After breakfast Joe, who did not take part in the parade, set out to see the sights of his "home town," or, rather, he hoped to meet some of his former friends, for there were not many sights to see.
"The place hasn't changed much," Joe reflected as he passed along the familiar streets. "It seems only like yesterday that I went away. Well, Timothy Donnelly has painted his house at last, I see, and they have a new front on the drug store. Otherwise things are about the same. I wonder if I'd better go to call on the deacon. I guess I will—I don't have any hard feelings toward him. Yes, I'll go to see him and——"
Joe's thoughts were interrupted by a voice that exclaimed:
"Say! Look! There goes Joe Strong who used to live here!"
The young circus performer turned and saw Willie Norman, a small boy who lived on the street where Joe formerly dwelt.
"Hello, Willie," called Joe in greeting.
"Hello," was the answer. "Say, is it true you're with the circus? Harry Martin said you were."
"That's right—I am," Joe admitted. He had kept up a fitful correspondence with Harry and some of the other chums, and in one of his letters Joe had spoken of his change of work.
"In a circus!" exclaimed Willie admiringly. "Do they let you feed the elephant?" he asked with awe.
"No, I haven't gotten quite that far," laughed Joe. "I'm only a trapeze performer."