that morning, for there was still much to
do.

Sam, the boy who owned the white mice, came over to ask if his pets had
been found. And when told that they were safe in a box down in the
cellar, he was very happy indeed.

"I must put them back in their cage, and let them practise a few of
their tricks," he said. "They may have forgotten some as they have been
away from me so long."

Bunny and Sue had to get their things ready. They were to have a little
place in the big tent to dress and get ready for their act. They were
the smallest folks in the circus, and everyone was anxious to see what
they would do.

On the big, as well as on the little, tent the boys had fastened flags.
Some were the regular stars and stripes of our own country, and other
flags were just pieces of bright-colored cloth that the boys' mothers
had given them. But the tents looked very pretty in the bright and
sparkling sunshine, with the gay banners fluttering.

Just as in a real circus, the people who came were to go first into the
animal tent, and from there on into the one with the seats, where they
would watch the performance.

Soon after dinner the farmers and their wives, with such of their
children who were not taking part in the show, began to come.

"Right this way to see the wild animals!" called Ben Hall, who was
making believe he was a lion tamer. "This way for the wild animals! Come
one! Come all!"

The people crowded into the small tent. All around the sides were wooden
boxes, with wooden slats. These were the "cages."

"Now watch the trained white mice!" cried Ben. "The big circus is about
to begin!"

"Over this way! Over this way!" cried Sam, as he stood on a box with his
trained white mice in their cage in front of him. "Right this way to see
the wonderful trained white mice, which escaped from their cage and were
caught by brave Mr. Brown and his wife!"

Everyone clapped and laughed at that.

Then Sam made his pink-eyed pets do many tricks. They ran up his arms to
his shoulders, and sat on his head. Some of them jumped over sticks, and
others through paper-covered hoops, like the horse-back riders in a real
circus. One big white mouse climbed a ladder, and two others drew a
little wagon, in which a third mouse sat, pretending to hold the reins.
One big white mouse fired a toy cannon, that shot a paper cap.

Then Sam made his mice all stand up in a line, and make a bow to the
people.

"That ends the white mice act