Page:Dapples of the Circus (1943).pdf/84

 strange rube who sat in the wagon was dressed in blue denim overalls, and wore a jumper. His hat was a battered palmleaf, and a wisp of his red hair stuck through the crown. He continually guided his ramshackle rig from one side of the street to the other, while the men in the parade shouted at him and threatened him with their whips.

"Look at the rube! Look at Uncle Jerry from Punkin Holler! Ain't he a scream!" cried Freckles. "See him, fellers. Did you ever see such a rube before?"

"Ah, pshaw, Freckles, you are green. Don't you know he's a part of the parade? I saw them unload his old rig this morning, but I did not remember what my uncle told me then.

"They always carry a rube along to get all mixed up with the parade and make fun. He's one of the clowns."

"You mean to say that he belongs to the parade?" asked Beany incredulously.