Bunny Brown and his sister Sue and their trick dog

by Laura Lee Hope

But the main part of the show was to be the tricks done by Patter, Toby, and Wango, the monkey.

At last all was in readiness, and after many whisperings behind it the curtain was finally pulled aside. The curtain was made by some old feed bags sewed together, but it answered very well.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” began George Watson, who had been chosen for stage manager, “we will now start the great show with a parade, and after that Bunny Brown will do a lot of tricks.”

“And so will Patter! He’ll do tricks!” cried the voice of Sue from back of the end folds of the bag curtain. There was laughter in the audience at this.

“All ready now!” called George, and then out from the side, to the stage, which Bunker Blue had built, marched Toby with Patter on his back. And Toby drew a little cart in which sat Wango, dressed up in a red suit and a cap and a feather.

The people clapped at this, but there was more to come. Bunny, dressed in a “tramp” suit, followed the monkey cart, and then came Sue, dressed as a fairy princess. Charlie Star and Harry Bentley, who were to help with the tricks, came out dressed like twins, and George followed, carrying Whitefeet on a big sofa cushion. There was more applause at this sight.

After the procession the show proper began. Bunny, dressed as a tramp, pretended he was going to take Patter and Toby away, but Sue rushed out and waved her fairy wand. Then the ragged clothes fell off Bunny, for they had been put on loosely for this purpose, and he stood up in red tights, just like a real circus actor. Mr. Stern had suggested this to the children and they did this new trick almost at the last moment.

Then Bunny put Patter, Toby, and Whitefeet through their tricks. I have told so much about the tricks all through this book that I will not take the time to go over them again, as there were no new ones.

But the people in the audience had not seen the tricks before and they were much pleased with them. After Patter, wearing his different suits, had sat up and begged, had rolled over, had pretended he was a soldier, had said his prayers and walked on his front feet, the trapeze was swung into place.

On the board fastened to the crossbar Patter and Wango swung to and fro while the audience laughed and clapped. Next Whitefeet was put on Patter’s back, and the kitten remained there as contentedly as she had on the cushion when George carried her. Then came the trick of Patter taking caps from the tank of water.