A Positive Cure.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 470, 10 May 1890, Page 6

A Positive Cure.

By Roj}krt Grant. ‘I iiad one rather extraordinary experience when I was a lad.’ Tho speaker was Philip Oliver, a gentlemannot tar from forty,whowassittingon the rocks by the sea-side watching a party of boys enjoy themselves diving and swimming. He was a successful railroad man spending his month’s well-earned vacation in idling at a pleasant watering-place where he could vegetate and inhale the ocean breezes There were half-a-dozen boys in the party, ranging from thirteen to fifteen, several of them expert swimmers and divers. Already this morning, to test their skill, Mr Oliver had tossed a five-dollar gold piece into the water, after deciding by lot the order in which they were to dive for it. The lirst boy had missed it ; so had the second ; the third, a bright-eyed little fellow named George Cummings, had brought the prize to the surface with a cry of delight. It was lie who now exclaimed : ‘ Oh, please tell us about it, Mr Oliver.’ • Yes do,’ cried Harry Finn, the largest ot the number, who had a few days before excited the envy of his comrades by swimming a inilo. He had just come up the ladder after a final plunge, and as he spoke he wrung his dripping hands and shook his soused head from side to side to get rid of the salt water. He was the last to come out: the others had begun to dress, the first stage of which consisted in stretching themselves on the hot rocks for a sun bath. ‘ It knocked the nonsense out of me completely,’ continued Mr Oliver. ‘I laugh though whenever I think of it; and as I do not fear that iny experience will tempt any of you to imitate my example I’ll tell it to you while you’re dressing, if you care to listen.’ ! There was a general murmur of acquies- : eonce, and Mr Oliver, having arranged him- !• self comfortably under the lee of a rock so as to be in the shade, began as follows : ‘ My father was killed at the battle of Gettsburgh when I was ten years old. He wasin thelumber business, and wasmakinga good living when the war broke out. My mother was left with four children, of which I was the eldest; then came two girls, and the baby was another boy. After father’s death my mother’s brother, Henry Hathaway, came to live with us. He was a clerk in a bank, and not able to help much beyond paying his board. He was twentyone, and a pleasant, engaging fellow, and ho and I speedily became very friendly. My mother was anxious to keep me at school as long as possible, and presently she began to take boarders, so that I was twelve years old before there was any serious talk of setting me to work. Then she fell sick of typhoid fever and most of the people who lived with us gave up their rooms as a consequence, and it became necessary in hers and Uncle Henry’s opinion for me to earn a little something toward our support. I was glad and proud at the idea of leaving school, for I had thus far been rather a dunce, and was not fond of study, and to go down town every day like Uncle Henry struck me as a fine thing to do. I could not understand my mother’s tears, and while I listened to her protestations that as soon as she was strong and had a house full of boarders I should be sent to

school again, I said to myself that I should have something to say on that score. ‘ I was rather large for my age, and very active, but although I was fond of baseball and coasting and snow-ball fights, I was never so contented as when buried in an easy-chair with my knees close to my chin deep in a book. I considered these sports all very well as a pastime, provided one could not do better, but they seemed to me tame and insignificant beside the adventures of Theseus and Richard Ooeur de Leon and I.auncelot, and William Tell and Captain Kidd and Leather Stocking, and a host of other distinguished individuals who lived and died before I was born. My secret ambition was to be one of them ; not of course a mere imitator, for I flattered myself that I understood that just as the costumes and weapons of heroes changed with the progress of society, so the field of adventure was shifted or curtailed. I believed myself very conservative in all such matters ever since my faith in Santa Claus had been sharte'-ed in my sixth year. Suspicionsof the truth had haunted me, and in order to put an end to them I feigned sleep on Christmas Eve, still confident that I should see the venerable old man come down the chimney with his pack of toys, and when, at midnight, I beheld my mother glide into the room and noiselessly begin to fill my stocking, my feelings were too overwhelming for repression, and I wept aloud. Since then my attitude toward the characters of history has been distinctly critical; but nevertheless, it was very clear to me that though it might be necessary here and there to accept with a grain of salt some of the marvellous traditions handed down in books or by word of mouth, there was no denying that lifo afiorded vast possibilities for adventure to a courageous and enterprising spirit. ‘ I became a cash-boy in a dry goods store, and by a curious chance Stephen Daly, a boy who lived in the same street a little further down, and whom I occasionally played with, was taken into the store at about the same time. I had never been intimate with anyone before bub Stephen, or Steve, as he was called, and I soon formed a close friendship. Wo walked down town in the morning together, and we ate and shared our luncheons together and waited for each other when our work for the day was done. ‘ For the first month or two the novelty of my new occupation kept me contented and attentive to my duties. I ran promptly when the clerks called “cash,” and refrained from mischief when there was nothing to do. There was no fault found with me, and the head of the store informed Uncle Henry that I was a promising, steady boy. Although I was pleased at this praise, I was conscious of feeling disappointed at the monotony of my life. I had expected that going down town would bo emancipation ; on the contrary, it was servitude quite as much as school had ever been, and nob much more interesting after the novelty wore off. I found myself seeking refuge in my books again, and now I had Steve as a companion to talk them over with. I lent him “ The Age of Chivalry ” and “ Tanglewood Tales ” and other favourites, and he in return made me acquainted with some yellow-covered stories of Indian life in the far West, which I devoured eagerly. ' We obtained others of a similar kind with blood-curdling names and embellished with thrilling escape from strategy and ambush, until there was a pile of them as high as my knee in my bedroom closet. As compared with the life therein represented, our daily lot seemed dull and unworthy lads of true metal, so Steve intimated to me frequently, and, though I endeavoured to be conservative and questioning in my judgment, I could nob help feeling that there was much force in his argument. If it were possible for us to participate in like experiences why should we remain mere cash-boys at the bock and call of everybody ? ‘ Before we had been able to adopt a definite plan I was summoned by my mother on my return from the store one evening into the parlour, where I found her and Uncle Henry at a table in possession of my entire library of yellow-covered volumes. ‘“Philip,” she inquired with a horrified air, “ where did you get this trash ?” ‘ “Steve gave me part and I bought part,” I answered promptly. 4 “ I knew it, I knew it. I have felt sure from the first that he would lead you into mischief. I have never felt any confidence in that Daly boy,” continued my mother ; then with a resolute look she cast the entire pile into the fire, and as I stood gazing at the flames enwrap and shrivel their leaves I heard her say : “ Now promise me, my dear boy, that you will never bring another book of that sort into the house,” 4 “ What is the matter with them 2” 1 inquired. 4 “ They are dime novels, Philip ; sensational stories calculated to fill your head with nonsense, and teach you false ideas of life.”

4 1 promised to obey her orders, but it was not until I had talked with Uncle Henry that I was fully convinced that she was right. had a philosophical discussion on the matter that very evening. He confessed that it was he who had put my mother on the track by telling her that he had seen one of the books peeping out of my pocket, and she had subsequently discovered the pile in my closet. Then, judging doubtless from remarks made by me that life upon the prairies wore a charm for me, he explained with care that though thirty years before there might have been a legitimate field for youthful enterprise in the far West as a scout or trapper, the cream was, so to speak, off the business now, and that any two boys who should leave home in the hope of becoming illustrious as fighters against Seminoles or Mohawks, or Senecas or Sioux would find only peaceful cowed tribes unworthy the powder or steel of valiant men. “I speak with knowledge of the subject, Philip,” he continued gravely, 44 for I have a friend out West who writes me letters ; and you may rest assured that the great warriors of the Indian tribes have departed to the happy hunting-grounds, and that the chiefs of to-day are very small potatoes.”

‘ I was convinced of the sincerity of Uncle Henry’s advice from the fact that he discussed the matter so dispassionately, and that he treated me as an equal whose opinions were worthy of consideration, instead of scoffing at me or laying down the law offensively. Naturally, I lost no time in acquainting Steve with the true state of affairs, and although he was loth to renounce a scheme which had seemed to promise so enviable a career, I succeeded at last in convincing him that the days of fighting with Indians on the frontiers were almost as obsolete as the exploits of Saladin or the adventures of those who sailed in pursuit of the Golden Fleece. ‘ But while I was thus willing to be reasonable, as it seemed to me, and to give up a project that on examination had been made to appear visionary I—and Steve no less—continued to nurse the hope of escaping at no distant day from the hum-drum life we were at present leading. Various plans were broached by the one or the othsr ei ua, only to be discarded, and it was not unti' six months had elapsed that we hib upon

! something that struck us both as satisfactory. It was Steve who made the proposition, and I shall never forget the eager look with which he handed me one morning a long yellow bill, at the top of which I read printed in staring black characters l McCULLOCH’S CIRCUS. “There!” he aid, “ how will that do ?” 4 1 gravely unfolded the bill, which was a programme, and read with delighted eyes y the glowing advertisement of the showman’s approaching visit. Coupled with the thrilling description of the various attractions offered were cuts of wild animals and human creatures from far - away countries that made up the caravansary. It was before the days of the present mammoth entertainments with which you boys are familiar ; there was but one ring, instead of * three, and but one clown in place of half-a-dozen, bub to our inexperienced ej T es the pageant presented was brain-bewildering. “We ll go, of course,” I murmured ; “Uncle Henry will take us.’ 4 1 have never been quite able to decide whether Steve at this time had actually in mindtheplan we subsequently united on. At any rate, I had no suspicion that what he had said bore reference to anything but the suitability of our attending one of the performances. We experienced no difficulty in obtaining permission to see the show under the wing of Uncle Henry, and we came away from it in no wise disappointed. I can remember, though, that as we walked home it was our escort who did most of the talking ; Steve and 1 were uncommonly reflective. 4 The next morning Steve called for me earlier than was his custom, and scarcely had wo left the house before he turned and said-mysteriously : 4 4 4 Our chance has arrived, Phil.” 4 “ What is it ?” I asked with eagerness, for 1 myself had lain awake busy with my thoughts for several hours that night. 4 44 Why shouldn’t we join the circus ?” 4 “ Just what I’ve been thinking, Steve.” 4 “ No one can say the cream is offa circus life,” he continued. 4 4 4 Indeed he can’t.” 1 answered, appreciating that ho had Uncle Henry’s former strictures in mind. “We've seen with our own eyes bareback riders and gymnasts and clowns, so we know they exist and exactly what we have to expect, lb must be a glorious life to lead.’ ‘“That’sso,” said Steve enthusiastically. “I shall go in for being a tamer of wild beasts,” ho added. “ One of those fellows that get into the cage with the tigers, or else a snake charmer.” ‘ “ I guess that I’ll make a specialty of the flying trapeze,” was my own response, and we then proceeded to arrange the details for our departure.’ 4 Did you really go?’ excaimed brighteyed George Cummings, eagerly, as Mr Oliver paused a moment. 4 Yes, we went,’ he answered, smiling at the absorbed faces of his audience, who lay stretched out at full length around him. Then he began again.

CHAPTER 11. 4 Although we professed to believe that our project was unobjectionable, we saw fit to conceal it carefully from our families and friends. The circus was to remain bub four days, so that it became necessary to act promptly. The precise method of escape required reflection. Were we boldly to olFer ourselves to the manager a 3 applicants for employment he might possibly feel called upon to make inquiries as to who we were and what we could do, and although neither of us doubted his own or the other’s ability to distinguish himself after a little practice, I had only a back somersault to display as the sum of my accomplishments,and Steve had tamed nothing more formidable than rabbits. Besides, in the event of his refusal, the manager might hold us for recognition or hand us over to the police to be returned to our homes, which would be mortifying. Our best opportunity seemed to be, to attach ourselves to the show unbeknown to anybody and trust to finding employment worthy of our ambition, when safe from pursuit and identification. 4 During the next two days after leaving the store we reconnoitred the circus grounds until dark. In addition to the big tent there was an adjoining smaller one containing the menagerie, and there was a number of side tents in which the monstrosities and other curious people were exhibited. Bub determined as we were to run away, the eventful day arrived without our having fixed upon the exact place where we could bestow ourselves. Of course the tents would have to come down and everything be turned topsy-turvy, and wo argued that in the general confusion it would be very easy for us to slip in somewhere unperceived and be carried off. 4 As the hour drew near when I was to leave the house, my heart was beating nervously. Each of us had asked and received permission to spend the night at the other’s house. As my mother had gone to dine with a friend and would not be home until late in the evening, I had only Uncle Henry to look out for. With the door of my chamber closed and locked I collected the few cherished possessions that I could nob bear to leave behind. Into my pockets I sbulled a base-ball, a jew’s harp, a small compass that I thought might prove handy, a flannel cap, a box of matches, two peg-tops, some marbles, and a ball of twine. I was anxious to include a brush and comb, but they were too bulky, and to carry a handbag through the streets would be likely to arouse suspicion. With considerable pride I put on underneath my shirt a red and white striped boating jersey that I judged adapted bo the circus ring. In my purse was a balance of eighteen cents ; I had spent that morning seventy-five in the purchase of a formidable - looking, long-bladed knife, a sheath and a belt, which last of all I fastened round my waist below my jacket. I was ready. Nonchalantly I walked down the stairs. Uncle Henry was smoking and reading in the library. He raised his eyes as I passed, but said nothing, Once in the street. I marched boldly in the direction of Steve’s house. As I went by it I whistled, and a moment later Steve was by my side, and we were speeding toward the circus grounds. 4 “Gob your knife ?” he whispered. 4 1 slapped my body by way of answer. “It’s a pity,” I added, “we couldn’t afford pistols.” 4 “ They’re corking good knives, though,” said Steve. “ I'd most as soon have a good knife as a pistol in the long run.” ‘I valued Steve’s opinion on such matters; accordingly I strode forward moi’e proudly. At the first corner was a letter-box, at which we stopped a moment to post epistles to our mothers. Mine, composed with great care, was as follows I can remember it word for word. My Dear. Dear Mother.—This is to tell you I have joined a circus. I feel I shall do better on the flying trapeze than in a store. Steve is going too, and will become a snake charmer. It will be no use to follow us, for we have made up our minds to leave home and strike out for ourselves. I shall send you all the money I make and I will write to you very often. It is for the best. Give my love to Uncle Henry. Your affectionate son, Philip Oliver.

* We reached the ground a little before the evening performance, but as owing to the serious drain which the knives had made on our resources we had only thirty-five cents

between us, we were obliged to remain outside the main tent and content oursefves with the side-shows, to which we obtained admittance by an expenditure of a dime apiece. We saw the fab lady, two dwarfs, a Patagonian Prince' and other curious personages with whom we flattered ourselves we should be on terms of intimacy later, and _ after we had looked at them sufficiently we wandered among the refreshment booths, where I treated Steve to red lemonade, and he in burn invested in two bags of variegated poppedcorn, which we munched contentedly. ‘ So alluring were the sounds from the big tent that wo were tempted to try to sneak in under the canvas in the rear, by lying on our bellies. We might have succeeded before an attendant, who was on the lookout for such attempts detected us, bub for the bulkinessof our pockets, which rendered dilatory the wriggling process to which we had to resort in order to squeeze under. We were hauled out by the legs and threatened with delivery to the police, which effectually alarmed us ; and after we had been let go we agreed to do nothing further that might imperil the success of our principal undertaking. 4 At last the performance was over. We stood near the exit watching the crowd pour out close to the flaring gas jets of the refreshment booths, and listened to the cries of the hucksters, “ Hero’s your best lemonade, five cents a glass,” “ Balloons two for a quarter ; please the children,” that made our mouths water. Suddenly I felt Steve clutch my arm, and heard him whisper hoarsely, 44 Down with you,” and at the same moment he dropped to a squatting position, so that he was hidden by the crowd. Immediately I followed his exa/npl6. 4 “Didn’t vou see him?” he asked. 4 “ Whom ?’' e “ Your uncle Henry. 4 “No,” I gasped, thunderstruck. 4 “He was with a girl, and I don't know whether he saw me or not.” 4 “Do you think he did?” I said feverishly. 4 4 4 He saw us,but I don’t know whether be recognised us,” Steve answered. “The moment I caught him looking at me I ducked.” 4 Here was a piece of bad luck indeed. Uncle Henry had chosen this night of all others for escorting one of his young lady friends to the circus. 4 4 4 Did he seem surprised at all? ’ I inquired, by way of cross-examination. 4 44 He looked sort of queer and he was looking righc at me. I ducked so quick, though, I can’t be sure of anything.” 4 4 4 Well, he’ll only think we’ve been to tbe show without leave,” said I, 44 and as he supposes I’m going back to sleep at your house he won’t make inquiries before morning. By that time we’ll be miles and miles away if we have luck.” fTo be Continued.)