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The day book. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1911-1917, April 27, 1914, NOON EDITION, Image 20

Image and text provided by University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library, Urbana, IL

Persistent link: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045487/1914-04-27/ed-1/seq-20/

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THE STOLEN ELEPHANT
By Mildred Caroline Goodridge.
"Be tolerant, Ephraim, remember
you was young yourself once."
"I do, Marthavbut I've seen the
folly and outcome of selfish pleasures
and I want to instill the principle into
Alan's mind."
"Going to a circus once in awhile
won't pervert the dear boy," declared
Mrs. Woods. "I've sometimes thought
we were making him old before his
IHHIilHB
He Recognized the Missing Animal.
tune by restricting innocent pleasures
that would give variety to his dull life.
He is getting too studious and soli
tary. For my part I am glad to see
him brighten up, as he has since the
excitement and glare and glitter ol
the circus came right next to us.
"Well, I'm very proud of Alan
proud and hopeful, as you know'.
have managed to pull along and givr
him a fine education. Now hejs be-
gjnniDg to earn something writing
for the book merf, I am buoyed 'up
with the belief that hewill become a
great author."
"He won't unlesahe gels a heart
interest in something," said Mrs.
Woods softly.
"That's your woman's way," re- ,
torted Mr. Woods, yet fondly. "That's
what I'm afraid of that he'll fall ,
foolishly in love and waste a couple
of years sweethearting."
"You fell in love once, Ephraim,"
remarked Mrs. Woods naively. "Did
it hurt you any!"
"You dear woman!" cried her hus
band expansively, "I'm more in love
with you now than ever. You were
a minister's daughter, though, and
this girl you seem to like so is a
circus woman."
"Hardly, Ephraim," contested hjs
wife. "She is a dear, sweet creature," ,
in charge pt a little angel of a child
who rides 'the bigelephant of the
show. If you knew why both of them
are chained to that life, you would
feel the greatest sympathy- for them.
They do not play on Sunday, they go
to church, they are treated with re
spect and friendly interest by the
common circus people. The true
Christianlike way is to pity, instead
of condemn them."
This had happened to disturb the
quiet, humdrum life of the Woods
family. A circus had camped on the 4
vacant lot next to their house- At '
first Ephraim was shocked, then re- '
pellant, finally neutrally indifferent
The stake men came to the pump for
water, and insisted on paying for it
Some of their grazing horses broke
down a fence and devoured a small
haystack. The -fence was replaced
with a new and better one and, double
the Talue of the fodder was forced upr .
on Ephraim, who had to concede that
"they were very "fair folks.1'
One day a plain but neatly dressed
young lady crossed over from the'Uv
ing tent of the circus into the Woods
rard. Alan was trimming some vine's.
He was at once struck with her mod?
esty and beauty.
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