The sorriest I ever feel
fer Doc is when some show
Er circus comes to town and he'll
not git a chance to go.
'Cause he jes natchurly delights
in circuses—clean down
From tumblers, in their spangled tights,
to trick-mule and Old Clown.
LXXX
And ever'body knows it, too,
how Doc is, thataway!...
I mind a circus onc't come through—
wuz there myse'f that day.—
Ringmaster cracked his whip, you know,
to start the ridin'—when
In runs Old Clown and hollers "Whoa!—
Ladies and gentlemen
LXXXI
"Of this vast audience, I fain
would make inquiry cle'r,
And learn, find out, and ascertain—
Is Doctor Sifers here?"
And when some fool-voice bellers down:
"He is! He's settin' in
Full view o' ye!" "Then," says the Clown,
"the circus may begin!"
LXXXII
Doc's got a temper; but, he says,
he's learnt it which is boss,
Yit has to watch it, more er less....
I never seen him cross
But onc't, enough to make him swear;—
milch-cow stepped on his toe,
And Doc ripped out "I doggies!"—There's
the only case I know.
LXXXIII
Doc says that's what your temper's fer—
to hold back out o' view,
And learn it never to occur
on out ahead o' you.—
"You lead the way," says Sifers—"git
your temper back in line—
And furdest back the best, ef it's
as mean a one as mine!"