“I hope I shall never be like that,” laughed Phil. “I know I shall always be willing to learn.”
“And there always is something to learn in the circus life. None of us knows it all. There are new things coming up every day,” added the clown.
Phil left the dressing tent to go around to the menagerie tent for a talk with Mr. Kennedy and Emperor. Entering the tent the lad gave his whistle signal, whereat Emperor trumpeted loudly.
The big elephant greeted his young friend with every evidence of joy and excitement. Phil, of course, had brought Emperor a bag of peanuts as well as several lumps of sugar, and it was with difficulty that the lad got away from him after finishing his chat with Mr. Kennedy.
Phil was making a round of calls that afternoon, so he decided that he would next visit Mr. Sparling, having seen him only a moment, and that while others were around.
“May I come in?” he asked.
“Yes; what do you want?”
“To thank you for your kindness.”
“Didn’t I tell you never to thank me for anything?” thundered the showman.
“I beg your pardon, sir; I’ll take it all back,” twinkled Phil.