THE PARADE
Before we were finished I could hear the band playing outside and when I
went out all the wagons and chariots and things were in a line ready to
start. There were two elephants, a big one and a baby one, and about a
half a dozen cage wagons with animals in them and a steam calliope and a
lot of things, all gold and red. There were some dandy white horses.
On Marshal Foch's cage was a big sign that said:
MARSHAL FOCH
THE RETURNED LEOPARD
AND
SCOUT BLAKELEY
PRIDE OF TWO CONTINENTS!
HIS DARING AND DAUNTLESS CAPTOR.
I climbed up to the seat and sat by the driver.
He had an awful fancy hat and kind of tinsel stuff all over him. He had a
tassel on his hat and it kept blowing in my face. I didn't know what they
were waiting for, but pretty soon Jib Jab came out and he had a chain
around his leg. He looked pretty fierce and savage. A keeper was holding
the chain and Jib Jab pulled and jerked on it, so a lot of people who were
standing around backed away. The wagons were all around in a circle so I
could see him in his cage, and he winked at me while the keeper was fixing
the chain to one of the bars.
Oh boy, but that was some parade! The streets were all full of people and
the steam calliope made so much noise you'd think you were in a boiler
factory. Oh, didn't everybody stare at me! I guess my face was as red as
the fancy wagons, but what did I care? On one of the streets I saw Harry
Donnelle and the other fellows coming out of a candy store. They were all
wiping their mouths with their handkerchiefs and Westy was rubbing his
stomach with his hand, as if he had been eating something good. They just
aid that to jolly me, I bet. I should worry about them. Then they all
began laughing at me, because I was trying to look fierce and bold. Maybe
you think that's easy.
Gee, I guess we went through every street in Kingston, with people staring
at me all the while, and kids hooting, but I didn't care. Anyway, I was
proud to ride on that wagon.
Just when we were coming back into the circus grounds, I saw Harry Donnelle
and the patrol and some other scouts waiting, so I climbed down, because I
wanted to be with them. Mr. Costello came out and talked to us and said
that I did fine.
He said I was the idol of thronging multitudes-that's just what he said. I
was good and thirsty, I know that. Gee, didn't Harry Donnelle laugh.
Mr. Costello said, "The boy scouts are an honor to this great and glorious
country and I should like to take our intrepid young friend to Europe to
appear before the high nobility."
Harry said that I was a modest kid and that he guessed one continent was
about all I could carry in my pocket. He said that some day maybe I'd pick
up Europe if I happened to be passing that way.
Then Mr. Costello gave us all tickets to the show that night and after
that he made me a speech and said how I was beloved by all the world
renowned personages in the side show. He said that Madame Whopper told
him I was a little gentleman. 'A' scout is courteous-oh joy.
Then he put his arm over my shoulder and walked away with me and told me
not to talk very much about Jib Jab being human, because he wanted the
people to decide for themselves. He said it wasn't telling a lie, because
he never said Jib Jab wasn't human. He just said, "Is he human?"
He said it's all right to ask a question.
Gee whiz, nobody can deny that.