t, they would commence playing their antics. There was
a great black bear who would stand on his head; a dog who knew almost as
much as his master; a cock that could walk on a pair of high stilts. Then
there were learned monkeys, learned pigs, and I know not what besides.

[Illustration: THE "SHOW."]

The pictures of these different animals, performing their several exploits,
caused a great deal of wonder and admiration among the village boys and
girls. In cities, where such exhibitions occur very frequently, such things
would not be much thought of. But it is very different in the country,
where public exhibitions of every sort are "like angels' visits, few and
far between." For nearly a week before the day appointed for this juggling
exhibition, there was nothing talked of in this quiet village so much as
the "show." Ninepences that had been a twelvemonth in accumulating, were
now in great demand; and more than one boy sighed as he reflected that he
had spent his pennies in candies and other nice things, so that he had none
left for the "show," and secretly resolved that he would be wiser next
time, and not allow his money to slip through his fingers so easily.

Among those who had the permission of their parents to visit the
exhibition, and who were anxiously longing for the day to come, were Julian
Parmelee and his sister. Julian, especially--a boy of about nine years of
age--was almost crazy with delight, when his mother told him he might go.
He jumped, danced, clapped his hands, shouted, and went through so many
strange manoeuvres, that his elder brother George, who was rather more
sober on the occasion, said he guessed he should not go to the court-house
and pay ninepence to see the show, for he was in a fair way to get the
exhibition at home, for nothing.

"Oh, mother!" said Julian, "do you really believe the bear will stand on
his head? What a funny sight it must be! I wonder if they keep the bear
chained. I shall take care I do not get within reach of his paws, I guess.
Charley Staples said he didn't believe it was half so big as the one he saw
when he was up in Vermont. How big is it, mother? as big as our Carlo? Oh,
I wish it was time to go now! I should think monkeys were very funny
creatures. They say there is one in the show that rides a horse, just like
a man. Ha! ha! ha!" And he laughed so loudly that he waked up the baby in
the cradle.

I do not wonder at all that little Julian was so much delighted