Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 July 1877 — Buttercup’s Circus. [ARTICLE]

Buttercup’s Circus.

Fred and Bertie, two little black-eyed boys, were visiting their Aunt Susan in a beautiful country village. The large, old-fashioned house, under a giant elmtree, was full of wonders to them; but their greatest delights were in driving the old gray horse, or"*feeding and petting anAlderney calf which their Uncle Harry was raising. This “ baby-cow,” as little Bertie called her, was Kept away from its mother, old Clover, moat of the day, and tied to a cherry-tree in the side yard. The boys named her Buttercup. Tnqy.were allowed to feed her with meal and water; and she soon grew so tame, that they could pat and caress her as much as they pleased. One day Fred found an old saddle in the stable; and he proposed to Bertie to help him put it on the calf, and have a ride the length of her rope. They succeeded in fastening it upon Buttercup’s smooth back; and Freddie exclaimed with delight, “ Now we will have a first-class circus!” They brought a chair from the bouse, and placed it by the side of Miss Cow, she looking wonderingly at them with great round eyes. The Doys both stood together in the chair, and Fred said, “ Now I will count, ana, when I say four, we must spring upon the saddle. One—two—three —four;” and on they went. But, before they could have said “ five,” Miss Buttercup’s heels were in the air, and her head went down so quickly, that Master Fred felt a sudden chill, and fouud himself in a tub of rain-water that stood under the eaves of the wood-shed; while Bertie went headforemost into a pan of meal and water. A siightnoise followed their fall. Their ancle and aunt appeared. The saddle was sent back to the stable, and the boys did not engage Buttercup for anymore circus performances that summer. — Nursery.