"Oh yes, we do, sir," replied Rufe, who thought that Mr. Ketchum didn't know much about shows; "that is the way Artemus Ward spelled his."
Mr. Ketchum laughed, and said, "Oh, well, if you want to spell it just as Artemus does, that is all right."'
He kindly helped them with the large handbill which they got ready to nail in front of the tent, and said that he thought it would attract crowds. It was to be hoped not, for the tent was a queer affair, made of sheets and quilts and unsteady poles, and it wouldn't take very much to topple it over. But they had no misgivings.
San Todd was sent around the village, which was a very small one, to ask people to buy tickets for the "Grate Show," as the proprietors thought it would be scarcely dignified to go themselves; and San, who was a very exact, straight-forward little fellow, thought it his duty to describe to the people just what they were going to see.
"We've got a Giant," he would say, "and a Dwarf, and a Bearded Lady, and a Elephant, and Rufe thinks he can make a wild Indian, mebbe."
The last part always made them laugh, and quite a number of tickets were disposed of.
One of San's first visits was made to Mrs. Williams, a lady who, with her daughter, was boarding for the summer at Dr. Gurner's. Miss Fanny was quite a grown-up young lady, and San said she was the nicest-looking girl he had ever seen; he particularly wanted her to come to the show.
But she had gone out for a walk; so the little boy saw Mrs. Williams, and asked her if she would let Miss Fanny come.
"Will you take good care of her if I do?" said the lady, smiling at him very pleasantly.
"Yes, ma'am," was the prompt reply; "she shall have a reserved seat, if she pays for it."