OVERHEARD AT THE CIRCUS.
I've seen a whale that did fine tricks,
And nothing could be moister;
But what I most do wish to see 's
An educated oyster.
The monkeys race on ponies,
And the elephants all dance;
They've dogs that sing right in the ring,
And even pigs that prance.
They've boars that play at muggins, and
They've storks that know the waltz;
They've horses that stand on their heads,
A kangaroo that vaults.
But none of them, it seems to me,
The equal could be rated
Of one small shell-clad oyster that
Was really educated.
"You didn't shoot the lady through the hoop to-day," said the Hippopotamus to the Cannon.
"No," replied the Cannon. "They discharged me yesterday."
"I didn't think the Clown was very funny to-day," said the Kangaroo.
"No," replied the Hyena. "I was the only creature that laughed, and I only did it to prove that I was a real hyena."
"I had a bully time yesterday," said the Monkey.
"Did you?" replied the Giraffe. "What was it interested you?"
"What interested me? Why, looking at the children, of course! They're too funny for anything."
"Humph!" said the Elephant, "I'm going to resign from this circus."
"What's the matter?" asked the Leopard.
"I only received one pea-nut yesterday," replied the Elephant, "and that got mislaid in my trunk."
"Oh dear!" sighed the Hippopotamus. "I am so tired of this circus life. I wish some nice little boy would buy me for a pet. I'd love to sit in a little boy's lap and have him call me Fido, and let me crawl into his bed and bite his toes every morning like a puppy-dog."
"I don't see why boxes are so popular," said the Elephant, as he gazed about the arena. "I prefer a bag."
"A bag?" laughed the Hyena.
"Yes, a bag," said the Elephant. "A bag of peanuts."
"What we want is a breakfast."
The remark came from one of three very hungry young men who were aimlessly walking the streets of Paris. The other two agreed with the speaker, but wondered where the meal was to come from.
"Let us see," said the first; "a breakfast for us three will cost about ten francs. Now I have an idea, and all you've got to do is to follow me, taking the cue as I proceed."
He entered a music-store, the other two obediently following him. "I wish to sell you a song," said he to the proprietor. "My friend here will write the music, and my other friend will write the words, and I will sing it."
The proprietor looked at him in astonishment, but agreed to listen to the song, and, if it had any merit, to purchase it. Finally it was completed, and the young man sang it.
"Humph! it isn't much of a song, but I'll give you fifteen francs for it," said the proprietor.
"Done!" cried all three young men in a breath.
Alfred de Musset was the author, Hippolyte Maupon the composer, and Gilbert Duprez was the singer. The song was entitled, "Connaissez-vous dans Barcelone," and it had a great success, netting the publisher forty thousand francs.
"Suffer much through the winter, Mr. Froggy?"
"No; always spring-time with me. Ta, ta!"