AN AFTERNOON AT THE CIRCUS. 



Tommy and iN^ellie, when they w.ent out to walk with mamma, 

 saw ever so many great pictm'es pasted on the walls. They were 

 pictures of lions, tigers, elephants ; of wild Indians, strange birds, 

 and funny men. 



The children were delighted with them, and mamma told them 

 that all these strange sights could be seen at the circus. It was 

 coming to town in a few days. Tommj'- asked no end of questions. 

 He talked about the circus all day, and di-eamed about it at night. 

 He wanted to see the strange things; and Nellie said she must go 

 if Tommy did. They played circus, and by turns each of them 

 became lions, elephants, wild Indians, and Zulus. 



Tommy straddled the chairs, as the great rider did the three 

 horses. He played the clown, and tried to be funny. 



Both of them were wild with delight when mamma said she 

 would take them to the great show. They thought so much of it 

 they could not sleep at night. 



They went in a horse-car. The show was in a great tent. Thou- 

 sands of people were around it. Many men, women, and boys 

 were selling things to eat, drink, and play with. A band of music 

 was in front of the tent. 



Tommy saw a lot of wild boys trying to get under the cloth. 

 Some of them did so, and got in without paying. But Mrs. Wilde 

 paid for herself and the children. 



In the tent they walked about, looking at Jumbo, the baby ele- 

 phant, the Zulus, the wild Indians. Sidney was the name of a. lion. 

 Near him were some giraffes, tall enough to look in at the second- 

 story windows of a house. The peacock carriage pleased them. 

 Tommy tried to talk with the Zulu boy; but neither could under- 

 stand the other. 



The tent was very large, and it made a long walk to go all over 

 it. They were very tired when they went into the second tent to 

 see the circus. They ate peanuts and candy, and laughed when the 

 clown stood on his head. 



