After Mr. Lawrence had set the boxes in the tent he bade the girls good-bye, promising to return in the afternoon, and now Roxy and Polly set to work on the circus that was to entertain Grandmother Miller and her birthday guests.
The big elephants were to lead the procession, and following these came four camels, several lions and tigers, zebras, a number of ostrich, and then a group of monkeys. Beside all these Roxy had cut out and colored several parrots, a bird of paradise and two peacocks with wide-spreading tails.
“We might fix a tree for the birds,” suggested Polly; and they made a fairy-like tree from the stout green brakes that grew near the brook. On the top of this tree they fixed the parrots, while the peacocks were placed at the foot.
When it was all arranged the circus made a very attractive sight, and the two girls gazed at it admiringly.
“Roxy! It would be a good idea for you to dress up and be the manager of the show, and tell where all the animals were captured. That ‘Animal Book’ tells, doesn’t it?” said Polly, her blue eyes eager at the thought of an added interest for Roxy’s “circus.”
Roxy jumped about, delighted at this suggestion.
“What will I dress up in, Polly?” she asked.
For a moment Polly did not answer; then she said:
“There are some things in our attic that will be just what we want. There is a tall white hat, and a long blue coat with big brass buttons! And, Roxy! We can make whiskers and a moustache for you out of yarn and tie them on. Then you must have a long stick and stand here,” and Polly placed herself at one end of the procession of animals, “and you must begin like this: ‘Ladies and gentlemen. First come the largest elephants in the world. I captured them in Africa——’”
“Oh, Polly! Polly!” shouted Roxy, hardly able to speak because of laughter, “that will be splendid.”