't see how you can take Mr. Stubbs +with you, for that would be stealing." + +"No, it wouldn't, neither," said Toby, stoutly. "Wasn't he give to +me to do just as I wanted to with? An' didn't the boss say he was +all mine?" + +"Oh, I'd forgotten that," said Ella, thoughtfully. "I suppose you +can take him; but he'll be awfully in the way, won't he?" + +"No," said Toby, anxious to say a good word for his pet; "he always +does just what I want him to, an' when I tell him what I'm tryin' +to do he'll be as good as anything. But I can't take your dollars." + +"Why not?" + +"'Cause that wouldn't be right for a boy to let a girl littler than +himself help him: I'll wait till I get money enough of my own, an' +then I'll go." + +"But I want you to take my money, too; I want you to have it." + +"No, I can't take it," said Toby, shaking his head resolutely as +he put the golden temptation from him; and then, as a happy thought +occurred to him, he said, quickly: "I tell you what to do with your +dollars: you keep them till you grow up to be a woman, an' when I'm +a man I'll come, an' then we'll buy a circus of our own. I think +perhaps I'd like to be with a circus if I owned one myself. We'll +have lots of money then, an' can do just what we want to." + +This idea seemed to please the little girl, and the two began to +lay all sorts of plans for that time when they should be man and +woman, have lots of money, and be able to do just what they wanted +to. + +They had been sitting on the edge of the newly made ring while +they were talking, and before they had half finished making plans +for the future one of the attendants came in to put things to order, +and they were obliged to leave their seats, she going to the hotel +to get ready for the afternoon's performance, and Toby to try to +do such work as Mr. Job had laid out for him. + +Just ten weeks from the time Toby had first joined the circus Mr. +Castle informed him and Ella that they were to appear in public +on the following day. They had been practicing daily, and Toby had +become so skillful that both Mr. Castle and Mr. Lord saw that the +time had come when he could be made to earn some money for them. + + + +XV: TOBY'S FRIENDS PRESENT HIM WITH A COSTUME + + +During this time Toby's funds had accumulated rather slower than on +the first few days he was in the business, but he had saved eleven +dollars, and Mr. Lord had paid him five dollars of his salary, so +that be had the to him enormous sum of sixteen dollars; and he had +about made up his mind to make one effort for liberty when the news +came that he was to ride in public. + +He had, in fact, been ready to run away any time within the past +week; but, as if they had divined his intentions, both Mr. Castle +and Mr. Lord had kept a very strict watch over him, one or the other +keeping him in sight from the time he got through with his labors +at night until they saw him on the cart with Old Ben. + +"I was just gettin' ready to run away," said Toby to Ella on the +day Mr. Castle gave his decision as to their taking part in the +performance, and while they were walking out of the tent, "an' I +shouldn't wonder now if I got away tonight." + +"Oh, Toby!" exclaimed the girl, as she looked reproachfully at +him, "after all the work we've had to get ready, you won't go off +and leave me before we've had a chance to see what the folks will +say when they see us together?" + +It was impossible for Toby to feel any delight at the idea of riding +in public, and he would have been willing to have taken one of Mr. +Lord's most severe whippings if he could have escaped from it; but +he and Ella had become such firm friends, and he had conceived such +a boyish admiration for her, that he felt as if he were willing to +bear almost anything for the sake of giving her pleasure. Therefore +he said, after a few moments' reflection: "Well, I won't go tonight, +anyway, even if I have the best chance that ever was. I'll stay +one day more, anyhow, an' perhaps I'll have to stay a good many." + +"That's a nice boy," said Ella, positively, as Toby thus gave his +decision, "and I'll kiss you for it." + +Before Toby fully realized what she was about, almost before he +had understood what she said, she had put her arms around his neck +and given him a good sound kiss right on his freckled face. + +Toby was surprised, astonished, and just a little bit ashamed. He +had never been kissed by a girl before -- very seldom by anyone, save +the fat lady -- and he hardly knew what to do or say. He blushed +until his face was almost as red as his hair, and this color had the +effect of making his freckles stand out with startling distinctness. +Then he looked carefully around to see if anyone had seen them. + +"I never had a girl kiss me before," said Toby, hesitatingly, "an' +you see it made me feel kinder queer to have you do it out here, +where everybody could see." + +"Well, I kissed you because I like you very much and because you +are going to stay and ride with me tomorrow," she said, positively; +and then she added, slyly, "I may kiss you again, if you don't get +a chance to run away very soon." + +"I wish it wasn't for Uncle Dan'l an' the rest of the folks at home, +an' there wasn't any such men as Mr. Lord an' Mr. Castle, an' then +I don't know but I might want to stay with the circus, 'cause I +like you awful much." + +And as he spoke Toby's heart grew very tender toward the only girl +friend he had ever known. + +By this time they had reached the door of the tent, and as they +stepped outside one of the drivers told them that Mr. Treat and +his wife were very anxious to see both of them in their tent. + +"I don't believe I can go," said Toby, doubtfully, as he glanced +toward the booth, where Mr. Lord was busy in attending to customers, +and evidently waiting for Toby to relieve him, so that he could go +to his dinner; "I don't believe Mr. Lord will let me." + +"Go and ask him," said Ella, eagerly. "We won't be gone but a +minute." + +Toby approached his employer with fear and trembling. He had never +before asked leave to be away from his work, even for a moment, and +be had no doubt but that his request would be refused with blows. + +"Mr. Treat wants me to come in his tent for a minute. Can I go?" +he asked, in a timid voice, and in such a low tone as to render it +almost inaudible. + +Mr. Lord looked at him for an instant, and Toby was sure that he was +making up his mind whether to kick him or catch him by the collar +and use the rubber cane on him. But he had no such intention, +evidently, for he said, in a voice unusually mild, "Yes, an' you +needn't come to work again until it's time to go into the tent." + +Toby was almost alarmed at this unusual kindness, and it puzzled +him so much that he would have forgotten he had permission to go +away if Ella had not pulled him gently by the coat. + +If he had heard a conversation between Mr. Lord and Mr. Castle that +very morning he would have understood why it was that Mr. Lord had +so suddenly become kind. Mr. Castle had told Job that the boy had +really shown himself to be a good rider, and that in order to make +him more contented with his lot, and to keep him from running away, +he must be used more kindly, and perhaps be taken from the candy +business altogether, which latter advice Mr. Lord did not look upon +with favor, because of the large sales which the boy made. + +When they reached the skeleton's tent they found, to their surprise, +that no exhibition was being given at that hour, and Ella said, +with some concern: "How queer it is that the doors are not open! +I do hope that they are not sick." + +Toby felt a strange sinking at his heart as the possibility suggested +itself that one or both of his kind friends might be ill; for they +had both been so kind and attentive to him that he had learned to +love them very dearly. + +But the fears of both the children were dispelled when they tried to +get in at the door and were met with the smiling skeleton himself, +who said, as he threw the canvas aside as far as if he were admitting +his own enormous Lilly: + +"Come in, my friends, come in. I have had the exhibition closed for +one hour, in order that I might show my appreciation of my friend +Mr. Tyler." + +Toby looked around in some alarm, fearing that Mr. Treat's friendship +was about to be displayed in one of his state dinners, which he +had learned to fear rather than enjoy. But as he saw no preparations +for dinner he breathed more freely and wondered what all this +ceremony could possibly mean. + +Neither he nor Ella was long left in doubt, for as soon as they +had entered, Mrs. Treat waddled from behind the screen which served +them as a dressing room, with a bundle in her arms, which she handed +to her husband. + +He took it and, quickly mounting the platform, leaving Ella and +Toby below, he commenced to speak, with very many flourishes of +his thin arms. + +"My friends," he began, as he looked down upon his audience of three, +who were listening in the following attitudes: Ella and Toby were +standing upon the ground at the foot of the platform, looking up +with wide open, staring eyes; and his fleshy wife was seated on a +bench which had evidently been placed in such a position below the +speaker's stand that she could hear and see all that was going on +without the fatigue of standing up, which, for one of her size, +was really very hard work -- "My friends," repeated the skeleton, +as he held his bundle in front of him with one hand and gesticulated +with the other, "we all of us know that tomorrow our esteemed and +worthy friend Mr. Toby Tyler makes his first appearance in any +ring, and we all of us believe that he will soon become a bright +and shining light in the profession which he is so soon to enter." + +The speaker was here interrupted by loud applause from his wife, and +he profited by the opportunity to wipe a stray drop of perspiration +from his fleshless face. Then, as the fat lady ceased the exertion +of clapping her hands, he continued: + +"Knowing that our friend Mr. Tyler was being instructed, preparatory +to dazzling the public with his talents, my wife and I began to +prepare for him some slight testimonial of our esteem; and, being +informed by Mr. Castle some days ago of the day on which he was +to make his first appearance before the public, we were enabled to +complete our little gift in time for the great and important event." + +Here the skeleton paused to take a breath, and Toby began to grow +more uncomfortably red in the face. Such praise made him feel very +awkward. + +"I hold in this bundle," continued Mr. Treat as he waved the package +on high, "a costume for our bold and worthy equestrian, and a sash +to match for his beautiful and accomplished companion. In presenting +these little tokens my wife (who has embroidered every inch of the +velvet herself) and I feel proud to know that, when the great and +auspicious occasion occurs tomorrow, the worthy Mr. Tyler will +step into the ring in a costume which we have prepared expressly +for him; and thus, when he does himself honor by his performance +and earns the applause of the multitude, he will be doing honor +and doing applause for the work of our hands -- my wife Lilly and +myself. Take them, my boy; and when you array yourself in them +tomorrow you will remember that the only living skeleton, and the +wonder of the nineteenth century in the shape of the mammoth lady, +are present in their works if not in their persons." + +As he finished speaking Mr. Treat handed the bundle to Toby, and +then joined in the applause which was being given by Mrs. Treat +and Ella. + +Toby unrolled the package, and found that it contained a circus +rider's costume of pink tights and blue velvet trunks, collar and +cuffs, embroidered in white and plentifully spangled with silver. +In addition was a wide blue sash for Ella, embroidered to correspond +with Toby's costume. + +The little fellow was both delighted with the gift and at a loss +to know what to say in response. He looked at the costume over and +over again, and the tears of gratitude that these friends should +have been so good to him came into his eyes. He saw, however, that +they were expecting him to say something in reply, and, laying the +gift on the platform, he said to the skeleton and his wife: + +"You've been so good to me ever since I've been with the circus +that I wish I was big enough to say somethin' more than that I'm +much obliged, but I can't. One of these days, when I'm a man, I'll +show you how much I like you, an' then you won't be sorry that you +was good to such a poor little runaway boy as I am." + +Here the skeleton broke in with such loud applause and so many cries +of "Hear! hear!" that Toby grew still more confused, and forgot +entirely what he was intending to say next. + +"I want you to know how much obliged I am," he said, after much +hesitation, "an' when I wear 'em I'll ride just the best I know +how, even if I don't want to, an' you sha'n't be sorry that you +gave them to me." + +As Toby concluded he made a funny little awkward bow, and then +seemed to be trying to hide himself behind a chair from the applause +which was given so generously. + +"Bless your dear little heart!" said the fat lady, after the confusion +had somewhat subsided. "I know you will do your best, anyway, and +I'm glad to know that you're going to make your first appearance +in something that Samuel and I made for you." + +Ella was quite as well pleased with her sash as Toby was with his +costume, and thanked Mr. and Mrs. Treat in a pretty little way that +made Toby wish he could say anything half so nicely. + +The hour which the skeleton had devoted for the purpose of +the presentation and accompanying speeches having elapsed, it was +necessary that Ella and Toby should go and that the doors of the +exhibition be opened at once, in order to give any of the public +an opportunity of seeing what the placards announced as two of the +greatest curiosities on the face of the globe. + +That day, while Toby performed his arduous labors, his heart was +very light, for the evidences which the skeleton and his wife had +given of their regard for him were very gratifying. He determined +that he would do his very best to please so long as he was with +the circus, and then, when he got a chance to run away, he would +do so, but not until he had said goodby to Mr. and Mrs. Treat and +thanked them again for their interest in him. + +When he had finished his work in the tent that night Mr. Lord said +to him, as he patted him on the back in the most fatherly fashion, +and as if he had never spoken a harsh word to him, "You can't come +in here to sell candy now that you are one of the performers, my +boy; an' if I can find another boy tomorrow you won't have to work +in the booth any longer, an' your salary of a dollar a week will +go on just the same, even if you don't have anything to do but to +ride." + +This was a bit of news that was as welcome to Toby as it was +unexpected, and he felt more happy then than he had for the ten +weeks that he had been traveling under Mr. Lord's cruel mastership. + +But there was one thing that night that rather damped his joy, and +that was that he noticed that Mr. Lord was unusually careful to +watch him, not even allowing him to go outside the tent without +following. He saw at once that, if he was to have a more easy time, +his chances for running away were greatly diminished, and no number +of beautiful costumes would have made him content to stay with the +circus one moment longer than was absolutely necessary. + +That night he told Old Ben the events of the day, and expressed +the hope that he might acquit himself creditably when he made his +first appearance on the following day. + +Ben sat thoughtfully for some time, and then, making all the +preparations which Toby knew so well signified a long bit of advice, +he said: "Toby, my boy, I've been with a circus, man an' boy, nigh +to forty years, an' I've seen lots of youngsters start in just as +you re goin' to start in tomorrow; but the most of them petered +out, because they got to knowin' more 'n them that learned 'em +did. Now, you remember what I say, an' you'll find it good advice: +whatever business you get into, don't think you know all about it +before you've begun. Remember that you can always learn somethin', +no matter how old you are, an' keep your eyes an' ears open, an' +your tongue between your teeth, an' you'll amount to somethin', or +my name hain't Ben." + + + +XVI: TOBY'S FIRST APPEARANCE IN THE RING + + +When the circus entered the town which had been selected as the +place where Toby was to make his debut as a circus rider the boy +noticed a new poster among the many glaring and gaudy bills which +set forth the varied and numerous attractions that were to be found +under one canvas for a trifling admission fee, and he noticed it +with some degree of interest, not thinking for a moment that it +had any reference to him. + +It was printed very much as follows: + +MADEMOISELLE JEANNETTE AND MONSIEUR AJAX, + +two of the youngest equestrians in the world, will perform their +graceful, dashing, and daring act entitled + +THE TRIUMPH OF THE INNOCENTS! + +This is the first appearance of these daring young riders together +since their separation in Europe last season, and their performance +in this town will have a new and novel interest. + +See MADEMOISELLE JEANNETTE AND MONSIEUR AJAX + +"Look there!" said Toby to Ben, as he pointed out the poster, +which was printed in very large letters, with gorgeous coloring, +and surmounted by a picture of two very small people performing all +kinds of impossible feats on horseback. "They've got someone else +to ride with Ella today. I wonder who it can be?" + +Ben looked at Toby for a moment, as if to assure himself that the +boy was in earnest in asking the question, and then he relapsed +into the worst fit of silent laughing that Toby had ever seen. After +he had quite recovered he asked: "Don't you know who Monsieur Ajax +is? Hain't you never seen him?" + +"No," replied Toby, at a loss to understand what there was so very +funny in his very natural question. "I thought that I was goin' to +ride with Ella." + +"Why, that's you!" almost screamed Ben, in delight. "Monsieur Ajax +means you -- didn't you know it? You don't suppose they would go +to put 'Toby Tyler' on the bills, do you? How it would look! -- +'Mademoiselle Jeannette an' Monsieur Toby Tyler'!" + +Ben was off in one of his laughing spells again; and Toby sat there, +stiff and straight, hardly knowing whether to join in the mirth or +to get angry at the sport which had been made of his name. + +"I don't care," he said, at length. "I'm sure I think Toby Tyler +sounds just as well as Monsieur Ajax, an' I'm sure it fits me a +good deal better." + +"That may be," said Ben, soothingly; "but you see it wouldn't go +down so well with the public. They want furrin riders, an' they +must have 'em, even if it does spoil your name." + +Despite the fact that he did not like the new name that had been +given him, Toby could not but feel pleased at the glowing terms +in which his performance was set off; but he did not at all relish +the lie that was told about his having been with Ella in Europe, +and he would have been very much better pleased if that portion of +it had been left off. + +During the forenoon he did not go near Mr. Lord nor his candy stand, +for Mr. Castle kept him and Ella busily engaged in practicing the +feat which they were to perform in the afternoon, and it was almost +time for the performance to begin before they were allowed even to +go to their dinner. + +Ella, who had performed several years, was very much more excited +over the coming debut than Toby was, and the reason why he did not +show more interest was, probably, because of his great desire to +leave the circus as soon as possible, and during that forenoon he +thought very much more of how he should get back to Guilford and +Uncle Daniel than he did of how he should get along when he stood +before the audience. + +Mr. Castle assisted his pupil to dress, and when that was done to +his entire satisfaction he said, in a stern voice, "Now you can +do this act all right, and if you slip up on it and don't do it as +you ought to, I'll give you such a whipping when you come out of +the ring that you'll think Job was only fooling with you when he +tried to whip you." + +Toby had been feeling reasonably cheerful before this, but these +words dispelled all his cheerful thoughts, and he was looking more +disconsolate when Old Ben came into the dressing tent. + +"All ready are you, my boy?" said the old man, in his cheeriest +voice. "Well, that's good, an' you look as nice as possible. Now +remember what I told you last night, Toby, an' go in there to do +your level best an' make a name for yourself. Come out here with +me and wait for the young lady." + +These cheering words of Ben's did Toby as much good as Mr. Castle's +had the reverse, and as he stepped out of the dressing room to the +place where the horses were being saddled Toby resolved that he +would do his very best that afternoon, if for no other reason than +to please his old friend. + +Toby was not naturally what might be called a pretty boy, for his +short red hair and his freckled face prevented any great display of +beauty; but he was a good, honest looking boy, and in his tasteful +costume looked very nice indeed -- so nice that, could Mrs. Treat +have seen him just then, she would have been very proud of her +handiwork and hugged him harder than ever. + +He had been waiting but a few moments when Ella came from her dressing +room, and Toby was much pleased when he saw by the expression of +her face that she was perfectly satisfied with his appearance. + +"We'll both do just as well as we can," she whispered to him, "and +I know the people will like us and make us come back after we get +through. And if they do mamma says she'll give each one of us a +gold dollar." + +She had taken hold of Toby's hand as she spoke, and her manner was +so earnest and anxious that Toby was more excited than he ever had +been about his debut; and, had he gone into the ring just at that +moment, the chances are that he would have surprised even his +teacher by his riding. + +"I'll do just as well as I can," said Toby, in reply to his little +companion, "an' if we earn the dollars I'll have a hole bored in +mine, an' you shall wear it around your neck to remember me by." + +"I'll remember you without that," she whispered; "and I'll give you +mine, so that you shall have so much the more when you go to your +home." + +There was no time for further conversation, for Mr. Castle entered +just then to tell them that they must go in in another moment. The +horses were all ready -- a black one for Toby, and a white one for +Ella -- and they stood champing their bits and pawing the earth +in their impatience until the silver bells with which they were +decorated rang out quick, nervous little chimes that accorded very +well with Toby's feelings. + +Ella squeezed Toby's hand as they stood waiting for the curtain +to be raised that they might enter, and he had just time to return +it when the signal was given, and almost before he was aware of it +they were standing in the ring, kissing their hands to the crowds +that packed the enormous tent to its utmost capacity. + +Thanks to the false announcement about the separation of the children +in Europe and their reunion in this particular town, the applause +was long and loud, and before it had died away Toby had time to +recover a little from the queer feeling which this sea of heads +gave him. + +He had never seen such a crowd before, except as he had seen them +as he walked around at the foot of the seats, and then they had +simply looked like so many human beings; but as he saw them now from +the ring they appeared like strange rows of heads without bodies, +and he had hard work to keep from running back behind the curtain +whence he had come. + +Mr. Castle acted as the ringmaster this time, and after he had +introduced them -- very much after the fashion of the posters -- +and the clown had repeated some funny joke, the horses were led in +and they were assisted to mount. + +"Don't mind the people at all," said Mr. Castle, in a low voice, +"but ride just as if you were alone here with me." + +The music struck up, the horses cantered around the ring, and Toby +had really started as a circus rider. + +"Remember," said Ella to him, in a low tone, just as the horses +started, "you told me that you would ride just as well as you could, +and we must earn the dollars mamma promised." + +It seemed to Toby at first as if he could not stand up, but by +the time they had ridden around the ring once, and Ella had again +cautioned him against making any mistake, for the sake of the money +which they were going to earn, he was calm and collected enough to +carry out his part of the "act" as well as if he had been simply +taking a lesson. + +The act consisted in their riding side by side, jumping over banners +and through hoops covered with paper, and then the most difficult +portion began. + +The saddles, were taken off the horses, and they were to ride first +on one horse and then on the other, until they concluded their +performance by riding twice around the ring side by side, standing +on their horses, each one with a hand on the other's shoulder. + +All this was successfully accomplished without a single error, +and when they rode out of the ring the applause was so great as to +leave no doubt but that they would be recalled and thus earn the +promised money. + +In fact, they had hardly got inside the curtain when one of the +attendants called to them, and before they had time even to speak +to each other they were in the ring again, repeating the last +portion of their act. + +When they came out of the ring for the second time they found Old +Ben, the skeleton, the fat lady, and Mr. Job Lord waiting to welcome +them; but before anyone could say a word Ella had stood on tiptoe +again and given Toby just such another kiss as she did when he told +her that he would surely stay long enough to appear in the ring +with her once. + +"That's because you rode so well and helped me so much," she said, +as she saw Toby's cheeks growing a fiery red; and then she turned +to those who were waiting to greet her. + +Mrs. Treat took her in her enormous arms, and, having kissed her, +put her down quickly, and clasped Toby as if he had been a very +small walnut and her arms a very large pair of nutcrackers. + +"Bless the boy!" she exclaimed, as she kissed him again and again +with an energy and force that made her kisses sound like the crack +of the whip and caused the horses to stamp in affright. "I knew +he'd amount to something one of these days, an' Samuel an' I had +to come out, when business was dull, just to see how he got along." + +It was some time before she would unloose him from her motherly +embrace, and when she did the skeleton grasped him by the hand and +said, in the most pompous and affected manner: + +"Mr. Tyler, we're proud of you, and when we saw that costume of +yours, that my Lilly embroidered with her own hands, we was both +proud of it and what it contained. You're a great rider, my boy, a +great rider, and you 'll stand at the head of the profession some +day, if you only stick to it." + +"Thank you, sir," was all Toby had time to say before Old Ben had +him by the hand, and the skeleton was pouring out his congratulations +in little Miss Ella's ear. + +"Toby, my boy, you did well, an' now you'll amount to something, +if you only remember what I told you last night," said Ben, as he +looked upon the boy whom he had come to think of as his protege, +with pride. "I never seen anybody of your age do any better; an' +now, instead of bein' only a candy peddler, you're one of the stars +of the show." + +"Thank you, Ben," was all that Toby could say, for he knew that +his old friend meant every word that he said, and it pleased him +so much that he could say no more than "Thank you" in reply. + +"I feel as if your triumph was mine," said Mr. Lord, looking benignly +at Toby from out his crooked eye, and assuming the most fatherly +tone at his command; "I have learned to look upon you almost as my +own son, and your success is very gratifying to me." + +Toby was not at all flattered by this last praise. If he had never +seen Mr. Lord before, he might, and probably would, have been +deceived by his words; but he had seen him too often, and under +too many painful circumstances, to be at all swindled by his words. + +Toby was very much pleased with his success and by the praise he +received from all, and when the proprietor of the circus came along, +patted him on the head, and told him that he rode very nicely, he +was quite happy, until he chanced to see the greedy twinkle in Mr. +Lord's eye, and then he knew that all this success and all this +praise were only binding him faster to the show which he was so +anxious to escape from; his pleasure vanished very quickly, and in +its stead came a bitter, homesick feeling which no amount of praise +could banish. + +It was Old Ben who helped him to undress after the skeleton and +the fat lady had gone to their tent and Ella had gone to dress for +her appearance with her mother, for now she was obliged to ride +twice at each performance. When Toby was in ordinary clothes again +Ben said: + +"Now that you're one of the performers, Toby, you won't have to sell +candy any more, an' you'll have the most of your time to yourself, +so let's you an' I go out an' see the town." + +"Don't you s'pose Mr. Lord expects me to go to work for him again +today?" + +"An' s'posin' he does?" said Ben, with a chuckle. "You don't s'pose +the boss would let any one that rides in the ring stand behind Job +Lord's counter, do you? You can do just as you have a mind to, my +boy, an' I say to you, let's go out an' see the town. What do you +say to it?" + +"I'd like to go first rate, if I dared to," replied Toby, thinking +of the many whippings he had received for far less than that which +Ben now proposed he should do. + +"Oh, I'll take care that Job don't bother you, so come along"; and +Ben started out of the tent, and Toby followed, feeling considerably +frightened at this first act of disobedience against his old master. + + + + +XVII: OFF FOR HOME! + + +During this walk Toby learned many things that were of importance +to him, so far as his plan for running away was concerned. In the +first place, he gleaned from the railway posters that were stuck +up in the hotel to which they went that he could buy a ticket for +Guilford for seven dollars, and also that, by going back to the +town from which they had come, he could go to Guilford by steamer +for five dollars. + +By returning to this last town -- and Toby calculated that the +fare on the stage back there could not be more than a dollar -- he +would have ten dollars left, and that surely ought to be sufficient +to buy food enough for two days for the most hungry boy that ever +lived. + +When they returned to the circus grounds the performance was over, +and Mr. Lord in the midst of the brisk trade which he usually had +after the afternoon performance, and yet, so far from scolding Toby +for going away, he actually smiled and bowed at him as he saw him +go by with Ben. + +"See there, Toby," said the old driver to the boy, as he gave +him a vigorous poke in the ribs and then went off into one of his +dreadful laughing spells -- "see what it is to be a performer an' +not workin' for such an old fossil as Job is! He'll be so sweet to +you now that sugar won't melt in his mouth, an' there's no chance +of his ever attemptin' to whip you again." + +Toby made no reply, for he was too busily engaged thinking of +something which had just come into his mind to know that his friend +had spoken. + +But as Old Ben hardly knew whether the boy had answered him or +not, owing to his being obliged to struggle with his breath lest +he should lose it in the second laughing spell that attacked him, +the boy's thoughtfulness was not particularly noticed. + +Toby walked around the show grounds for a little while with his +old friend, and then the two went to supper, where Toby performed +quite as great wonders in the way of eating as he had in the +afternoon by riding. + +As soon as the supper was over he quietly slipped away from Old +Ben, and at once paid a visit to Mr. and Mrs. Treat, whom he found +cozily engaged in their supper behind the screen. + +They welcomed Toby most cordially, and, despite his assertions that +he had just finished a very hearty meal, the fat lady made him sit +down to the box which served as table, and insisted on his trying +some of her doughnuts. + +Under all these pressing attentions it was some time before Toby +found a chance to say that which he had come to say, and when he +did he was almost at a loss how to proceed; but at last he commenced +by starting abruptly on his subject with the words, "I've made up +my mind to leave tonight." + +"Leave tonight?" repeated the skeleton, inquiringly, not for a +moment believing that Toby could think of running away after the +brilliant success he had just made. "What do you mean, Toby?" + +"Why, you know that I've been wantin' to get away from the circus," +said Toby, a little impatient that his friend should be so wonderfully +stupid, "an' I think that I'll have as good a chance now as ever +I shall, so I'm goin' to try it." + +"Bless us!" exclaimed the fat lady, in a gasping way. "You don't +mean to say that you're goin' off just when you've started in the +business so well? I thought you'd want to stay after you'd been so +well received this afternoon." + +"No," said Toby -- and one quick little sob popped right up from +his heart and out before he was aware of it -- "I learned to ride +because I had to, but I never give up runnin' away. I must see +Uncle Dan'l, an' tell him how sorry I am for what I did; an' if he +won't have anything to say to me I'll come back; but if he'll let +me I'll stay there, an' I'll be so good that by 'n' by he'll forget +that I run off an' left him without sayin' a word." + +There was such a touch of sorrow in his tones, so much pathos in his +way of speaking, that good Mrs. Treat's heart was touched at once; +and putting her arms around the little fellow, as if to shield him +from some harm, she said, tenderly: "And so you shall go, Toby, my +boy; but if you ever want a home or anybody to love you come right +here to us, and you'll never be sorry. So long as Sam keeps thin +and I fat enough to draw the public you never need say that you're +homeless, for nothing would please us better than to have you come +to live with us." + +For reply Toby raised his head and kissed her on the cheek, a +proceeding which caused her to squeeze him harder than ever. + +During this conversation the skeleton had remained very thoughtful. +After a moment or two he got up from his seat, went outside the +tent, and presently returned with a quantity of silver ten cent +pieces in his hand. + +"Here, Toby," he said -- and it was to be seen that he was really +too much affected even to attempt one of his speeches -- "it's right +that you should go, for I've known what it is to feel just as you +do. What Lilly said about your having a home with us I say, an' +here's five dollars that I want you to take to help you along." + +At first Toby stoutly refused to take the money; but they both +insisted to such a degree that he was actually forced to, and then +he stood up to go. + +"I'm goin' to try to slip off after Job packs up the outside booth, +if I can," he said, "an' it was to say goodby that I come around +here." + +Again Mrs. Treat took the boy in her arms, as if it were one of +her own children who was leaving her, and as she stroked his hair +back from his forehead she said: "Don't forget us, Toby, even if +you never do see us again; try an' remember how much we cared for +you, an' how much comfort you're taking away from us when you go; +for it was a comfort to see you around, even if you wasn't with us +very much. Don't forget us, Toby, an' if you ever get the chance, +come an' see us. Goodby, Toby, goodby." And the kind hearted woman +kissed him again and again, and then turned her back resolutely +upon him, lest it should be bad luck to him if she again saw him +after saying goodby. + +The skeleton's parting was not quite so demonstrative. He clasped +Toby's hand with one set of his fleshless fingers, while with the +other he wiped one or two suspicious looking drops of moisture from +his eyes as he said: "I hope you'll get along all right, my boy, +and I believe you will. You will get home to Uncle Daniel and +be happier than ever, for now you know what it is to be entirely +without a home. Be a good boy, mind your uncle, go to school, and +one of these days you'll make a good man. Goodby, my boy." + +The tears were now streaming down Toby's face very rapidly; he +had not known, in his anxiety to get home, how very much he cared +for this strangely assorted couple, and now it made him feel very +miserable and wretched that he was going to leave them. He tried +to say something more, but the tears choked his utterance and he +left the tent quickly to prevent himself from breaking down entirely. + +In order that his grief might not be noticed and the cause of it +suspected, Toby went out behind the tent, and, sitting there on a +stone, he gave way to the tears which he could no longer control. + +While he was thus engaged, heeding nothing which passed around +him, he was startled by a cheery voice which cried: "Halloo! down +in the dumps again? What is the matter now, my bold equestrian?" + +Looking up, he saw Ben standing before him, and he wiped his eyes +hastily, for here was another from whom he must part and to whom +a goodby must be spoken. + +Looking around to make sure that no one was within hearing, he went +up very close to the old driver and said, in almost a whisper: "I +was feelin' bad 'cause I just come from Mr. and Mrs. Treat, an' +I've been sayin' goodby to them. I'm goin' to run away tonight." + +Ben looked at him for a moment, as if he doubted whether the boy +knew exactly what he was talking about, and then said, "So you +still want to go home, do you?" + +"Oh yes, Ben, so much," was the reply, in a tone which expressed +how dear to him was the thought of being in his old home once more. + +"All right, my boy; I won't say one word ag'in' it, though it do +seem too bad, after you've turned out to be such a good rider," +said the old man, thoughtfully. "It's better for you, I know; for +a circus hain't no place for a boy, even if he wants to stay, an' +I can't say but I'm glad you're still determined to go." + +Toby felt relieved at the tone of this leave taking. He had feared +that Old Ben, who thought a circus rider was almost on the topmost +round of fortune's ladder, would have urged him to stay, since he +had made his debut in the ring, and he was almost afraid that he +might take some steps to prevent his going. + +"I wanted to say goodby now," said Toby, in a choking voice, "'cause +perhaps I sha'n't see you again. + +"Goodby, my boy," said Ben as he took the boy's hand in his. "Don't +forget this experience you've had in runnin' away; an if ever the +time comes that you feel as if you wanted to know that you had a +friend, think of Old Ben, an' remember that his heart beats just +as warm for you as if he was your father. Goodby, my boy, goodby, +an' may the good God bless you!" + +"Goodby, Ben," said Toby; and then, as the old driver turned and +walked away, wiping something from his eye with the cuff of his +sleeve, Toby gave full vent to his tears and wondered why it was +that he was such a miserable little wretch. + +There was one more goodby to be said, and that Toby dreaded more +than all the others. It was to Ella. He knew that she would feel +badly to have him go, because she liked to ride the act with him +that gave them such applause, and he felt certain that she would +urge him to stay. + +Just then the thought of another of his friends -- one who had not +yet been warned of what very important matter was to occur -- came +to his mind, and he hastened toward the old monkey's cage. His pet +was busily engaged in playing with some of the younger members of +his family, and for some moments could not be induced to come to +the bars of the cage. + +At last, however, Toby did succeed in coaxing him forward, and +then, taking him by the paw and drawing him as near as possible, +Toby whispered, "We're goin' to run away tonight, Mr. Stubbs, an' +I want you to be all ready to go the minute I come for you." + +The old monkey winked both eyes violently, and then showed his teeth +to such an extent that Toby thought he was laughing at the prospect, +and he said, a little severely, "If you had as many friends as I +have got in the circus you wouldn't laugh when you was goin' to leave +them. Of course I've got to go, an' I want to go; but it makes me +feel bad to leave the skeleton, an' the fat woman, an Old Ben, an' +little Ella. But I mustn't stand here. You be ready when I come +for you, an' by mornin' we'll be so far off that Mr. Lord nor Mr. +Castle can't catch us." + +The old monkey went toward his companions, as if he were in high +glee at the trip before him, and Toby went into the dressing tent +to prepare for the evening's performance -- which was about to +commence. + +It appeared to the boy as if everyone was unusually kind to him +that night, and, feeling sad at leaving those in the circus who +had befriended him, Toby was unusually attentive to everyone around +him. He ran on some trifling errand for one, helped another in his +dressing, and in a dozen kind ways seemed as if trying to atone +for leaving them secretly. + +When the time came for him to go into the ring and he met Ella, +bright and happy at the thought of riding with him and repeating her +triumphs of the afternoon, nothing save the thought of how wicked +he had been to run away from good old Uncle Daniel, and a desire +to right that wrong in some way, prevented him from giving up his +plan of going back. + +The little girl observed his sadness, and she whispered, "Has anyone +been whipping you, Toby?" + +Toby shook his head. He had thought that he would tell her what he +was about to do just before they went into the ring, but her kind +words seemed to make that impossible, and he had said nothing when +the blare of the trumpets, the noisy demonstrations of the audience, +and the announcement of the clown that the wonderful children riders +were now about to appear, ushered them into the ring. + +If Toby had performed well in the afternoon, he accomplished +wonders on this evening, and they were called back into the ring, +not once, but twice; and when finally they were allowed to retire +everyone behind the curtain overwhelmed them with praise. + +Ella was so profuse with her kind words, her admiration for what +Toby had done, and so delighted at the idea that they were to ride +together, that even then the boy could not tell her what he was +going to do, but went into his dressing room, resolving that he +would tell her all when they both had finished dressing. + +Toby made as small a parcel as possible of the costume which Mr. +and Mrs. Treat had given him -- for he determined that he would +take it with him -- and, putting it under his coat, went out to wait +for Ella. As she did not come out as soon as he expected, he asked +someone to tell her that he wanted to see her, and he thought to +himself that when she did come she would be in a hurry and could +not stop long enough to make any very lengthy objections to his +leaving. + +But she did not come at all -- her mother sent out word that Toby +could not see her until after the performance was over, owing to +the fact that it was now nearly time for her to go into the ring, +and she was not dressed yet. + +Toby was terribly disappointed. He knew that it would not be safe +for him to wait until the close of the performance if he were +intending to run away that night, and he felt that he could not go +until he had said a few last words to her. + +He was in a great perplexity, until the thought came to him that +he could write a goodby to her, and by this means any unpleasant +discussion would be avoided. + +After some little difficulty he procured a small piece of not very +clean paper and a very short bit of lead pencil, and, using the +top of one of the wagons, as he sat on the seat, for a desk, he +indited the following epistle: + +deaR ella I Am goin to Run away two night, & i want two say good +by to yu & your mother. i am Small & unkle Danil says i dont mount +two much, but i am old enuf two know that you have bin good two me, +& when i Am a man i will buy you a whole cirkus, and we Will ride +together. dont forgit me & i wont yu in haste + +Toby Tyler. + +Toby had no envelope in which to seal this precious letter, but +he felt that it would not be seen by prying eyes and would safely +reach its destination if he intrusted it to Old Ben. + +It did not take him many moments to find the old driver, and he +said, as he handed him the letter, "I didn't see Ella to tell her +I was goin', so I wrote this letter, an' I want to know if you will +give it to her?" + +"Of course I will. But see here, Toby" -- and Ben caught him by the +sleeve and led him aside where he would not be overheard -- "have +you got enough money to take you home? for if you haven't I can +let you have some." And Ben plunged his hand into his capacious +pocket, as if he was about to withdraw from there the entire United +States Treasury. + +Toby assured him that he had sufficient for all his wants; but the +old man would not be satisfied until he had seen for himself, and +then, taking Toby's hand again, he said: "Now, my boy, it won't do +for you to stay around here any longer. Buy something to eat before +you start, an' go into the woods for a day or two before you take +the train or steamboat. + +"You're too big a prize for Job or Castle to let you go without +a word, an' they'll try their level best to find you. Be careful, +now, for if they should catch you, goodby any more chances to get +away. There" -- and here Ben suddenly lifted him high from the +ground and kissed him -- "now get away as fast as you can." + +Toby pressed the old man's hand affectionately, and then, without +trusting himself to speak, walked swiftly out toward the entrance. + +He resolved to take Ben's advice and go into the woods for a short +time, and therefore he must buy some provisions before he started. + +As he passed the monkeys' cage he saw his pet sitting near the +bars, and he stopped long enough to whisper, "I'll be back in ten +minutes, Mr. Stubbs, an' you be all ready then." + +Then he went on, and just as he got near the entrance one of the +men told him that Mrs. Treat wished to see him. + +Toby could hardly afford to spare the time just then, but he would +probably have obeyed the summons if he had known that by so doing +he would be caught, and he ran as fast as his little legs would +carry him toward the skeleton's tent. + +The exhibition was open, and both the skeleton, and his wife were +on the platform when Toby entered; but he crept around at the back +and up behind Mrs. Treat's chair, telling her as he did so that he +had just received her message and that he must hurry right back, +for every moment was important then to him. + +"I put up a nice lunch for you," she said as she kissed him, "and +you'll find it on the top of the biggest trunk. Now go; and if my +wishes are of any good to you, you will get to your uncle Daniel's +house without any trouble. Goodby again, little one." + +Toby did not dare to trust himself any longer where everyone was +so kind to him. He slipped down from the platform as quickly as +possible, found the bundle -- and a good sized one it was, too -- +without any difficulty, and went back to the monkeys' cage. + +As orders had been given by the proprietor of the circus that +the boy should do as he had a mind to with the monkey, he called +Mr. Stubbs; and as he was in the custom of taking him with him at +night, no one thought that it was anything strange that he should +take him from the cage now. + +Mr. Lord or Mr. Castle might possibly have thought it queer had either +of them seen the two bundles which Toby carried, but, fortunately +for the boy's scheme, they both believed that he was in the dressing +tent, and consequently thought that he was perfectly safe. + +Toby's hand shook so that he could hardly undo the fastening of +the cage, and when he attempted to call the monkey to him his voice +sounded so strange and husky that it startled him. + +The old monkey seemed to prefer sleeping with Toby rather than +with those of his kind in the cage; and as the boy took him with +him almost every night, he came on this particular occasion as soon +as Toby called, regardless of the strange sound of his master's +voice. + +With his bundles under his arm and the monkey on his shoulder, +with both paws tightly clasped around his neck, Toby made his way +out of the tent with beating heart and bated breath. + +Neither Mr. Lord, Castle, nor Jacobs were in sight, and everything +seemed favorable for his flight. During the afternoon he had +carefully noted the direction of the woods, and he started swiftly +toward them now, stopping only long enough, as he was well clear +of the tents, to say, in a whisper: + +"Goodby, Mr. Treat, an' Mrs. Treat, an' Ella, an' Ben. Sometime, +when I'm a man, I'll come back an' bring you lots of nice things, +an' I'll never forget you -- never. When I have a chance to be good +to some little boy that felt as bad as I did I'll do it, an' tell +him that it was you did it. Goodby." + +Then, turning around, he ran toward the woods as swiftly as if his +escape had been discovered and the entire company were in pursuit. + + + +XVIII: A DAY OF FREEDOM + + +Toby ran at the top of his speed over the rough road; and the +monkey, jolted from one side to the other, clutched his paws more +tightly around the boy's neck, looking around into his face as if +to ask what was the meaning of this very singular proceeding. + +When he was so very nearly breathless as to be able to run no more, +but was forced to walk, Toby looked behind him, and there he could +see the bright lights of the circus and hear the strains of the +music as he had heard them on the night when he was getting ready +to run away from Uncle Daniel; and those very sounds, which reminded +him forcibly of how ungrateful he had been to the old man who had +cared for him when there was no one else in the world who would do +so, made it more easy for him to leave those behind who had been +so kind to him when he stood so much in need of kindness. + +"We are goin' home, Mr. Stubbs!" he said, exultantly, to the monkey +-- "home to Uncle Dan'l an' the boys; an' won't you have a good +time when we get there! You can run all over the barn, an' up in +the trees, an' do just what you want to, an' there'll be plenty +of fellows to play with you. You don't know half how good a place +Guilford is, Mr. Stubbs." + +The monkey chattered away as if he were anticipating lots of fun +on his arrival at Toby's home, and the boy chattered back, his +spirits rising at every step which took him farther away from the +collection of tents where he had spent so many wretched hours. + +A brisk walk of half an hour sufficed to take Toby to the woods, +and after some little search he found a thick clump of bushes in +which he concluded he could sleep without the risk of being seen +by anyone who might pass that way before he should be awake in the +morning. + +He had not much choice in the way of a bed, for it was so dark in +the woods that it was impossible to collect moss or leaves to make +a soft resting place, and the few leaves and pine boughs which he +did gather made his place for sleeping but very little softer. + +But during the ten weeks that Toby had been with the circus his +bed had seldom been anything softer than the seat of the wagon, +and it troubled him very little that he was to sleep with nothing +but a few leaves between himself and the earth. + +Using the bundle in which was his riding costume for a pillow, +and placing the lunch Mrs. Treat had given him near by, where the +monkey could not get at it conveniently, he cuddled Mr. Stubbs up +to his bosom and lay down to sleep. + +"Mr. Lord won't wake us up in the mornin' an' swear at us for not +washin' the tumblers," said Toby, in a tone of satisfaction, to the +monkey; "an' we won't have to go into the tent tomorrow an' sell +sick lemonade an' poor peanuts. But" -- and here his tone changed +to one of sorrow -- "there'll be some there that 'll be sorry not to +see us in the mornin', Mr. Stubbs, though they'll be glad to know +that we got away all right. But won't Mr. Lord swear, an' won't +Mr. Castle crack his whip, when they come to look round for us in +the mornin' an' find that we hain't there!" + +The reply which the monkey made to this was to nestle his head +closer under Toby's coat, and to show, in the most decided manner, +that he was ready to go to sleep. + +And Toby was quite as ready to go to sleep as he was. He had worked +hard that day, but the excitement of escaping had prevented him +from realizing his fatigue until after he had lain down; and almost +before he had got through congratulating himself upon the ease +with which he had gotten free both he and the monkey were as sound +asleep as if they had been tucked up in the softest bed that was +ever made. + +Toby's very weariness was a friend to him that night, for it +prevented him from waking; which, if he had done so, might have +been unpleasant when he fully realized that he was all alone in +the forest, and the sounds that are always heard in the woods might +have frightened him just the least bit. + +The sun was shining directly in his face when Toby awoke on the +following morning, and the old monkey was still snugly nestled +under his coat. He sat up rather dazed at first, and then, as he +fully realized that he was actually free from all that had made his +life such a sad and hard one for so many weeks, he shouted aloud, +reveling in his freedom. + +The monkey, awakened by Toby's cries, started from his sleep in +affright and jumped into the nearest tree, only to chatter, jump, +and swing from the boughs when he saw that there was nothing very +unusual going on, save that he and Toby were out in the woods +again, where they could have no end of a good time and do just as +they liked. + +After a few moments spent in a short jubilee at their escape Toby +took the monkey on his shoulder and the bundles under his arm again, +and went cautiously out to the edge of the thicket, where he could +form some idea as to whether or no they were pursued. + +He had entered the woods at the brow of a small hill when he had +fled so hastily on the previous evening, and, looking down, he could +see the spot whereon the tents of the circus had been pitched, but +not a sign of them was now visible. He could see a number of people +walking around, and he fancied that they looked up every now and +then to where he stood concealed by the foliage. + +This gave him no little uneasiness, for he feared that Mr. Lord or +Mr. Castle might be among the number, and he believed that they +would begin a search for him at once, and that the spot where +their attention would first be drawn was exactly where he was then +standing. + +"This won't do, Mr. Stubbs," he said, as he pushed the monkey higher +up on his shoulder and started into the thickest part of the woods; +"we must get out of this place an' go farther down, where we can +hide till tomorrow mornin'. Besides, we must find some water where +we can wash our faces." + +The old monkey would hardly have been troubled if they had not +got their faces washed for the next month to come; but he grinned +and talked as Toby trudged along, attempting to catch hold of the +leaves as they were passed, and in various other ways impeding his +master's progress, until Toby was obliged to give him a most severe +scolding in order to make him behave himself in anything like a +decent manner. + +At last, after fully half an hour's rapid walking, Toby found just +the place he wanted in which to pass the time he concluded it would +be necessary to spend before he dare venture out to start for home. + +It was a little valley entirely filled by trees, which grew so +thickly, save in one little spot, as to make it almost impossible +to walk through. The one clear spot was not more than ten feet +square, but it was just at the edge of a swiftly running brook; +and a more beautiful or convenient place for a boy and a monkey +to stop who had no tent, nor means to build one, could not well be +imagined. + +Toby's first act was to wash his face, and he tried to make the +monkey do the same; but Mr. Stubbs had no idea of doing any such +foolish thing. He would come down close to the edge of the water +and look in; but the moment that Toby tried to make him go in he +would rush back among the trees, climb out on some slender bough, +and then swing himself down by the tail, and chatter away as if +making sport of his young master for thinking that he would be so +foolish as to soil his face with water. + +After Toby had made his toilet he unfastened the bundle which the +fat lady had given him, for the purpose of having breakfast. As +much of an eater as Toby was, he could not but be surprised at the +quantity of food which Mrs. Treat called a lunch. There were two +whole pies and half of another, as many as two dozen doughnuts, +several large pieces of cheese, six sandwiches, with a plentiful +amount of meat, half a dozen biscuits, nicely buttered, and a large +piece of cake. + +The monkey had come down from the tree as soon as he saw Toby untying +the bundle, and there was quite as much pleasure depicted on his +face, when he saw the good things that were spread out before him, +as there was on Toby's; and he showed his thankfulness at Mrs. +Treat's foresight by suddenly snatching one of the doughnuts and +running with it up the tree, where he knew Toby could not follow. + +"Now look here, Mr. Stubbs!" said Toby, sternly, "you can have all +you want to eat, but you must take it in a decent way, an' not go +to cuttin' up any such shines as that." + +And after giving this command -- which, by the way, was obeyed just +about as well as it was understood -- Toby devoted his time to his +breakfast, and he reduced the amount of eatables very considerably +before he had finished. + +Toby cleared off his table by gathering the food together and putting +it back into the paper as well as possible, and then he sat down +to think over the situation and to decide what he had better do. + +He felt rather nervous about venturing out when it was possible +for Mr. Lord or Mr. Castle to get hold of him again; and as the +weather was yet warm during the night, his camping place everything +that could be desired, and the stock of food likely to hold out, he +concluded that he had better remain there for two days at least, +and then he would be reasonably sure that if either of the men +whom he so dreaded to see had remained behind for the purpose of +catching him, he would have got tired out and gone on. + +This point decided upon, the next was to try to fix up something +soft for a bed. He had his pocketknife with him, and in his little +valley were pine and hemlock trees in abundance. From the tips of +their branches he knew that he could make a bed as soft and fragrant +as any that could be thought of, and he set to work at once, while +Mr. Stubbs continued his antics above his head. + +After about two hours' steady work he had cut enough of the tender +branches to make himself a bed into which he and the monkey could +burrow and sleep as comfortably as if they were in the softest bed +in Uncle Daniel's house. + +When Toby first began to cut the boughs he had an idea that he +might possibly make some sort of a hut; but the two hours' work +had blistered his hands, and he was perfectly ready to sit down +and rest, without the slightest desire for any other kind of a hut +than that formed by the trees themselves. + +Toby imagined that in that beautiful place he could, with the monkey, +stay contented for any number of days; but after he had rested a +time, played with his pet a little, and eaten just a trifle more +of the lunch, the time passed so slowly that he soon made up his +mind to run the risk of meeting Mr. Lord or Mr. Castle again by +going out of the woods the first thing the next morning. + +Very many times before the sun set that day was Toby tempted to +run the risk that night, for the sake of the change, if no more; +but as he thought the matter over he saw how dangerous such a course +would be and he forced himself to wait. + +That night he did not sleep as soundly as on the previous one, for +the very good reason that he was not as tired. He awoke several +times; and the noise of the night birds alarmed him to such an +extent that he was obliged to awaken the old monkey for company. + +But the night passed despite his fears, as all nights will, whether +a boy is out in the woods alone or tucked up in his own little bed +at home. In the morning Toby made all possible haste to get away, +for each moment that he stayed now made him more impatient to be +moving toward home. + +He washed himself as quickly as possible, ate his breakfast with +the most unseemly haste, and, taking up his bundles and the monkey, +once more started, as he supposed, in the direction from which he +had entered the woods. + +Toby walked briskly along, in the best possible spirits, for his +running away was now an accomplished fact, and he was going toward +Uncle Daniel and home just as fast as possible. He sang "Old Hundred" +through five or six times by way of showing his happiness. It is +quite likely that he would have sung something a little more lively +had he known anything else; but "Old Hundred" was the extent of his +musical education, and he kept repeating that, which was quite as +satisfactory as if he had been able to go through with every opera +that was ever written. + +The monkey would jump from his shoulder into the branches above, +run along on the trees for a short distance, and then wait until +Toby came along, when he would drop down on his shoulder suddenly, +and in every other way of displaying monkey delight he showed that +he was just as happy as it was possible. + +Toby trudged on in this contented way for nearly an hour, and +every moment expected to step out to the edge of the woods, where +he could see houses and men once more. But instead of doing so the +forest seemed to grow more dense, and nothing betokened his approach +to the village. There was a great fear came into Toby's heart just +then, and for a moment he halted in helpless perplexity. His lips +began to quiver, his face grew white, and his hand trembled so +that the old monkey took hold of one of his fingers and looked at +it wonderingly. + + + +XIX: MR STUBBS'S MISCHIEF, AND HIS SAD FATE + + +Toby had begun to realize that he was lost in the woods, and +the thought was sufficient to cause alarm in the mind of one much +older than the boy. He said to himself that he would keep on in +the direction he was then traveling for fifteen minutes; and as he +had no means of computing the time he sat down on a log, took out +the bit of pencil with which he had written the letter to Ella, and +multiplied sixty by fifteen. He knew that there were sixty seconds +to the minute, and that he could ordinarily count one to each +second; therefore, when he learned that there were nine hundred +seconds in fifteen minutes he resolved to walk as nearly straight +ahead as possible until he should have counted that number. + +He walked on, counting as regularly as he could, and thought +to himself that he never before realized how long fifteen minutes +were. + +It really seemed to him that an hour had passed before he finished +counting, and then when he stopped there were no more signs that +he was near a clearing than there had been before he started. + +"Ah, Mr. Stubbs, we're lost! we're lost!" he cried, as he laid his +cheek on the monkey's head and gave way to the lonesome grief that +came over him. "What shall we do? Perhaps we won't ever find our +way out, but will die here, an' then Uncle Dan'l won't ever know +how sorry I was that I ran away." + +Then Toby lay right down on the ground and cried so hard that the +monkey acted as if it were frightened, and tried to turn the boy's +face over, and finally leaned down and licked Toby's ear. + +This little act, which seemed so much like a kiss, caused Toby +to feel no small amount of comfort, and he sat up again, took the +monkey in his arms, and began seriously to discuss some definite +plan of action. + +"It won't do to keep on the way we've been goin', Mr. Stubbs," said +Toby, as he looked full in his pet's face -- and the old monkey sat +as still and looked as grave as it was possible for him to look +and sit -- "for we must be going into the woods deeper. Let's start +off this way" -- and Toby pointed at right angles with the course +they had been pursuing -- "an' keep right on that way till we come +to something, or till we drop right down an' die." + +It is fair to presume that the old monkey agreed to Toby's plan; +for although he said nothing in favor of it, he certainly made no +objections to it, which to Toby was the same as if his companion +had assented to it in the plainest English. + +Both the bundles and the monkey were rather a heavy load for a +small boy like Toby to carry; but he clung manfully to them, walked +resolutely on, without looking to the right or to the left, glad +when the old monkey would take a run among the trees, for then he +would be relieved of his weight, and glad when he returned, for +then he had his company, and that repaid him for any labor which +he might have to perform. + +Toby was in a hard plight as it was; but without the old monkey +for a companion he would have thought his condition was a hundred +times worse, and would hardly have had the courage to go on as he +was going. + +On and on he walked, until it seemed to him that he could really +go no farther, and yet he could see no signs which indicated the +end of the woods, and at last he sank upon the ground, too tired +to walk another step, saying to the monkey -- who was looking as if +he would like to know the reason of this pause, "It's no use, Mr. +Stubbs, I've got to sit down here an' rest awhile anyhow; besides, +I'm awfully hungry." + +Then Toby commenced to eat his dinner, and to give the monkey his, +until the thought came to him that he neither had any water nor +did he know where to find it, and then, of course, he immediately +became so thirsty that it was impossible for him to eat any more. + +"We can't stand this," moaned Toby to the monkey; "we've got +to have something to drink, or else we can't eat all these sweet +things, an' I'm so tired that I can't go any farther. Don't let's +eat dinner now, but let's stay here an' rest, an' then we can keep +on an' look for water." + +Toby's resting spell was a long one, for as soon as he stretched +himself out on the ground he was asleep from actual exhaustion, +and did not awaken until the sun was just setting, and then he +saw that, hard as his troubles had been before, they were about to +become, or in fact had become, worse. + +He had paid no attention to his bundles when he lay down, and when +he awoke he was puzzled to make out what it was that was strewn +around the ground so thickly. + +He had looked at it but a very short time when he saw that it was +what had been the lunch he had carried so far. After having had +the sad experience of losing his money he understood very readily +that the old monkey had taken the lunch while he slept, and had +amused himself by picking it apart into the smallest particles +possible, and then strewn them around on the ground where he now +saw them. + +Toby looked at them in almost speechless surprise, and then he +turned to where the old monkey lay, apparently asleep; but as the +boy watched him intently he could see that the cunning animal was +really watching him out of one half closed eye. + +"Now you have killed us, Mr. Stubbs," wailed Toby. "We never can +find our way out of here; an' now we hain't got anything to eat, +and by tomorrow we shall be starved to death. Oh dear! wasn't you +bad enough when you threw all the money away, so you had to go an' +do this just when we was in awful trouble?" + +Mr. Stubbs now looked up as if he had just been awakened by Toby's +grief, looked around him leisurely as if to see what could be the +matter, and then, apparently seeing for the first time the crumbs +that were lying around on the ground, took up some and examined +them intently. + +"Now don't go to makin' believe that you don't know how they come +there," said Toby, showing anger toward his pet for the first time. +"You know it was you who did it, for there wasn't anyone else here, +an' you can't fool me by lookin' so surprised." + +It seemed as if the monkey had come to the conclusion that his +little plan of ignorance wasn't the most perfect success, for he +walked meekly toward his young master, climbed up on his shoulder, +and sat there kissing his ear or looking down into his eyes, until +the boy could resist the mute appeal no longer, and took him into +his arms and hugged him closely as he said: + +"It can't be helped now, I s'pose, an' we shall have to get along +the best way we can; but it was awful wicked of you, Mr. Stubbs, +an I don't know what we're goin' to do for something to eat." + +While the destructive fit was on him the old monkey had not spared +the smallest bit' of food, but had picked everything into such +minute shreds that none of it could be gathered up, and everything +was surely wasted. + +While Toby sat bemoaning his fate and trying to make out what was +to be done for food, the darkness, which had just begun to gather +when he first awoke, now commenced to settle around, and he was +obliged to seek for some convenient place in which to spend the +night before it became so dark as to make the search impossible. + +Owing to the fact that he had slept nearly the entire afternoon, +and also rendered wakeful by the loss he had just sustained, Toby +lay awake on the hard ground, with the monkey on his arm, hour +after hour, until all kinds of fancies came to him, and in every +sound feared he heard someone from the circus coming to capture +him, or some wild beast intent on picking his bones. + +The cold sweat of fear stood out on his brow, and he hardly dared +to breathe, much more to speak, lest the sound of his voice should +betray his whereabouts and thus bring his enemies down upon him. +The minutes seemed like hours, and the hours like days, as he lay +there, listening fearfully to every one of the night sounds of +the forest; and it seemed to him that he had been there very many +hours when at last he fell asleep and was thus freed from his fears. + +Bright and early on the following morning Toby was awake, and as +he came to a realizing sense of all the dangers and trouble that +surrounded him he was disposed to give way again to his sorrow; +but he said resolutely to himself, "It might be a good deal worse +than it is, an' Mr. Stubbs an' I can get along one day without +anything to eat; an' perhaps by night we shall be out of the woods, +an' then what we get will taste good to us." + +He began his walk -- which possibly might not end that day -- +manfully, and his courage was rewarded by soon reaching a number +of bushes that were literally loaded down with blackberries. From +these he made a hearty meal, and the old monkey fairly reveled in +them, for he ate all he possibly could, and then stowed enough in +his cheeks to make a good sized luncheon when he should be hungry +again. + +Refreshed very much by his breakfast of fruit, Toby again started +on his journey with renewed vigor, and the world began to look very +bright to him. He had not thought that he might find berries when +the thoughts of starvation came into his mind, and, now that his +hunger was satisfied, he began to believe that he might possibly +be able to live, perhaps for weeks, in the woods solely upon what +he might find growing there. + +Shortly after he had breakfast he came upon a brook, which he thought +was the same upon whose banks he had encamped the first night he +spent in the woods, and, pulling off his clothes, he waded into +the deepest part and had a most refreshing bath, although the water +was rather cold. + +Not having any towels with which to dry himself, he was obliged +to sit in the sun until the moisture had been dried from his skin +and he could put his clothes on once more. Then he started out on +his walk again, feeling that sooner or later he would come out all +right. + +All this time he had been traveling without any guide to tell him +whether he was going straight ahead or around in a circle, and he +now concluded to follow the course of the brook, believing that +that would lead him out of the forest some time. + +During the afternoon he walked steadily, but not so fast that he +would get exhausted quickly, and when by the position of the sun +he judged that it was noon he lay down on a mossy bank to rest. + +He was beginning to feel sad again. He had found no more berries, +and the elation which had been caused by his breakfast and his +bath was quickly passing away. The old monkey was in a tree almost +directly above his head, stretched out on one of the limbs in the +most contented manner possible; and as Toby watched him, and thought +of all the trouble he had caused by wasting the food, thoughts of +starvation again came into his mind, and he believed that he should +not live to see Uncle Daniel again. + +Just as he was feeling the most sad and lonely, and where thoughts +of death from starvation were most vivid in his mind, he heard the +barking of a dog, which sounded close at hand. + +His first thought was that at last he was saved, and he was just +starting to his feet to shout for help when he heard the sharp +report of a gun and an agonizing cry from the branches above, and +the old monkey fell to the ground with a thud that told he had +received his death wound. + +All this had taken place so quickly that Toby did not at first +comprehend the extent of the misfortune which had overtaken him; +but a groan from the poor monkey, as he placed one little brown paw +to his breast, from which the blood was flowing freely, and looked +up into his master's face with a most piteous expression, showed +the poor little boy what a great trouble it was which had now come. + +Poor Toby uttered a loud cry of agony, which could not have been +more full of anguish had he received the ball in his own breast, +and, flinging himself by the side of the dying monkey, he gathered +him close to his breast, regardless of the blood that poured over +him, and, stroking tenderly the little head that had nestled so +often in his bosom, said, over and over again, as the monkey uttered +short moans of agony: "Who could have been so cruel? Who could have +been so cruel?" + +Toby's tears ran like rain down his face, and he kissed his dying +pet again and again, as if he would take all the pain to himself. + +"Oh, if you could only speak to me!" he cried, as he took one of +the poor monkey's paws in his hand, and, finding that it was growing +cold with the chill of death, put it on his neck to warm it. "How +I love you, Mr. Stubbs! An' now you're goin' to die an leave me! Oh, +if I hadn't spoken cross to you yesterday, an' if I hadn't a'most +choked you the day that we went to the skeleton's to dinner! Forgive +me for ever bein' bad to you, won't you, Mr. Stubbs?" + +As the monkey's groans increased in number, but diminished in force, +Toby ran to the brook, filled his hands with water, and held it to +the poor animal's mouth. + +He lapped the water quickly and looked up with a human look +of gratitude in his eyes, as if thanking his master for that much +relief. Then Toby tried to wash the blood from his breast; but it +flowed quite as fast as he could wash it away, and he ceased his +efforts in that direction, and paid every attention to making his +friend and pet more comfortable. He took off his jacket and laid +it on the ground for the monkey to lie upon; picked a quantity of +large green leaves as a cooling rest for his head, and then sat by +his side, holding his paws and talking to him with the most tender +words his lips -- quivering with sorrow as they were -- could +fashion. + + + +XX: HOME AND UNCLE DANIEL + + +Meanwhile the author of all this misery had come upon the scene. He +was a young man, whose rifle and well filled game bag showed that +he had been hunting, and his face expressed the liveliest sorrow +for what he had so unwittingly done. + +"I didn't know I was firing at your pet," he said to Toby as he +laid his hand on his shoulder and endeavored to make him look up. +"I only saw a little patch of fur through the trees, and, thinking +it was some wild animal, I fired. Forgive me, won't you, and let +me put the poor brute out of his misery?" + +Toby looked up fiercely at the murderer of his pet and asked, +savagely: "Why don't you go away? Don't you see that you have killed +Mr. Stubbs, an' you'll be hung for murder?" + +"I wouldn't have done it under any circumstances," said the young +man, pitying Toby's grief most sincerely. "Come away and let me +put the poor thing out of its agony." + +"How can you do it?" asked Toby, bitterly. "He's dying already." + +"I know it, and it will be a kindness to put a bullet through his +head." + +If Toby had been big enough, perhaps there might really have been +a murder committed, for he looked up at the man who so coolly +proposed to kill the poor monkey after he had already received his +death wound that the young man stepped back quickly, as if really +afraid that in his desperation the boy might do him some injury. + +"Go 'way off," said Toby, passionately, "an' don't ever come here +again. You've killed all I ever had in this world of my own to love +me, an' I hate you -- I hate you!" + +Then, turning again to the monkey, he put his hands on each side +of his head, and, leaning down, kissed the little brown lips as +tenderly as a mother would kiss her child. + +The monkey was growing more and more feeble, and when Toby had shown +this act of affection he reached up his tiny paws, grasped Toby's +finger, half raised himself from the ground, and then with a +convulsive struggle fell back dead, while the tiny fingers slowly +relaxed their hold of the boy's hand. + +Toby feared that it was death, and yet hoped that he was mistaken; +he looked into the half open, fast glazing eyes, put his hand +over his heart, to learn if it were still beating; and, getting no +responsive look from the dead eyes, feeling no heart throbs from +under that gory breast, he knew that his pet was really dead, and +flung himself by his side in all the childish abandonment of grief. + +He called the monkey by name, implored him to look at him, and +finally bewailed that he had ever left the circus, where at least +his pet's life was safe, even if his own back received its daily +flogging. + +The young man, who stood a silent spectator of this painful scene, +understood everything from Toby's mourning. He knew that a boy had +run away from the circus, for Messrs. Lord and Castle had stayed +behind one day, in the hope of capturing the fugitive, and they +had told their own version of Toby's flight. + +For nearly an hour Toby lay by the dead monkey's side, crying as +if his heart would break, and the young man waited until his grief +should have somewhat exhausted itself, and then approached the boy +again. + +"Won't you believe that I didn't mean to do this cruel thing?" he +asked, in a kindly voice. "And won't you believe that I would do +anything in my power to bring your pet back to life?" + +Toby looked at him a moment earnestly, and then said, slowly, "Yes, +I'll try to." + +"Now will you come with me, and let me talk to you? For I know who +you are, and why you are here." + +"How do you know that?" + +"Two men stayed behind after the circus had left, and they hunted +everywhere for you." + +"I wish they had caught me," moaned Toby; "I wish they had caught +me, for then Mr. Stubbs wouldn't be here dead." + +And Toby's grief broke out afresh as be again looked at the poor +little stiff form that had been a source of so much comfort and +joy to him. + +"Try not to think of that now, but think of yourself and of what +you will do," said the man, soothingly, anxious to divert Toby's +mind from the monkey's death as much as possible. + +"I don't want to think of myself, and I don't care what I'll do," +sobbed the boy, passionately. + +"But you must; you can't stay here always, and I will try to help +you to get home, or wherever it is you want to go, if you will tell +me all about it." + +It was some time before Toby could be persuaded to speak or think +of anything but the death of his pet; but the young man finally +succeeded in drawing his story from him, and then tried to induce +him to leave that place and accompany him to town. + +"I can't leave Mr. Stubbs," said the boy, firmly; "he never left me +the night I got thrown out of the wagon an' he thought I was hurt." + +Then came another struggle to induce him to bury his pet; and +finally Toby, after realizing the fact that he could not carry +a dead monkey with him, agreed to it; but he would not allow the +young man to help him in any way, or even to touch the monkey's +body. + +He dug a grave under a little fir tree near by, and lined it with +wild flowers and leaves, and even then hesitated to cover the +body with the earth. At last he bethought himself of the fanciful +costume which the skeleton and his wife had given him, and in this +he carefully wrapped his dead pet. He had not one regret at leaving +the bespangled suit, for it was the best he could command, and +surely nothing could be too good for Mr. Stubbs. + +Tenderly he laid him in the little grave, and, covering the body +with flowers, said, pausing a moment before he covered it over +with earth, and while his voice was choked with emotion: "Goodby, +Mr. Stubbs, goodby! I wish it had been me instead of you that died, +for I'm an awful sorry little boy, now that you're dead!" + +Even after the grave had been filled, and a little mound made over +it, the young man had the greatest difficulty to persuade Toby to +go with him; and when the boy did consent to go at last he walked +very slowly away, and kept turning his head to look back just so +long as the little grave could be seen. + +Then, when the trees shut it completely out from sight, the tears +commenced again to roll down Toby's cheeks, and he sobbed out: "I +wish I hadn't left him. Oh, why didn't I make him lie down by me? +an' then he'd be alive now; an' how glad he'd be to know that we +was getting out of the woods at last!" + +But the man who had caused Toby this sorrow talked to him about +other matters, thus taking his mind from the monkey's death as +much as possible, and by the time the boy reached the village he +had told his story exactly as it was, without casting any reproaches +on Mr. Lord, and giving himself the full share of censure for +leaving his home as he did. + +Mr. Lord and Mr. Castle had remained in the town but one day, for +they were told that a boy had taken the night train that passed +through the town about two hours after Toby had escaped, and they +had set off at once to act on that information. + +Therefore Toby need have no fears of meeting either of them just +then, and he could start on his homeward journey in peace. + +The young man who had caused the monkey's death tried first +to persuade Toby to remain a day or two with him, and, failing in +that, he did all he could toward getting the boy home as quickly +and safely as possible. He insisted on paying for his ticket on +the steamboat, although Toby did all he could to prevent him, and +he even accompanied Toby to the next town, where he was to take +the steamer. + +He had not only paid for Toby's ticket, but he had paid for a stateroom +for him; and when the boy said that he could sleep anywhere, and +that there was no need of such expense, the man replied: "Those +men who were hunting for you have gone down the river, and will +be very likely to search the boat, when they discover that they +started on the wrong scent. They will never suspect that you have +got a stateroom; and if you are careful to remain in it during the +trip you will get through safely." + +Then, when the time came for the steamer to start, the young man +said to Toby: "Now, my boy, you won't feel hard at me for shooting +the monkey, will you? I would have done anything to bring him back +to life, but, as I could not do that, helping you to get home was +the next best thing I could do." + +"I know you didn't mean to shoot Mr. Stubbs," said Toby, with +moistening eyes as he spoke of his pet, "an' I'm sorry I said what +I did to you in the woods." + +Before there was time to say any more the warning whistle was +sounded, the plank pulled in, the great wheels commenced to revolve, +and Toby was really on his way to Uncle Daniel and Guilford. + +It was then but five o'clock in the afternoon, and he could not +expect to reach home until two or three o'clock in the afternoon +of the next day; but he was in a tremor of excitement as he thought +that he should walk through the streets of Guilford once more, see +all the boys, and go home to Uncle Daniel. + +And yet, whenever he thought of that home, of meeting those boys, +of going once more to all those old familiar places, the memory +of all that he had planned when he should take the monkey with him +would come into his mind and damp even his joy, great as it was. + +That night he had considerable difficulty in falling asleep, but +did finally succeed in doing so; and when he awoke the steamer was +going up the river, whose waters seemed like an old friend, because +they had flowed right down past Guilford on their way to the sea. + +At each town where a landing was made Toby looked eagerly out on +the pier, thinking that by chance someone from his home might be +there and he would see a familiar face again. But all this time +he heeded the advice given him and remained in his room, where he +could see and not be seen; and it was well for him that he did so, +for at one of the, landings he saw both Mr. Lord and Mr. Castle +come on board the boat. + +Toby's heart beat fast and furious, and he expected every moment +to hear them at the door, demanding admittance, for it seemed to +him that they must know exactly where he was secreted. + +But no such misfortune occurred. The men had evidently only boarded +the boat to search for the boy, for they landed again before the +steamer started, and Toby had the satisfaction of seeing their +backs as they walked away from the pier. It was some time before +he recovered from the fright which the sight of them gave him; but +when he did his thoughts and hopes far outstripped the steamer, +which, it seemed, was going so slowly, and he longed to see Guilford +with an impatience that could hardly be restrained. + +At last he could see the spire of the little church on the hill, and +when the steamer rounded the point, affording a full view of the +town, and sounded her whistle as a signal for those on the shore to +come to the pier, Toby could hardly restrain himself from jumping +up and down and shouting in his delight. + +He was at the gangplank ready to land fully five minutes before +the steamer was anywhere near the wharf, and when he recognized +the first face on the pier what a happy boy he was! + +He was at home! The dream of the past ten weeks was at length +realized, and neither Mr. Lord nor Mr. Castle had any terrors for +him now. + +He ran down the gangplank before it was ready, and clasped every +boy he saw there round the neck, and would have kissed them if they +had shown an inclination to let him do so. + +Of course he was overwhelmed with questions, but before he would +answer any he asked for Uncle Daniel and the others at home. + +Some of the boys ventured to predict that Toby would get a jolly +good whipping for running away, and the only reply which the happy +Toby made to that was: + +"I hope I will, an' then I'll feel as if I had kinder paid for +runnin' away. If Uncle Dan'l will only let me stay with him again +he may whip me every mornin', an' I won't open my mouth to holler." + +The boys were impatient to hear the story of Toby's travels, but +he refused to tell it them, saying: + +"I'll go home, an' if Uncle Dan'l forgives me for bein' so wicked +I'll sit down this afternoon an' tell you all you want to know +about the circus." + +Then, far more rapidly than he had run away from it, Toby ran toward +the home which he had called his ever since he could remember, and +his heart was full almost to bursting as he thought that perhaps +he would be told that he had forfeited all claim to it, and that +he could never more call it "home" again. + +When he entered the old familiar sitting room Uncle Daniel was +seated near the window, alone, looking out wistfully -- as Toby +thought -- across the fields of yellow waving grain. + +Toby crept softly in, and, going up to the old man, knelt down +and said, very humbly, and with his whole soul in the words, "Oh, +Uncle Dan'l! if you'll only forgive me for bein' wicked an' runnin' +away, an' let me stay here again -- for it's all the home I ever had +-- I'll do everything you tell me to, an never whisper in meetin' +or do anything bad." + +And then he waited for the words which would seal his fate. They +were not long in coming. + +"My poor boy," said Uncle Daniel, softly, as he stroked Toby's +refractory red hair, "my love for you was greater than I knew, and +when you left me I cried aloud to the Lord as if it had been my +own flesh and blood that had gone afar from me. Stay here, Toby, +my son, and help to support this poor old body as it goes down into +the dark valley of the shadow of death; and then, in the bright +light of that glorious future, Uncle Daniel will wait to go with +you into the presence of Him who is ever a father to the fatherless." + +And in Uncle Daniel's kindly care we may safely leave Toby Tyler. + +THE END + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, TOBY TYLER *** + +This file should be named tbyty10.txt or tbyty10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, tbyty11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, tbyty10a.txt + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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