as sure Philip could, if he had a pony to ride and some one to
teach him.

As the four little Blossoms and Sam went downstairs whom should they
meet but Doctor Maynard, an old friend of the whole Blossom family,
and the doctor who had helped them set Philip's leg when he had broken
it.

"Well, well," said the doctor, smiling, "I think I know what you have
been doing upstairs--watching the circus parade. And now where to?"

"Home," replied Meg. "We have to hurry, 'cause Daddy is going to take
us to the circus this afternoon."

"Do you suppose you would have time to have a soda?" asked the
doctor.

The children thought they would, and Doctor Maynard lined them up
before the fountain and let each one choose. Meg and Bobby, who always
liked the same things, took chocolate, and Dot asked for strawberry,
while Twaddles said he would have orange. Doctor Maynard and Sam had
ginger-ale, which Meg privately thought unpleasant stuff, it tickled
one's throat so.

"Have a good time at the circus," said the doctor, as they said
good-by. "Don't tease the elephant, and don't let the monkeys tease
you."

"I should think the monkeys would be cold in the winter," mused Meg,
as they walked home. "Bears and lions have warm furry skins, but
monkeys don't."

"Oh, the circus rests up in winter," Sam assured her. "This is about
the last stop they'll make this season. When it gets too cold for
folks to sit out in tents, you know, a circus goes into winter
quarters. They are just as cozy then as you are. All the circus people
mend their clothes and rest and plan out new tricks for the spring.
And the animals rest and sleep and get their coats into good
condition, and have all they want to eat."

At home the four little Blossoms found Father Blossom, and as soon as
they had finished lunch they started for the big tent. It was pitched
in the same place every time the circus came to Oak Hill, a wide open
space just outside the town limits, and Bobby remembered it very
well.

"See all the people!" cried Dot, jumping up and down with delight.
"There's Nina and Mary and Freddy, and oh, everybody!"

It did seem as if all Oak Hill had turned out to go to the circus, and
Bobby wondered if there would be any left to see it that night when
Sam and Norah went.

"Tickets," said the man at the gate. "All right, five of you."

They went into the big tent and found their seats down near the ring.
The clown was already driving around and around