The Boxcar Children Beginning: The Aldens of Fair Meadow Farm Read Online Free PDF Page A

His yarn wig tilted and covered his face.
    The audience laughed and applauded.
    Jessie and Jake ran around after each other, then collided in the middle, falling down, their feet in the air.
    The audience laughed again.
    Jessie and Jake-O bowed and fell over again.
    More laughter.
    Jessie and Jake blew kisses to everyone and left.
    “I don’t believe this,” said Sarah with a smile.
    “Ladies and gentlemen,” said Henry, snapping his whip, “the amazing, the spectacular Princess Meg riding bareback on her worthy steed!”
    “What steed?” asked Sarah.
    Out came Betty, colorful paper flowers around her neck. Meg, dressed in filmy fabric, a gold paper crown on her head, waved at the audience, and the audience waved back at her. “Yay, Betty!” called Rubin, who had always loved Betty.
    Betty plodded slowly around the lawn, her wet, black eyes bright in the sunlight. All of a sudden, Meg got to her knees on Betty’s back. And then Meg stood up, her dress’s filmy fabric flying out behind her as Betty began to run, then gallop.
    Meg held on to the rope with one hand and waved with the other.
    The audience howled and clapped.

    Meg jumped down from Betty and bowed. The paper flowers fell from Betty’s neck and she began to eat them.
    The audience laughed as Betty looked at them, flowers hanging out of her mouth.
    “And now for …” said Jessie from behind the curtain.
    “I know. I know. And now for a great treat!” said Henry. “The young trainer with Joseph!”
    “Who’s Joseph?” asked Mama.
    But before anyone could answer, out came Benny, pulling his wagon with Jake’s toolbox on top.
    “Hi, Mama!” he called, waving.
    The audience clapped.
    Benny stopped.
    “Bow!” called Jessie.
    Benny grinned and bowed.
    And then he opened the box, and out jumped Joe!
    “Joseph,” said Papa laughing.
    Joe ran around the box and yard. And then Benny picked up a stick and held it out straight.
    “Jump!” said Benny.
    Joe jumped over the stick.
    Cheering and applause.
    “I never knew Joe could do that,” said Sarah.
    Benny picked up a circle hoop.
    “Hush everyone,” said Henry. “This is very difficult and needs complete silence!”
    “Or a snack,” said Papa.
    Everyone grew quiet.
    Benny held up the circle.
    “Now, Joe!” said Benny.
    Joe sat.
    “Now, Joe!” repeated Benny.
    Joe looked.
    Henry put his hand in his pocket and took out some dog snacks. He handed them to Benny.
    Benny held them up, and Joe happily jumped through the hoop, then when Benny turned, jumped again, and then again.
    He sat.
    Benny gave him a snack.
    Then Joe jumped through the last hoop and up onto the box.
    Benny bowed.
    Everyone clapped and whistled.
    And Benny rolled Joe out of the yard and behind the curtain.
    “And now,” said Henry, snapping his whip, “for our final act.” He looked quickly behind the curtain.
    “Wait just a minute,” he added, “while we get the elephant and the small surprise ready!”
    The audience was suddenly quiet.
    “Ready?” asked Henry.
    “Ready,” came a voice from behind the curtain.
    “The master elephant trainer with a surprise!” Henry announced proudly.
    The curtain opened and in came the elephant, led by William. The elephant was Boots, with a gray blanket and a stuffed elephant trunk.
    “My socks!” said Papa. “I wondered where they were!”
    “Elephant!” cried one of Rubin’s grandchildren.
    “That’s Boots,” cried another child.
    “Elephant!” called the audience.
    And then the elephant was followed by a tiny gray-blanketed creature. It was the small surprise.
    “A baby elephant!” cried a child.
    It was Joe with a stuffed-sock trunk. He walked behind Boots, his trunk bouncing in front of him, while everyone clapped.

    And then it was over. They all came out to take their bows: Jake-O and Jess, the clowns, Princess Meg with Betty, Benny with Joe in his wagon, and William, the elephant trainer. The group called for Violet, who came running to join them.
    They