CHAPTER VII -The circus boys on the flying Rings

Chapter VII of “The Circus Boys on the Flying Rings” captures the adventures of Phil, a young boy whose acts of bravery and kindness towards the circus animals earn him recognition and friendly exchanges. After a valorous act of saving a show woman, Phil races home to change his tattered clothes, hopeful to catch the circus show on time. Supported by Mrs. Cahill, who is proud of his heroic deed, he quickly gets ready and rushes to the circus, his excitement barely contained.

Upon arrival, Phil finds himself an unexpected celebrity among the circus crowd, earning admiring glances and whispers. Despite the unwanted attention, Mr. Sparling’s assistant sneaks him in before the show starts, allowing him a quiet moment in the menagerie tent. Here, Phil’s natural affinity for animals shines through as he befriends Emperor and Jupiter, two of the circus elephants, by feeding them sugar and peanuts. This act of kindness leads to an engaging conversation with the elephant keeper, who educates Phil on the nuances of animal behavior, especially that of elephants and the “cats” – lions and tigers which are part of the circus’s menagerie.

The keeper shares insights on the elephants’ memory and how to discern an elephant’s mood through physical signs, while also providing a candid view on the unpredictable nature of lions and tigers. Phil, intrigued by the animals and the life of the circus, finds himself drawn into the world of animal training, watching in fascination as the animal trainer puts Wallace, the lion, through his paces. This experience stirs a newfound aspiration in him to perhaps one day become an animal trainer himself, albeit with smaller and less dangerous animals to begin with.

The chapter closes with Phil, feeling a sense of belonging and a newfound curiosity about the circus, deciding to find his seat as the crowd moves into the circus tent for the show. His day at the circus becomes not just an adventure but a learning journey, opening his eyes to the possibility of a life among the performers and animals he’s grown to admire.