The oath was administered and I saluted the antlers with my lips as fervently as I could under the circumstances. "Now remove the blindfold." The handkerchief was removed from my eyes and I saw--nothing. But I was an Elk. I have seen many candidates initiated into this Order since that time, but I have never seen any such proceeding as that here described, which leads me to infer that some friends, and among them Jughandle, put up a job on me and used me a little roughly, for the sake of the sport it afforded them. [Illustration: THE CIRCUS WORLD.] CHAPTER XXXVIII. THE CIRCUS IS HERE. A "disengaged canvasman" who was probably driven to poetry for lack of other work wrote the following spring verses which were published in the New York _Clipper_:-- In the spring the gorgeous banners float upon the circus tent, And the active agents' fancies on "advances" all are bent. In the spring the "bounding brothers" try some new and daring games, While the opposition "fakirs" call each other awful names. In the spring the "sideshow-blowers," with their never-failing tongues, Pump out paralyzing language from their copper-fastened lungs. In the spring the fair Circassian, with her every hair on end, Leaves again her native Brooklyn, on the road her steps to wend. In the spring ye "candy-butcher" shows confections old and tough, While the gentle lemonadist juggles with the same old stuff. In the spring ye merry jester learns conundrums bright and new (Dug up by the Christy Minstrels in the year of '52). In the spring--and in the ring--the riders whirl around in style, While the air is filled with romance (and rheumatics--I should smile)! In the spring--oh, well, I'll cheese it, for I haven't got a cent, And I think I hear the landlord, coming up to ask for rent!