e I'm tryin' to sing something else. Now, you
be restin' while I'm doin' my part."

Leander was so deeply interested in the enterprise that he was perfectly
willing to keep on playing without ever thinking of taking a rest; but
in deference to Bob's wishes he ceased his efforts, although he did
venture to remark that he noticed particularly, when the real circus was
there, that the band always played when the clown sang.

Bob got along very well with his portion of the rehearsal after the
first mistake had been rectified; and when he finished he bowed
gracefully in response to the applause bestowed upon him.

"Now's the time when you come in, Toby," said Bob; "an' if you'll see
how you can ride the ponies, Joe'll run around the ring with 'em."

Toby was willing to do his share of the work, and all the more so
because he could see that Abner, from his cosy seat under the bushes,
was deeply interested in all that was going on.

Joe got one of the ponies while Toby made his preparations; and after
the little horse had been led around the circle two or three times to
show what was expected of him, Toby got on his back. This was Reddy's
opportunity to act the part of ring-master, and he seized his long whip,
standing in the centre of the ring, in what he believed to be the
proper attitude.

"Run around with him till I tell you to let go," said Toby, as he tied
the reins together to form a bridle, and then stood on the pony's back
as Mr. Castle had taught him to do.

There was so great a difference between the motion of this horse and
that of the one owned by Mr. Douglass, that Toby began to understand it
might be quite as necessary to train the animal as its rider.

Owing to his lack of practice he was a little clumsy; but after one or
two attempts he went around the ring standing on one foot, almost as
well as he had done it when with Ella.

The boys, who had never seen Toby ride before were thoroughly elated by
the brief exhibition he gave them; and if he had done as they wanted, he
would have tired both himself and the pony completely.

"I'll practise some, now Abner can come out," said Toby, as he led his
steed to a spot where he could get more grass, but neglected to fasten
him; "an' I wouldn't wonder if I could ride two at once, after a little
while."

His partners in the enterprise were more than delighted with their
rider, and they already began to believe they should have such a circus
as would, in some