Poems (Grossman)/The Circus Has Come to Town
THE CIRCUS HAS COME TO TOWN
Reprinted from Horace Mann Record, December, 1915
THE fire was burning brightly, and the sparks tripped gaily along the winding stairway of smoke up the chimney. Grandpa was dozing before the fire, in his favorite chair, a newspaper before him. Suddenly he was startled by a loud whoop, and in came Bob.
"Oh! Grandaddy, what do you think? The circus is coming to town next week and I'm going. 'There's going to be bears, an' elephants, an' pop corn, an' monkeys, an' pink lemonade, an'———"Here Bobby stopped short for breath, and looked at Grandpa, his face full of excitement.
"Bosh," said Grandpa, emphatically. "A circus is trash, pure and simple trash. I once went to one and———"
"Oh, do tell me about it," begged Bobby, who was willing to listen to anything about a circus just now.
"Well," began Grandpa, "I will never forget that day, even though I didn't enjoy it much, you know. I remember the posters had been put up, all different colors. There were pink bears, and blue lions, and ever so many things printed on them. We boys just couldn't wait till Circus Day came. We saved our pennies two weeks ahead, so we could have a jolly good time when the circus did come. The first day all the animals marched up the street. Such a sight I had never seen before! Monkeys and bears, lions and tigers, and the clown turning summersaults all the way. Gee! I can see them now, people waving, boys shouting; all throwing their caps up, and screaming at the top of their lungs. It was great. Later we all went into the tent. The bare back rider dressed in bright green was riding around the ring. The dogs were doing tricks. Boys were selling peanuts, pop corn, and pink lemonade. I was so excited I just stood up, waved my cap, and screamed. When it was all over I went up and shook hands with the clown and the bare back rider, and felt as proud as a peacock. Oh! I had the time of my young life," declared Grandpa, slapping his knee enthusiastically, his eyes twinkling, and his face aglow with the thought of it.
"Oh, Grandaddy, that was ripping," said Bob. "I only hope my circus will be as nice."
"By the way, Bob, I think I'll take you to the circus myself to-morrow," said Grandpa.