SS, JR., JOINS THE CIRCUS

As Puss, Jr., neared a pretty village his attention was attracted to a
large tent in a field. Gaily colored wagons were standing close by, and
every now and then a roar or a growl could be heard quite distinctly.

"A circus!" cried Puss, and he hastened forward and entered a small
opening in the fence. As he approached the great tent he heard a voice
singing; it came from a little side-tent. It was a woman's voice, quite
soft and low:

"Oh, mother, I'm to be married
To Mr. Punchinello;
To Mr. Pun, to Mr. Chin, to
Mr. Nel, to Mr. Lo,
Mr. Pun, Mr. Chin, Mr. Nel, Mr. Lo,
To Mr. Punchinello."

As the last words died away a clown came from behind a circus-wagon.

"Nello, Nello!" he called.

"What is it, Punch?" inquired the owner of the pretty voice, appearing
in the doorway of her tent. But before he could answer she exclaimed:
"Oh, look! See the cat with red-topped boots!"

The clown turned and gazed at Puss, Jr., who came forward and put out
his paw.

"Won't you join our circus?" said the clown, with an engaging smile.

Puss did not reply for a moment. He was thinking it over quite
seriously. Whether or not it would interfere with his finding his father
was the question. While he stood debating as to what was the thing to
do, the circus-lady came out of her tent and cried:

"Oh, _do_ join our circus, Sir Puss! I am sure you would be a great
attraction. Every child in town would want to see a cat who wore boots!"

At this Puss, Jr.'s, face was all smiles. In fact, his whiskers curled
up in a most laughable way, making his little face quite irresistible.

"Thank you both very much," he replied, "but before I answer I must tell
you that I am in search of my illustrious parent, the famous Puss in
Boots. If I join your circus how am I to find my dear father?"

"Easy as not," answered the clown, quickly. "We are always on the move.
A new town 'most every day. We never linger long in any one spot."

"No, indeed, we don't!" cried the circus-lady. "We give a performance
this afternoon and to-night, and then we pack up and are off again."

"You can have one of the circus-horses to ride," suggested the clown, by
way of encouragement; "you need not travel on foot if you join us."

"That's a big inducement," admitted Puss, Jr.

"It's a merry life," added the circus-lady, "and when all the little
children clap their hands and cry 'Bravo!' it's very exc