CHAPTER VII
At last everything was ready and the whole family set out for the station.
Grandpa Grimes went to see them off.
The little Roly-Polys carried the bags Grandpa had brought them.
At the station Humpty Dumpty began to cry. He cried so hard that Mama said:
“Bless my buttons! what ails the child? Have you hurt your back again, my son?”
Humpty Dumpty cried, “Boo-hoo! I am going to be homesick! I know I am!”
“WHAT AILS THE CHILD!”
“WHAT AILS THE CHILD!”
“Give him a lemon-drop,” said Papa.
Mama put her hand into her pocket and brought out a lemon-drop.
When Humpty Dumpty saw it he felt better, and soon he had it in his mouth. Then of course he could not cry.
Humpty Dumpty had stopped crying just in time, for the train was coming.
Puff, puff! came the engine, and all the passengers got on board the train.
The little Roly-Polys waved their handkerchiefs, and Grandpa stood on the platform and made a bow.
The little Roly-Polys soon cuddled down in their seats and went to sleep. They slept a long time.
“Wake up! wake up!” cried Papa Roly-Poly at last. “We are almost at circus town.”
Then the little Roly-Polys all woke up.
“Where are the elephants?” cried Freddie.
“Where are the ponies?” cried Teddie.
“Where are the camels?” cried Humpty Dumpty.
Then Papa Roly-Poly said, “Hush! be still! You will see the animals soon enough.”
Sure enough, the train stopped at a station just then, and the Roly-Poly family got out.
A man dressed in red and gold came up to them and asked, “Will you ride in the band-wagon?”
They all got into the band-wagon and the band began to play, and theyrode on and on until they came to the circus tent.
“Hurrah!” shouted Freddie.
“Hurrah!” shouted Teddie.
“Three cheers!” cried Humpty Dumpty.
The band played “Yankee Doodle,” and the band-wagon drew up in splendid style in front of the tent.
The circus manager came, and helped the Roly-Poly family out of the wagon, and took them all off for supper.
They were hungry, you may be sure, after their long ride.
“Can you do any tricks?” asked the manager.
Mama Roly-Poly smiled, but Papa Roly-Poly shook his head.
Then the most surprising thing happened.
The twins had carried a big basket all the way. Out of the basket jumped the monkey. He had crept into the basket while no one was looking, and had been fast asleep all the time.
The Roly-Polys began to roll and the monkey jumped over them. Then they stood on their heads and turned somersaults.
The manager cried, “That will do. I will make a side show of you. Your Ma and Pa may sell tickets.”
“I wish to see the big parade,” said Freddie.
“I wish to see the big parade,” said Teddie.
Then Humpty Dumpty began to cry and fuss and say he would not roll at all unless he could see the elephants and the ponies.
The manager said, “Very well; if you are brave, you may ride in the wagon with the tamest lion.”
Mama Roly-Poly shuddered and Papa Roly-Poly said they were very comfortable in the tent, but the little Roly-Polys said they were not afraid of even a fierce lion.
So it was arranged that they should ride with the lion in the big parade.
The time came for the parade. The little Roly-Polys were a bit scared when they thought of the lion.
A man opened the door of a big wagon and helped the little Roly-Polys inside.
There sat the lion at the end of the cage. He had his back turned toward them.
“What if he should eat us up!” whispered Freddie.
“Oh! Let’s tickle his ears,” said Teddie.
Then Humpty Dumpty began to roll, and he rolled right up on the lion’s back, and the lion never moved a bit.
He did not even roar.
What do you suppose was the matter with this lion?
He was stuffed with sawdust!
Then the Roly-Polys shoutedwith delight and they spied a little glass window and they all climbed up on the lion’s back and looked out.
They saw the big procession, and they were a part of it. They could see beautifully as the animals turned the corners.
First there were seven large elephants, and each elephant had a rider dressed in red velvet.
Then came seven big camels, and each one had a rider dressed in blue velvet.
Then came fourteen little ponies, stamping their feet.
Then came the big band-wagon playing “Yankee Doodle” and the caliope playing “Annie Rooney.”
Then came cages with more animals in them.
Then came the clowns and another band that played “Marching through Georgia.” The parade was very splendid indeed.
The procession went up one street and down another, and there were crowds and crowds of people.
Every one said, “There must be a fierce lion in that covered wagon.”
They meant the wagon in which the Roly-Polys rode.
What do you suppose those comical little Roly-Polys did?
They all roared like very fierce lions, and they made a terrible noise.
The manager was so pleasedwhen he heard about this that he gave each of them a penny.
Then the procession marched back to the tent, for it was time for the performance to begin.
The little Roly-Polys were very much excited. They could hardly wait for the time to come for them to do their tricks.
“Wont it be fun!” said Teddie.
“Wont it be sport!” said Freddie.
“It will be if I don’t break my back,” said Humpty Dumpty.
O Roly-Polys, big and small,Do you never tire at all?To your home I’d like to go,And sit up with you in a row.
O Roly-Polys, big and small,Do you never tire at all?To your home I’d like to go,And sit up with you in a row.
O Roly-Polys, big and small,Do you never tire at all?To your home I’d like to go,And sit up with you in a row.
O Roly-Polys, big and small,Do you never tire at all?To your home I’d like to go,And sit up with you in a row.
O Roly-Polys, big and small,
Do you never tire at all?
To your home I’d like to go,
And sit up with you in a row.