minister's sons often are. My poor father tried hard to give me an
education, but my mind wasn't on books or school exercises, and at
sixteen I cut and run."

"Did you join a circus then?"

"Not at once. I tried hard to earn my living in different ways. Finally
I struck a circus, and got an engagement as a razorback. When I got
older I began to notice and imitate the clowns, and finally I made up my
mind to become one myself."

"Do you like the business?"

"I have to like it. No; I am disgusted with myself often and often. You
can judge from one thing. I have a little daughter, Katy, now eight
years of age. She has never seen me in the ring and never will. I could
never hold up my head in her presence if she had once seen me playing
the fool before an audience."

All this surprised Kit. He had been disposed to think that what clowns
were before the public they were in private life also. Now he saw his
mistake.

"You contribute to the public amusement, Mr. Dupont," said Kit.

"True; but what sort of a life record is it? Suppose in after years Katy
is asked, 'Who was your father?' and is obliged to answer, 'Joe Dupont,
the clown.' But I ought not to grumble. But for you I should have died a
terrible death, and Katy would be fatherless, so I have much to be
thankful for after all."

Kit listened to the clown not without surprise. He could hardly realize
that this was the comical man whose grotesque actions and sayings had
convulsed the spectators only an hour before. When he came to think of
it, he felt that he would rather be an acrobat than a clown.

CHAPTER XV.

MR. BICKFORD GOES TO THE CIRCUS.

When Aaron Bickford, balked of his prey, was compelled to get into his
wagon and start for home, he felt uncommonly cross. To begin with, he
was half famished, having harnessed up and set out on what turned out to
be a wild goose chase without breaking his fast. Yet he could have borne
this with comparative equanimity if he had effected the purpose which he
had in view--the capture of his expected apprentice.

But he had been signally defeated. Indeed he had been humiliated in
presence of Kit and William Morris, by being unceremoniously picked up
and tossed over the fence. As William was an Oakford boy, he foresaw
that his discomfiture would soon be known to all his fellow townsmen,
and that public ridicule would be his portion. There seemed no way to
avoid this, unless by begging William to keep silent,