Part 5 (2/2)

At the next platform were some juggling Clowns. One of these placed a light ladder on his shoulders, and another ran up it and stood upon his head on the top rung.

In another place the Clowns threw small silver b.a.l.l.s into the air, one after the other, and then caught them cleverly as they came down.

Near the end of the street a Clown, dressed in a costume of scarlet with green spots upon it, and wearing a white, pointed cap upon his head, was singing a comic song. They stopped to listen while he sang as follows:

A goat to a barber went one day; ”Just trim my beard,” the goat did say, ”And cut my hair in a stylish way”-- Sing s.h.i.+vvy, shovvy, shavey!

The barber then began to snip, But soon he let the scissors slip, And cut the goat upon his lip-- Sing s.h.i.+vvy, shovvy, shavey!

Then Mr. Goat, with angry bleat, Gave one big jump from out his seat, And knocked the barber off his feet-- Sing s.h.i.+vvy, shovvy, shavey!

”Enough!” he cried, ”I'll have you know, If barbers treat their patrons so, I'll just allow my beard to grow!”

Sing s.h.i.+vvy, shovvy, shavey!

After each verse another Clown cracked a long whip at the singer, which made him leap into the air and screw his face up in such a comical way that Dot and Tot were greatly amused, and applauded him rapturously.

Just across the street was another singing Clown; but this one was dressed in a curious costume that was all white on one side of his body and all red on the other side. This fellow balanced the point of his cap upon the end of his nose, and then, making a bow, sang the following song:

Little Tommy Harris Made a trip to Paris.

There he went within a tent, Saw a convex firmament; Then he peered within a booth, Saw a shark without a tooth, Heard a dumb man sing and chant, Saw a crimson elephant.

Next he walked into a street, Saw a lamp-post drink and eat, Heard a turtle loudly roar, Saw a rainbow through a door.

Then a man without a leg Danced upon a horse's egg.

Then a steeple on a dome Cried, ”My boy, you'd best go home.”

But as Tommy homeward sped, He awoke--and was in bed!

Little Tommy Harris Never went to Paris!

This singer had so droll an expression on his face that Tot yelled with rapture, and Dot found herself laughing heartily. Indeed, the whole performance was a delight to the children, and they were sorry when a bell rang and put a stop to the antics of the Clowns.

At once the they all dived into the trapdoors of their platforms, and Flippityflop said they had gone to bed and would not appear until the next morning.

The children were somewhat tired by the adventures of the day, so when Flippityflop helped them to gain the room under his platform, they crept to the soft-cus.h.i.+oned benches that lined the walls and lay down. In less than a minute Dot and Tot were fast asleep, curled up side by side, with their arms entwined.

Next morning they were awakened by the strains of sweet music. Dot at once sat up and asked, ”What is that?”

”That is my alarm clock,” answered Flippityflop, who had been reclining upon a bench at the other side of the room. ”It tells me when it is time to get up.”

”It's a queer alarm clock,” said the girl.

”But a very good one,” returned the Clown. ”It is really a big music-box under the bench, which starts playing every morning at seven o'clock. So, instead of being awakened by a rattling and clanging of bells, such as most alarm clocks make, I open my eyes with a sensation of pleasure, and get up feeling jolly and content.

”I think it's a lovely clock,” said Tot.

”Won't you join me at breakfast?” asked the prince. ”I'm going to have a dish of scrambled egg-sh.e.l.ls and a few fried b.u.t.tons. The eggsh.e.l.ls make our complexion white and chalky, and we are very fond of them.”

”I prefer to eat something from our basket,” replied the girl. ”But Tot may eat the egg-sh.e.l.ls and b.u.t.tons, if he wants them.”

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