Part 8 (1/2)

Mr. Barlow looked surprised.

”But you look like a boy of independent means,” he said, puzzled.

”I have always supposed that this was the case,” said Kit, ”but my uncle told me yesterday, to my surprise, that I was dependent upon him, and had no expectations.”

”You don't want to be a blacksmith?”

”No, sir; I consider any kind of work honorable, but that would not suit me.”

”You would succeed well in my business,” said the showman, ”but I am very careful how I recommend it to boys. It isn't a good school for them. They are exposed to many temptations in it. But if a boy has a strong will, and good principles, he may avoid all the evils connected with it.”

Kit had not thought of it before, but now the question suggested itself: ”Why should I not join the circus. I should like it better than being a blacksmith.”

”How much do you pay acrobats?” he asked.

”Are you an acrobat?” asked Mr. Barlow.

Kit told the story of his practicing with the Vincenti Brothers.

”Good!” said Mr. Barlow. ”If they indorse you, it is sufficient. If you decide to join my company, I will give you, to begin with, ten dollars a week and your expenses.”

”Thank you, sir,” said Kit, dazzled by the offer, ”Where will you be on Sat.u.r.day?”

”At Grafton on Sat.u.r.day, and Milltown on Monday.”

”If I decide to join you, I will do so at one or the other of those places.”

Here the railroad omnibus came up, and Mr. Barlow entered it, for he was to leave by the next train.

CHAPTER VII.

AARON BICKFORD, THE BLACKSMITH.

Kit returned to breakfast in good spirits. He saw a way out of his difficulties. Though he had no false pride, he felt that a blacksmith's life would be distasteful to him. He was fond of study, and had looked forward to a college course. Now this was out of the question. It seemed that he was as poor as his friend, Dan Clark, with his own way to make in the world. When he left school, at the beginning of the vacation, he supposed that he would inherit a competence. It was certainly a great change in his prospects, but now he did not feel dispirited. He thought, upon the whole, he would enjoy traveling with the circus. His duties would be light, and the pay liberal.

Before he returned to breakfast, Ralph had come down-stairs, and had a few words with his father.

”I think you are going to have trouble with Kit, father,” he commenced.

”What makes you think so, and what about?” asked Mr. Watson.

”I told him last evening about your plan of apprenticing him to Mr.

Bickford.”

”You did wrong. I did not propose to mention the matter to him till Mr.

Bickford's arrival. What did he say?”

”He turned up his nose at the idea. He thinks he ought to become a merchant or a professional man like me. He is too proud to be a blacksmith.”