And how beautifully they sang after a few lessons! Troubles sang high and Bubbles sang low.
But best of all they loved to play dead! They lay so still when Jimmy covered them with an old shawl, that sometimes it frightened him!
Then Jimmy had a birthday. His father said he might have a circus in the garage! They trimmed it with flags and bunting, and fixed up some soap boxes for a stage. Jimmy was so thankful for such a nice father, that he gave him a BIG HUG!
At last it was time for the circus. All the boys and girls in the neighborhood came. Jimmy charged a penny admission. He wanted to buy a gift for the little lame boy who lived in the alley. He let him come in without paying anything.
When the children were all in the garage Jimmy closed the doors. Then he went to get the performers. THEY WERE GONE! Jimmy looked and looked but he could not find them. His father looked and looked, but he could not find them! His mother looked and looked, but she could not find them! The children looked and looked but they could not find them!
Jimmy felt like crying, but he didn’t! Instead he gave back a penny to each girl and boy who had come to the circus. They all went home! Only the little lame boy from the alley stayed. He and Jimmy sat on the garage steps with their faces in their hands and their elbows on their knees. They were thinking.