Burnham Breaker | Page 6

shut down the screens a half-day for
repairs. Come on Friday afternoon."
"Thank you, sir; yes, sir, I will."
"All right; good-by!"
"Good-by, sir!"
When Ralph reached the circus grounds the crowds were still pushing
in through the gate at the front of the big tent, and he had to take his
place far back in the line and move slowly along with the others.
Leaning wearily against a post near the entrance, and watching the
people as they passed in, stood an old man. He was shabbily dressed,
his clothes' were very dusty, and an old felt hat was pulled low on his
forehead. He was pale and gaunt, and an occasional hollow cough gave
conclusive evidence of his disease. But 'he had a pair of sharp gray eyes
that looked out from under the brim of his hat, and gave close scrutiny
to every one who passed by. The breaker boys, who had gone into the
tent in a body some minutes earlier, had attracted his attention and
aroused his interest. By and by his eyes rested upon Ralph, who stood
back in the line, awaiting the forward movement of the crowd. The old
man started perceptibly at sight of the boy, and uttered an ejaculation of
surprise, which ended in a cough. He moved forward as if to meet him;
then, apparently on second thought, he retreated to his post. But he kept
his eyes fixed on the lad, who was coming slowly nearer, and his thin
face took on an expression of the deepest satisfaction. He turned partly
aside, however, as the boy approached him, and stood with averted
countenance until the lad had passed through the gate.
Ralph was just in time. He had no sooner got in and found a seat, with

the other breaker boys, away up under the edge of the tent, than the
grand procession made its entrance. There were golden chariots, there
were ladies in elegant riding habits and men in knightly costumes, there
were prancing steeds and gorgeous banners, elephants, camels,
monkeys, clowns, a moving mass of dazzling beauty and bright colors
that almost made one dizzy to look upon it; and through it all the great
band across the arena poured its stirring music in a way to make the
pulses leap and the hands and feet keep time to its sounding rhythm.
Then came the athletes and the jugglers, the tight-rope walkers and the
trapeze performers, the trained dogs and horses, the clowns and the
monkeys, the riding and the races; all of it too wonderful, too mirthful,
too complete to be adequately described. At least, this was what the
breaker boys thought.
After the performance was ended, they went out to the menagerie tent,
in a body, to look at the animals.
One of the boys became separated from the others, and stood watching
the antics of the monkeys, and laughing gleefully at each comical trick
performed by the grave-faced little creatures. Looking up, he saw an
old man standing by him; an old man with sharp gray eyes and dusty
clothes, who leaned heavily upon a cane.
"Curious things, these monkeys," said the old man.
"Ain't they, though!" replied the boy. "Luk at that un, now!--don't he
beat all? ain't he funny?"
"Very!" responded the old man, gazing across the open space to where
Ralph stood chattering with his companions.
"Sonny," said he, "can you tell me who that boy is, over yonder, with
his hand done up in a white cloth?"
"That boy w'ats a-talkin' to Jimmy Dooley, you mean?"
"Yes, the one there by the lion's cage."

"You mean that boy there with the blue patch on his pants?"
"Yes, yes! the one with his hand bandaged; don't you see?"
"Oh, that's Ralph."
"Ralph who?"
"Ralph nobody. He ain't got no other name. He lives with Bachelor
Billy."
"Is--is Bachelor Billy his father?"
"Naw; he ain't got no father."
"Does he work with you in the mines?"
"In the mines? naw; we don't work in the mines; we work in the
screen-room up t' the breaker, a-pickin' slate. He sets nex' to me."
"How long has he been working there?"
"Oh, I donno; couple o' years, I guess. You want to see 'im? I'll go call
'im."
"No; I don't care to see him. Don't call him; he isn't the boy I'm looking
for, any way."
"There! he's a-turnin' this way now. I'll have 'im here in a minute; hey,
Ralph! Ralph! here he comes."
But the old man was gone. He had disappeared suddenly and
mysteriously. A little later he was trudging slowly along the dusty road,
through the crowds of people, up toward the city. He was smiling, and
muttering to himself. "Found him at last!" he exclaimed, in a whisper,
"found him