Bob and Pennyloaf bent their steps to
the fair. Here already was gathered much goodly company; above their
heads hung a thick white wavering cloud of dust. Swing-boats and
merry-go-rounds are from of old the chief features of these rural
festivities; they soared and dipped and circled to the joyous music
of organs which played the same tune automatically for any number of
hours, whilst raucous voices invited all and sundry to take their
turn. Should this delight pall, behold on every hand such sports as
are dearest to the Briton, those which call for strength of sinew
and exactitude of aim. The philosophic mind would have noted with
interest how ingeniously these games were made to appeal to the
patriotism of the throng. Did you choose to 'shy' sticks in the
contest for cocoa-nuts, behold your object was a wooden model of the
treacherous Afghan or the base African. If you took up the mallet to
smite upon a spring and make proof of how far you could send a ball
flying upwards, your blow descended upon the head of some other
recent foeman. Try your fist at the indicator of muscularity, and
with zeal you smote full in the stomach of a guy made to represent a
Russian.
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