Leaning wearily against a post near the entrance, and watching the people as they passed in, stood an old man.  He was shabbily dressed, his clothes’ were very dusty, and an old felt hat was pulled low on his forehead.  He was pale and gaunt, and an occasional hollow cough gave conclusive evidence of his disease.  But ’he had a pair of sharp gray eyes that looked out from under the brim of his hat, and gave close scrutiny to every one who passed by.  The breaker boys, who had gone into the tent in a body some minutes earlier, had attracted his attention and aroused his interest.  By and by his eyes rested upon Ralph, who stood back in the line, awaiting the forward movement of the crowd.  The old man started perceptibly at sight of the boy, and uttered an ejaculation of surprise, which ended in a cough.  He moved forward as if to meet him; then, apparently on second thought, he retreated to his post.  But he kept his eyes fixed on the lad, who was coming slowly nearer, and his thin face took on an expression of the deepest satisfaction.  He turned partly aside, however, as the boy approached him, and stood with averted countenance until the lad had passed through the gate.

Ralph was just in time.  He had no sooner got in and found a seat, with the other breaker boys, away up under the edge of the tent, than the grand procession made its entrance.  There were golden chariots, there were ladies in elegant riding habits and men in knightly costumes, there were prancing steeds and gorgeous banners, elephants, camels, monkeys, clowns, a moving mass of dazzling beauty and bright colors that almost made one dizzy to look upon it; and through it all the great band across the arena poured its stirring music in a way to make the pulses leap and the hands and feet keep time to its sounding rhythm.

Then came the athletes and the jugglers, the tight-rope walkers and the trapeze performers, the trained dogs and horses, the clowns and the monkeys, the riding and the races; all of it too wonderful, too mirthful, too complete to be adequately described.  At least, this was what the breaker boys thought.

After the performance was ended, they went out to the menagerie tent, in a body, to look at the animals.

One of the boys became separated from the others, and stood watching the antics of the monkeys, and laughing gleefully at each comical trick performed by the grave-faced little creatures.  Looking up, he saw an old man standing by him; an old man with sharp gray eyes and dusty clothes, who leaned heavily upon a cane.

“Curious things, these monkeys,” said the old man.

“Ain’t they, though!” replied the boy.  “Luk at that un, now!—­don’t he beat all? ain’t he funny?”

“Very!” responded the old man, gazing across the open space to where Ralph stood chattering with his companions.

“Sonny,” said he, “can you tell me who that boy is, over yonder, with his hand done up in a white cloth?”