A Tale of Two 'Tweens

Two boys in their 'tweens Around the time of 1915 Had jobs and chores at home Couldn't just run and roam One Saturday when in town Saw an ad the circus Was coming around Saved their pennies Did some work Couldn't wait to see What was possible quirks Thrilled with excitement When the time came around Wanted to go all day to town Around lunch dad said could go They ran to all the way to show Longingly waited in the line Wondering what on the inside They would finally find Inside the huge tent Found seats prefectly fixed Comfortable in there place Never knew would have to race Outside in a heated pace To be saved from terrible harm The show had started excitement Built, someone in the bleachers Some liquor spilled Another person who just as careless Threw down a match that was what set it Someone yelled fire as the tent went Up in flames and the 'tweens Went jumping, running Saving their skin Looking back over their Shoulder as they ran Both hit the brick wall Of the local dry good store Knocked flat out pulled Away from the fire By some passerby Lived to tell about it On another day I was glad they were alive that I say (This is based on a true story that my father told me of this happening to him and his brother in Concord around 1912 up to 1915. They were both just before being a teen ager or very early teens.)