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Mitchell, Lebbeus, 1879-1963

"The Circus Comes to Town"

"Just the same as he did at the
circus when the band stopped playin' an' before the el'funt picked him
up."
"He didn't know he said it," Chris added, "an' he couldn't tell Danny
what he meant by it, could he, Danny?"
"No," Danny replied.
"That clinches it!" exclaimed Whiteface, and took Jerry from his
mother's arms. "Don't you cry any more, Gary-boy. Nobody shall hurt you
again. O'Queen was what you used to call Sultana, the elephant--'Sult
Anna O'Queen,' as though that were her name. It was the way you said a
part of one line in my elephant song: 'Great Sultana, Oh, Queen of the
jungle!"
"Carryin' water for the ellifants," said Jerry, through his tears.
"Do you remember any of the chorus?"
Jerry thought hard, but finally shook his head. Whiteface then started
to repeat the chorus:
"'Ho, ye drowsy drones! The Queen is a-thirst;
A penny for him who brings a pail first.
Hurry and scurry--'"
Jerry suddenly found that he did remember what came next and interrupted
his father:
"'--an' go at a prance!'"
"That's it!" cried Mrs.


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