The Circus Comes to Town by Lebbeus Mitchell
page 21 of 163 (12%)
page 21 of 163 (12%)
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their disappointment.
So Mother 'Larkey had not yet been able to make both ends meet--those troublesome, refractory ends that made her life a continual round of hard work--and there were no fifty-cent pieces for the children to buy tickets with to see the elephant jump the fence. Jerry hugged himself just to feel the half-dollar in his blouse pocket and a glow of exultation ran over his body at the thought that he was going to get to see the circus. Mrs. Mullarkey, looking tired and worn, was ripping apart the dress for Mrs. Green that she had just finished at noon. Baby Kathleen sat at her feet, playing with the old rag doll that had once been Nora's and was now claimed by Celia Jane. Jerry entered the room slowly and took a seat on the chair without a back. He said nothing at all and finally Mother 'Larkey looked up at him. "Why don't you ask for fifty cents, too?" she inquired. "Don't you want to see the circus?" "Yes'm," replied Jerry, "but I ain't got no mother." "What difference does that make?" she asked, in a voice sharper than she was accustomed to use in speaking to Jerry. "Haven't I done everything a mother could--" "Yes'm," Jerry interrupted hastily, for he didn't want her to think he thought _that_. "But it said to ask your _mother_ for fifty cents and I |
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