BACK HOME AGAIN
"Now don't be afraid, Ben," said the man. "I'm not going to hurt you."
"Are you--are you going to make me go back to the circus?" Ben asked
slowly.
"Not unless you want to go, though we want you back with us very much,
for we have missed you," the man replied.
"I'll not go back to be beaten the way I was!" cried Ben. "I can't stand
that. That's why I ran away."
"You can just stay with us; can't he Mother?" pleaded Sue. "He can work
on grandpa's farm with Bunker Blue."
"What does all this mean?" asked Grandpa Brown of the strange man who
had knocked at the door. "Are you after Ben?"
"Yes, sir, I am after Ben," was the answer, and the man smiled. "I have
been looking for him for a long time, and I am glad I have found him. I
will take him back with me if he will come, and I will make him a
promise that he will no more be whipped. I never knew anything about
that until after he had run away from my circus."
"Did you really do that, Ben?" asked Bunny. "Run away?"
"Yes. That was where I came from that night I begged a meal here--a
circus. But I'll go back, for I like being in a circus, if I'm not
beaten."
"Tell us all about it," said grandpa.
"I will," answered the man. "My name is James Hooper. I own a small
circus, with some other men, and we travel about the country, giving
performances in small towns and cities. This boy, Ben Hall, has been in
our show ever since he was a baby. His father and mother were both
circus people, but they died last year, and Ben, who had learned to do
many tricks, and who knew something about animals, was such a bright
chap that I kept him with us. I was going to make a circus performer of
him."
"And I wanted very much to be one--a clown," said Ben. "But the head
clown was so mean to me, and whipped me so much, that I made up my mind
to run away, and I did."
"I don't know that I blame you," said Mr. Hooper. "I never knew that you
had such a hard time. I supposed you ran away just for fun, and I tried
to find you. I asked about you in all the places where we stopped, but
no one had seen you."
"I have been here ever since I left your show," explained Ben. "I like
it here, but I like the circus better. How did you find me?"
"Well, our circus is showing in a town about three miles from here,"
said Mr. Hooper. "Over there, in that town, I heard about a little
circus some boys and girls were getting up here, and--"
"Bunny and I got up the circus first," said Sue, "and then the big boys
made one, but we acted in it."
"I see!" laughed Mr. Hooper. "Well, I heard about your circus over here,
so I came to ask if any of you had seen Ben. I walked into the tent, and
there I saw him doing the jump and somersaults he used to do in our
tent. I knew him right away, but before I could speak to him he ran
away.
"I ran after him, hoping I could tell him how much we wanted him back,
but I could not catch up to him. So I went back to my circus, and made
up my mind I'd come back here again to-day. I'm glad I did, for now I've
found you, Ben."
Ben told Mr. Hooper, just as he had told Bunny and Sue, about sleeping
all night out in the field, under a pile of hay, and then of creeping
back to sleep in the tent.
"Well, do you want to come back with me, or stay here on the farm?"
asked Mr. Hooper. "I'll promise that you'll be well treated, Ben, and
the head clown, who was so mean to you, isn't with us any more. You
won't be whipped again, and you'll have a chance to become a head clown
yourself."
"Then I'll come back with you," said the circus boy. "I'm very much
obliged to you, for all you've done for me," he said to Grandpa Brown
and Grandma Brown, "and I hope you won't be mad at me if I go away."
"Not if you think it best to go," said grandpa. "You have been a good
boy while here, and you have more than earned your board. I don't like
to lose you, but if you want to be a clown, the circus is the best place
for you."
"All his folks were circus people," said Mr. Hooper. "And when that's
the case the young folks nearly always stay in the same business. Ben
will make a good clown when he grows up, and he will be a good jumper,
too."
"I'm going to be a circus man," said Bunny. "Can I be in your show, Mr.
Hooper?"
"Well, we'll see about that when you get a little older. But you and
your sister can come and see our circus, any time you wish, for nothing.
I watched you two do your scarecrow and pumpkin dance, and you did it
very well."
Bunny Brown and his sister Sue were pleased to hear this.
"Yes, it was a pretty good circus for young folks to get up all by
themselves," said Grandpa Brown. "But how soon do you have to take Ben
away with you, Mr. Hooper?"
"As soon as I can, Mr. Brown. Our show is going to move on to-night,
and I'd like to have Ben back in his old place if you can let him go."
"Oh, yes," said Grandpa Brown. "He can go. I hope you'll be happy, Ben."
"I'll look well after him, and he shall have no more trouble," said Mr.
Hooper. Then Ben told what a hard time he had after he ran away from the
circus. He had to sleep in old barns, and under hay-stacks, and he had
very little to eat. And when he came to grandpa's house he did not tell
that he had run away from the show, for fear some one would make him go
back to the bad clown who beat him.
But everything came out all right, you see, and Ben was happy once more.
Of course, Bunny and Sue felt sorry to have their friend leave them, but
it could not be helped.
"But we'll be going back home ourselves pretty soon," said Daddy Brown.
Bunker Blue and Ben Hall shook hands and said they hoped they would see
each other again.
"And to think," said Bunker, "that you were from a circus all the time,
and never told us! But I sort of thought you were, for you knew so much
about ropes, and putting up tents, making tricks and acts and pretend
wild animals, and all that."
"Yes," answered Ben with a laugh, "sometimes it was pretty hard not to
do some of the other tricks I had learned in the circus. I didn't want
you to find out about me, but the secret came out, anyhow."
"Just like ours about the scarecrow and the pumpkin!" laughed Bunny
Brown. "Wasn't ours a good secret?"
"It certainly was!" cried Mother Brown.
That night Ben Hall said good-bye to Bunny, Sue and all the others, and
went back to the real circus with Mr. Hooper.
"I wonder if we'll ever see him again?" asked Bunny, a little sadly.
"Perhaps you will," said his father.
The vacation of Bunny and Sue, on grandpa's farm was at an end. In a few
days they were to go back to their home, near the ocean.
"Oh, but we have had such fun here; haven't we, Bunny?" cried Sue.
"Indeed we have," he said. "Jolly good fun!"
"I wonder what we'll do next?" Sue asked.
"I don't know," answered her brother.
But, as I happen to know, I'll tell you. Bunny and Sue went on another
journey, and you may read all about it in the next book in this series,
which will be named: "Bunny Brown and His Sister Sue at Aunt Lu's City
Home."
In that book I'll tell you all the funny things the little boy and girl
saw, and did, when they were in the big city of New York. It was quite
different from being on grandpa's farm in the country.
One morning, about two weeks after the play-circus had been given, and
Ben Hall had gone back to the real show, to learn to be a clown, Bunker
Blue brought the great big automobile up to the farmhouse.
"All aboard!" cried Bunker. "All aboard for Bellemere and Sandport Bay!
Come on, Bunny and Sue!"
Into the automobile, that was like a little house on wheels, climbed
Bunny and Sue. Mr. and Mrs. Brown also got in. Bunker sat on the front
seat to steer. There were good things to eat in the automobile, and the
little beds were all made up, with freshly ironed sheets, so when night
came, everyone would have a good sleep. Splash sat up on the front seat
with Bunker.
"Good-bye! Good-bye!" called Bunny and Sue, waving their hands out of a
window.
"Good-bye!" answered grandma and Grandpa Brown.
"Good-bye!" called the hired man.
"Bow-wow!" barked Splash.
"Chug-chug!" went the automobile, and, after a safe and pleasant
journey, Bunny Brown and his sister Sue safely reached home, ready for
new fun and fresh adventures which they had in plenty. And so we will
all say good-bye to them.
THE END
* * * * *
THE BUNNY BROWN SERIES
By LAURA LEE HOPE
Author of the Popular "Bobbsey Twins" Books
* * * * *
Wrapper and text illustrations drawn by
FLORENCE ENGLAND NOSWORTHY
* * * * *
12mo. DURABLY BOUND. ILLUSTRATED. UNIFORM STYLE OF BINDING
* * * * *
These stories by the author of the "Bobbsey Twins" Books are eagerly
welcomed by the little folks from about five to ten years of age. Their
eyes fairly dance with delight at the lively doings of inquisitive
little Bunny Brown and his cunning, trustful sister Sue.
Bunny was a lively little boy, very inquisitive. When he did anything,
Sue followed his leadership. They had many adventures, some comical in
the extreme.
BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE
BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE ON GRANDPA'S FARM
BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE PLAYING CIRCUS
BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT CAMP REST-A-WHILE
BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT AUNT LU'S CITY HOME
BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE IN THE BIG WOODS
BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE ON AN AUTO TOUR
BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AND THEIR SHETLAND PONY
BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE GIVING A SHOW
BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT CHRISTMAS TREE COVE
* * * * *
GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK
THE GIRLS OF CENTRAL HIGH SERIES
By GERTRUDE W. MORRISON
* * * * *
12mo. BOUND IN CLOTH. ILLUSTRATED. UNIFORM STYLE OF BINDING.
* * * * *
Here is a series full of the spirit of high school life of to-day. The
girls are real flesh-and-blood characters, and we follow them with
interest in school and out. There are many contested matches on track
and field, and on the water, as well as doings in the classroom and on
the school stage. There is plenty of fun and excitement, all clean, pure
and wholesome.
THE GIRLS OF CENTRAL HIGH
Or Rivals for all Honors.
A stirring tale of high school life, full of fun, with
a touch of mystery and a strange initiation.
THE GIRLS OF CENTRAL HIGH ON LAKE LUNA
Or The Crew That Won.
Telling of water sports and fun galore, and of fine
times in camp.
THE GIRLS OF CENTRAL HIGH AT BASKETBALL
Or The Great Gymnasium Mystery.
Here we have a number of thrilling contests at
basketball and in addition, the solving of a mystery
which had bothered the high school authorities for a
long while.
THE GIRLS OF CENTRAL HIGH ON THE STAGE
Or The Play That Took the Prize.
How the girls went in for theatricals and how one of
them wrote a play which afterward was made over for the
professional stage and brought in some much-needed
money.
THE GIRLS OF CENTRAL HIGH ON TRACK AND FIELD
Or The Girl Champions of the School League
This story takes in high school athletics in their most
approved and up-to-date fashion. Full of fun and
excitement.
THE GIRLS OF CENTRAL HIGH IN CAMP
Or The Old Professor's Secret.
The girls went camping on Acorn Island and had a
delightful time at boating, swimming and picnic
parties.
* * * * *
GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK
THE OUTDOOR GIRLS SERIES
By LAURA LEE HOPE
Author of the "Bobbsey Twin Books" and "Bunny Brown" Series.
* * * * *
12mo. BOUND IN CLOTH. ILLUSTRATED. UNIFORM STYLE OF BINDING.
* * * * *
These tales take in the various adventures participated in by several
bright, up-to-date girls who love outdoor life. They are clean and
wholesome, free from sensationalism, absorbing from the first chapter to
the last.
THE OUTDOOR GIRLS OF DEEPDALE
Or Camping and Tramping for Fun and Health.
Telling how the girls organized their Camping and
Tramping Club, how they went on a tour, and of various
adventures which befell them.
THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT RAINBOW LAKE
Or Stirring Cruise of the Motor Boat Gem.
One of the girls becomes the proud possessor of a motor
boat and invites her club members to take a trip down
the river to Rainbow Lake, a beautiful sheet of water
lying between the mountains.
THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN A MOTOR CAR
Or The Haunted Mansion of Shadow Valley.
One of the girls has learned to run a big motor car,
and she invites the club to go on a tour to visit some
distant relatives. On the way they stop at a deserted
mansion and make a surprising discovery.
THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN A WINTER CAMP
Or Glorious Days on Skates and Ice Boats.
In this story, the scene is shifted to a winter season.
The girls have some jolly times skating and ice
boating, and visit a hunters' camp in the big woods.
THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN FLORIDA.
Or Wintering in the Sunny South.
The parents of one of the girls have bought an orange
grove in Florida, and her companions are invited to
visit the place. They take a trip into the interior,
where several unusual things happen.
THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT OCEAN VIEW
Or The Box that Was Found in the Sand.
The girls have great fun and solve a mystery while on
an outing along the New England coast.
THE OUTDOOR GIRLS ON PINE ISLAND
Or A Cave and What it Contained.
A bright, healthful story, full of good times at a
bungalow camp on Pine Island.
* * * * *
GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK
THE BOBBSEY TWINS BOOKS
For Little Men and Women
By LAURA LEE HOPE
Author of "The Bunny Brown" Series, Etc.
* * * * *
12mo. DURABLY BOUND. ILLUSTRATED. UNIFORM STYLE OF BINDING
* * * * *
Copyright publications which cannot be obtained elsewhere. Books that
charm the hearts of the little ones, and of which they never tire.
THE BOBBSEY TWINS
THE BOBBSEY TWINS IN THE COUNTRY
THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT THE SEASHORE
THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT SCHOOL
THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT SNOW LODGE
THE BOBBSEY TWINS ON A HOUSEBOAT
THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT MEADOW BROOK
THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT HOME
THE BOBBSEY TWINS IN A GREAT CITY
THE BOBBSEY TWINS ON BLUEBERRY ISLAND
THE BOBBSEY TWINS ON THE DEEP BLUE SEA
THE BOBBSEY TWINS IN THE GREAT WEST
* * * * *
GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK
THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS SERIES
By VICTOR APPLETON
* * * * *
12mo. BOUND IN CLOTH. ILLUSTRATED. UNIFORM STYLE OF BINDING
* * * * *
Moving pictures and photo plays are famous the world over, and in this
line of books the reader is given a full description of how the films
are made--the scenes of little dramas, indoors and out, trick pictures
to satisfy the curious, soul-stirring pictures of city affairs, life in
the Wild West, among the cowboys and Indians, thrilling rescues along
the seacoast, the daring of picture hunters in the jungle among savage
beasts, and the great risks run in picturing conditions in a land of
earthquakes. The volumes teem with adventures and will be found
interesting from first chapter to last.
THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS
Or Perils of a Great City Depicted.
THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS IN THE WEST
Or Taking Scenes Among the Cowboys and Indians.
THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS ON THE COAST
Or Showing the Perils of the Deep.
THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS IN THE JUNGLE
Or Stirring Times Among the Wild Animals.
THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS IN EARTHQUAKE LAND
Or Working Amid Many Perils.
THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS AND THE FLOOD
Or Perilous Days on the Mississippi.
THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS AT PANAMA
Or Stirring Adventures Along the Great Canal.
THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS UNDER THE SEA
Or The Treasure of the Lost Ship.
* * * * *
GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK
THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH SERIES
By GRAHAM B. FORBES
Never was there a cleaner, brighter, more manly boy than Frank Allen,
the hero of this series of boys' tales, and never was there a better
crowd of lads to associate with than the students of the School. All
boys will read these stories with deep interest. The rivalry between the
towns along the river was of the keenest, and plots and counterplots to
win the champions, at baseball, at football, at boat racing, at track
athletics, and at ice hockey, were without number. Any lad reading one
volume of this series will surely want the others.
THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH
Or The All Around Rivals of the School
THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH ON THE DIAMOND
Or Winning Out by Pluck
THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH ON THE RIVER
Or The Boat Race Plot that Failed
THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH ON THE GRIDIRON
Or The Struggle for the Silver Cup
THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH ON THE ICE
Or Out for the Hockey Championship
THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH IN TRACK ATHLETICS
Or A Long Run that Won
THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH IN WINTER SPORTS
Or Stirring Doings on Skates and Iceboats
12mo. Illustrated. Handsomely bound in cloth, with
cover design and wrappers in colors.
* * * * *
GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK
* * * * *
Transcriber's Notes:
Varied usage of -- and ---- were retained as were haystack, hay
stack and hay-stack.
Page 10: The word "tree" was inserted into the text as there was
a space and no word. "...of the peach tree"
Extraneous punctuation was removed. Such as "No, Ned Johnson has
a dog. "We can ...
Incorrect punctuation repaired. "I am going to feed him," to
"I am going to feed him."
Page 72: "agian" changed to "again". "my turn again,"
Page 226: Hyphens added to first Jack-o'-lantern on page to
conform to rest of text.