He was out early wheeling from house to house, where various parts of the “show” were receiving last touches. One by one he gathered each “attraction,” and herded4 them all to Jimmy’s big barn, where the procession was to form. Some were late, Bess for one; but Billy was not anxious about her.
It had been hard to persuade her, though her heart was aching to join the fun. “Huh! Do you suppose I’d be a common snake-charmer?”
“Common?” Billy retorted, “they can’t be common. They have to have power more’n anybody. And snake charmers ’most always are Egyptian Princesses, or royalty5 of some kind,” he added hastily, lest exact Bess should call on him for a genealogy6 of his princesses.
The magic name won the day. Bess was ever dreaming of the land of mystery, whose pictured daughters of old she resembled; and the chance to masquerade in its atmosphere lured7 her.
Max was the first to be quite ready with his exhibit. It was a queer creature that one gradually discovered to be some sort of a bird; though such a one had never before been seen on land or sea. Max had arrayed his mother’s big white gander for the occasion. A turkey-tail fan made a huge breastplate, if one can imagine a breastplate of feathers. All the long-tailed roosters that had been killed in town for months, one would guess, had contributed to the coat of sprawling8 feathers that was tied over the body of the bird. And no one knew by what magic the boy had coaxed9 some one to lend him the magnificent peacock plumes10 that rose high above the little wiggling goose tail.
In a cage of wire netting bearing the legend, “The Roc—The Egg,” the uncomfortable gander swayed and craned his neck; and all but his voice was satisfactory. In the bottom of the cage a whitewashed11 stone the size of a small pumpkin12 did duty as the egg.
A three-legged rooster appeared. And Sir Thomas Katzenstein, according to schedule, roamed his box in great agitation13, though in fine form, impressively carrying out the label on his cage, “Baby Royal Bengal Tiger.”
Lying in silent disdain14 on his familiar cushion, Flash, as the “Polar Bear,” did equally well; while Bouncer fretted15 between the fills of the home-made, bunting-draped chariot that served as “The Polar Bear’s Snowy Lair16 of the North.”
There was a half-grown calf17 with an artificial hump for the “Water Buffalo”; and Harry18 and Clarence were cunningly strapped19 together for the Siamese Twins.
“But they are dead,” Jimmy protested.
“But couldn’t another pair have been born in Siam?” May Nell questioned; and as no one felt sufficiently20 informed to deny it, Harry and Clarence continued their strained relations.
The Prettymans’ white cow was ingeniously shaped and caparisoned to represent “India’s Sacred White Elephant”; and Jackson was the Hindoo leader. This exhibit caused much controversy22. The attendant should ride on the neck of the elephant, all agreed to that; but the cow objected; so they compromised by having Jackson walk. The matter of costume for Jackson was not so easily settled, as the differing pictures of sacred elephants presented a variation in the attendants’ garb23. May Nell,—who was to be the “Fair Princess of Bombay,”—as soon as she could get a hearing, ended the dispute amicably24 by suggesting that Jackson be allowed his choice in the matter of dress, an alternative that permitted each disputant to withdraw from the argument with honor.
Jimmy had the trick ponies25 and the trained dogs. Teaching them was the chief joy of his life. What if there were only two ponies, and their spots were painted on? And what if the children had seen all the tricks over and over again? They were good as new each time. Besides, the ponies’ one brand-new trick, when at the crack of a whip they stood on their hind21 feet in unison26, was so effective that it frightened May Nell. She saw it first in the barn; and when their shod hoofs27 came down she thought they would crash right through the floor.
Jean was the Goddess of Liberty; Shifty and another larger boy the steeds that pulled her car. But boys and box wagon28 were so smothered29 in bunting that only the Goddess was conspicuous30, standing3, well-balanced, stately, and fair.
One tall, ambitious girl contributed a unique float called, “Lot’s Wife Looking Backward.” She had not been certain of the color for the desert, consequently had made the whole thing, including the wagon, the boys, and herself snowy white. She had copied an old Bible picture, carrying out the idea with sheets, and such liberal doses of flour, that only a heavy dew was needed to turn the float to dough31 instead of salt. However, the sun shone, and the addition of diamond dust over all made a very realistic picture that Billy praised heartily32.
Guinea pigs, pigeons, and other and larger live stock, normal or otherwise, masqueraded as marvellous creatures from foreign lands.
Bess arrived at last. A gorgeous affair was her chariot, the foundation being Mr. Prettyman’s spring wagon. Bess, with some borrowings, Charley’s help, and her own quick invention, had made a very good imitation of a circus wagon. Charley, the Strong Man, held the reins33 over old Dom Pedro, the horse she loved, that had once been a racer. She had discovered some very real looking, jointed34 snakes that wriggled35 and curved in a manner startlingly serpentine36; while tremendous boa constrictors, cut from old circus posters, were disposed about the cage in alarmingly lifelike positions.
Bess’s coming launched the procession. People in the vicinity who had not before known of the presence of a circus, knew it now. Everybody talked at once, and every living thing made its own kind of a noise. Billy as Master of Ceremonies had his hands full, his voice full too, one might say.
But at last they got under way and proceeded as quietly as possible down the back street to the home of Mrs. Lancaster, where Buzz, as the “Prize Baby of Vine County,” awaited them in his car, which was very handsome,—one would never have dreamed it was only a large wash-tub strapped to a coaster; flowers and cloth do make such wonderful changes if handled with art!
That preliminary march was not without adventure. The “howdah” on the White Elephant where May Nell rode as the Fair Princess of Bombay, became loose and threatened to spill its small bit of royalty. And when Harold cinched the thing tighter the old cow bellowed37 so the smaller children broke and ran. However, they were soon back, and the procession halted at Mrs. Lancaster’s front gate in fair order. But when she saw the imposing38 string of wagons39, children, and animals, known and unknown, she was afraid to trust her precious Buzz to them.
“Billy Boy, it’s fine! It’s splendid! But it’s so big I’m afraid Buzz will be scared.”
“Well, why don’t you go along, Mrs. Lancaster? Don’t prize babies have attendants?”
“Surely; but—”
“Oh, please, Mrs. Lancaster,” Billy coaxed. “The circus won’t be any circus at all without Buzz. We’re to have him for a side show after the performance. We’ve advertised him,” Billy pleaded well.
“Well, the lack of Buzz shall not damage your show; I’ll go,” Mrs. Lancaster yielded.
And Billy did not think of it as strange till Buzz’s grandmother called from behind the window curtain, “Delia, you surely won’t traipse through town with that crowd! How you will look!”
“Why, ma, the children are quite respectable; I know all their mothers.” Buzz’s mamma looked a little mischievous40.
“You romp41!” came the disgusted voice once more. “You’d better cut your hair, and your skirts, and be a child again.”
“I’d love to, Billy,” Mrs. Lancaster whispered; “I’ve never liked being grown up.”
Billy beamed upon her. He adored her, as did every child in town.
Now the band came up, a troop of boys in gorgeous uniforms made of red calico and tinsel paper. A drum and fife kept tolerable time; but the wheezy harmonicas and paper-covered combs, the tin horns and clanging triangles, quite “covered” any tune42 the fife attempted. Yet what matter? It was a joyful43 noise; and even the horses kept step to the valiant44 drum.
Flags waved. In spite of Billy all shouted orders at once. The line was as serpentine as Bess’s snakes that she held high and wriggling45 above her snake-entwined head. Oh, she was a very realistic snake charmer! Buzz crowed and clapped his pudgy little hands; and the Lancasters’ small Chinese boy who pulled the baby’s car almost fell over himself laughing.
Before they turned into Main Street, however, the procession was in fair alignment46, and the solemnity of the moment hushed all chatter47. Billy’s most personal disappointment was Bouncer, who, unhappy because he could not caper48 in freedom at Billy’s heels, let his lovely, bushy tail, that usually waved above his back in a graceful49 curve, hang limp and dusty between his legs; while from drooping50 head and sad eyes, he looked reproachfully at Billy every time the latter ran past.
But on the whole Billy was proud. “The kids showed their pluck and stuck to their jobs,” he told his mother afterward51. The White Elephant bellowed impressively in front of the postoffice; and Jimmy’s ponies never reared so gracefully52 as in front of the bank.
All the people came out of their shops and offices and clapped generously. A light breeze floated out the flags, and made the gold fringe on the Snake Charmer’s cage wave and look rich and foreign. The band outdid itself; and as the forward end of the procession turned out of the street, a great cheer began behind them, grew and swelled53, till even the youngest child knew “folks liked the circus.”
“The children will get too tired,” the Snake Charmer warned.
“No, we won’t!” came a dozen voices.
“Yes, yes; take us to the park, papa,” piped one half of the Siamese Twins.
“Of course they won’t be too tired! The kids have pluck.”
The Snake Charmer was silenced; for if the children had before this been tired, not one of them now but swelled with pride and fortitude55 at this praise from Billy.
All went well for some blocks. There was a flattering audience at each front door; a few honored the pageant56 by following. These were mostly mothers of the younger children, who knew the possibilities of such an aggregation57 of animals and boys.
But just before they were to enter the park Bouncer had his innings. A rabbit, startled, sprang from under the roadside bushes and ran down the street toward the open country. Bouncer’s tail went up. He dashed out of line, overturned the Polar Bear’s cage, and was off after his quarry58, barking wildly, with the fast disrupting cage dangling59 at his heels. The Polar Bear, liberated60, flew home like a streak61 of white light. The trained dogs broke from their struggling boy leaders, carrying with them gleaming bits of red paper uniform.
The two steeds attached to the car of the Goddess of Liberty, also deserted62 their task, and marked their path with bright bits of paper and bunting.
Old Dom Pedro, scenting63 fresh excitement, snorted and bolted. The Strong Man was not strong enough to hold him to line, though he guided the horse safely to the Carter stable, where Bess appeared suddenly, swaying alarmingly in her flimsy snake cage.
Half an hour later Charley went back to the disappointed remnants of the show gathered in Jimmy’s barn, and told them Mrs. Carter had said, “no more circus this day for Bess.” Buzz and his laughing Chinese had been hurried to safety. The Roc had shed a part of his false feathers, and was fast giving himself away as plain gander. The White Elephant had also become restive64, and it was thought best to transfer the Fair Princess of Bombay from her howdah to terra firma. And the Goddess of Liberty, minus her car, and a part of her draperies, and plus a big smooch on her cheek, was somehow not very imposing. Various other livestock65 became weary or rebellious66, and the Siamese Twins had to be severed67 to prevent their coming to blows.
It was too bad! There could be no show in the barn. But the band was still lusty, the trick ponies remained, the boys and girls were eager to talk it over, and—the procession had been a success!
Presently the little Chinese boy returned, his grin resumed, and a large basket on his arm.
“Missee Lancastler, she say you heap good show. Now you heap hungly. You catchee him plenty glub.” With that he uncovered a treat that made them forget the circus. They munched68 the sandwiches, the luscious69 fruit, candy, and cake, and other good things from Mrs. Lancaster’s generous pantry, and discussed the procession; voted Mrs. Lancaster a trump70; and decided71 to have a circus every year.
And the shouts that greeted this fiat72 shook the old barn and made the hens in the hay cackle with fright.
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收听单词发音
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1
joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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confinement
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| n.幽禁，拘留，监禁；分娩；限制，局限 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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herded
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| 群集，纠结( herd的过去式和过去分词 )； 放牧； （使）向…移动 | |
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5
royalty
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| n.皇家，皇族 | |
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genealogy
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| n.家系，宗谱 | |
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lured
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| 吸引，引诱（lure的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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8
sprawling
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| adj.蔓生的，不规则地伸展的v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的现在分词 )；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着） | |
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9
coaxed
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| v.哄，用好话劝说( coax的过去式和过去分词 )；巧言骗取；哄劝，劝诱 | |
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10
plumes
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| 羽毛( plume的名词复数 )； 羽毛饰； 羽毛状物； 升上空中的羽状物 | |
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11
whitewashed
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| 粉饰，美化，掩饰( whitewash的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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12
pumpkin
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| n.南瓜 | |
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13
agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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14
disdain
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| n.鄙视，轻视；v.轻视，鄙视，不屑 | |
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15
fretted
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| 焦躁的，附有弦马的，腐蚀的 | |
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16
lair
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| n.野兽的巢穴；躲藏处 | |
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17
calf
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| n.小牛，犊，幼仔，小牛皮 | |
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18
harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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19
strapped
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| adj.用皮带捆住的，用皮带装饰的；身无分文的；缺钱；手头紧v.用皮带捆扎(strap的过去式和过去分词)；用皮带抽打；包扎；给…打绷带 | |
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20
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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21
hind
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| adj.后面的，后部的 | |
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22
controversy
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| n.争论，辩论，争吵 | |
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23
garb
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| n.服装，装束 | |
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24
amicably
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| adv.友善地 | |
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25
ponies
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| 矮种马，小型马( pony的名词复数 )； ￡25 25 英镑 | |
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26
unison
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| n.步调一致，行动一致 | |
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27
hoofs
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| n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
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28
wagon
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| n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车 | |
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29
smothered
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| （使）窒息， （使）透不过气( smother的过去式和过去分词 )； 覆盖； 忍住； 抑制 | |
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30
conspicuous
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| adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的 | |
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31
dough
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| n.生面团；钱，现款 | |
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32
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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33
reins
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| 感情，激情； 缰( rein的名词复数 )； 控制手段； 掌管； （成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的）保护带 | |
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34
jointed
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| 有接缝的 | |
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35
wriggled
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| v.扭动，蠕动，蜿蜒行进( wriggle的过去式和过去分词 )；（使身体某一部位）扭动；耍滑不做，逃避（应做的事等） | |
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36
serpentine
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| adj.蜿蜒的，弯曲的 | |
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37
bellowed
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的过去式和过去分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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38
imposing
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| adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的 | |
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39
wagons
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| n.四轮的运货马车( wagon的名词复数 )；铁路货车；小手推车 | |
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40
mischievous
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| adj.调皮的，恶作剧的，有害的，伤人的 | |
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41
romp
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| n.欢闹；v.嬉闹玩笑 | |
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42
tune
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| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
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43
joyful
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| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
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44
valiant
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| adj.勇敢的，英勇的；n.勇士，勇敢的人 | |
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45
wriggling
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| v.扭动，蠕动，蜿蜒行进( wriggle的现在分词 )；（使身体某一部位）扭动；耍滑不做，逃避（应做的事等）；蠕蠕 | |
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46
alignment
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| n.队列；结盟，联合 | |
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47
chatter
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| vi.／n.喋喋不休；短促尖叫；(牙齿)打战 | |
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48
caper
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| v.雀跃，欢蹦；n.雀跃，跳跃；续随子，刺山柑花蕾；嬉戏 | |
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49
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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50
drooping
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| adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
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51
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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52
gracefully
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| ad.大大方方地；优美地 | |
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53
swelled
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| 增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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54
thumping
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| adj.重大的，巨大的；重击的；尺码大的；极好的adv.极端地；非常地v.重击(thump的现在分词)；狠打；怦怦地跳；全力支持 | |
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55
fortitude
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| n.坚忍不拔；刚毅 | |
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56
pageant
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| n.壮观的游行；露天历史剧 | |
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57
aggregation
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| n.聚合，组合；凝聚 | |
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58
quarry
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| n.采石场；v.采石；费力地找 | |
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59
dangling
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| 悬吊着( dangle的现在分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
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60
liberated
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| a.无拘束的，放纵的 | |
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61
streak
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| n.条理，斑纹，倾向，少许，痕迹；v.加条纹，变成条纹，奔驰，快速移动 | |
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62
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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63
scenting
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| vt.闻到（scent的现在分词形式） | |
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64
restive
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| adj.不安宁的，不安静的 | |
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65
livestock
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| n.家畜，牲畜 | |
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66
rebellious
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| adj.造反的，反抗的，难控制的 | |
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67
severed
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| v.切断，断绝( sever的过去式和过去分词 )；断，裂 | |
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68
munched
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| v.用力咀嚼（某物），大嚼( munch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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69
luscious
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| adj.美味的；芬芳的；肉感的，引与性欲的 | |
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70
trump
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| n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭 | |
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71
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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72
fiat
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| n.命令，法令，批准；vt.批准，颁布 | |
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