"You're real good, you are," continued Toby; "an' I hope I shall
see you real often, for it seems to me now, when there hain't any
folks around, as if you was the only friend I've got in this great
big world. It's awful when a feller feels the way I do, an' when
he don't seem to want anything to eat. Now if you'll stick to me
I'll stick to you, an' then it won't be half so bad when we feel
this way."
During this speech Toby had still clung to the little brown paw,
which the monkey now withdrew, and continued to gaze into the boy's
face.
"The fellers all say I don't amount to anything," sobbed Toby,
"an' Uncle Dan'l says I don't, an' I s'pose they know; but I tell
you I feel just as bad, now that I'm goin' away from them all, as
if I was as good as any of them."
At this moment Toby saw Mr. Lord enter the tent, and he knew that
the summons to start was about to be given.
"Goodby," he said to the monkey, as he vainly tried to take him
by the hand again. "Remember what I've told you, an' don't forget
that Toby Tyler is feelin' worse tonight than if he was twice as
big an' twice as good."
Mr. Lord had come to summon him away, and he now told Toby that he
would show him with which man he was to ride that night.
Toby looked another goodby at the venerable monkey, who was watching
him closely, and then followed his employer out of the tent, among
the ropes and poles and general confusion attendant upon the removal
of a circus from one place to another.
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