Toby Tyler

wn 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

addles, flags, and general decorations, until it seemed to Toby that there must h

ith 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

uld 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 town to catch the first glimpse of the circus, and he saw at once that he was the obj

e's only a little feller; s

only drop of comfort he had had since he started. He hoped they would come and talk with h

s, and when they got quite near to him and satisfied themselves that he was only washing his face in much the sa

, in a tone that was me

long to th

Toby, a litt

king animals, and the one who had been the spokesman drew a long breat

have a nice time with a circus, and he now felt what a mistake that thou

u frogs to eat, so's

him hungry. He was just at that moment so very hungry that he did not think he was replying to

nced that the agility of circus riders and tumblers depended upon the quant

t just at that moment the harsh voice of Mr. Job Lord was heard c

me they were in Guilford and before the boy was absolutely under his control. He looked cro

than Toby had ever heard in his life. He was angry that the boy had not b

o, and that he had been on the wagon to which he had been sent, only l

ouse that speckled face of yours into every brook you come to? I'll soon break you of that; and the sooner

I'm going round with a dirty face, even if it is speckled, for a dollar a week, you're mistaken, that's

y bantam, that I do all the preaching as well as the practicing myself,

e hand and with the other plied a thin rubber cane with no gen

is tormentor should not have the satisfaction of forcing an outcry from him, a

idity of his blows, and it is impossible to say what might have been the cons

said, as he wrested the cane from the man's hand and held him o

nsisted that, since the boy was in his emplo

ore; 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

eleased him, saying to Toby as he did so, "Now, my boy, you attend to your business

bbed Toby, for the kindly interference of Ben had made

he must do," sa

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

is work with such industry that Mr. Lord could not repress a grunt of satisfaction as he passed him, howev

rk done as he could find that it was necessary to do, and his master, in his surly wa

eisure 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 Uncl

Under different circumstances this would have been a most delightful day for him, for the entrance of a circus into Guilford

ious to begin business, and the moment the tenting ground was reached the wagon con

m the booth in the big tent to the booth on the outside, until he was ready to

hotel for something to eat, and then Ben's advice to

en himself, and by the time he arose from the table, with both pockets and his stomach ful

urself much," said Mr. Lord, when

st as I could"; and a satisfied smile stole over the boy's fa

more agreeably disposed toward his new clerk, and he showed his ill te

used to say that I took after Aunt Olive and Uncle Dan

something, and he tried unusually hard to please him. He talked to the boys who had gathered around, to induce them to buy, washed t