 Adventure Ahead Adventure Ahead presents Toby Tyler, or Ten Weeks With A Circus. The circus classic by James Odin, a yarn which will bring nostalgia to most of us older folks, and we hope pleasure to those younger friends who are meeting Toby for the first time. It's circus day in the American city of Springfield, and a small and perspiring boy carries a heavy pail of water in each hand. As he struggles manfully under the double load, an old man comes out of a nearby tender pail. And pretty hot work, eh, boy? Gee, I'll say, mister, they're mellifant sure are thirsty. I don't know how many pails of water they've drunk. And you better put those pails down rest, or else the sun wouldn't want you to get sunstroke. Yeah, I guess I will for a while. You with the circus, mister? Yeah, been with it a long time, sonny. Gee, must be pretty exciting all right. I sure like to be a circus man. Oh, you would, would you? What's your name, son? Tommy Davis. Tommy Davis, huh? Well, you know Tommy, you remind me of a boy I used to be acquainted with once. He had red hair just like yours, and his face was speckled with freckles just like yours, too. You know what he did? No, what? Yeah, he kind of felt the way you did. So he ran away with the circus. Gee, he did? Yeah, name was Toby Tyler. Oh, it's quite a story. Do you like to hear about it, Tommy? I sure would, mister. Well, all right, son. I guess we can let those elephants wait a while while we sit down on this plank and kind of take it easy. Yeah. Well, now about this young fellow Toby Tyler. He came from a little country town called Guilford, much smaller than Springfield it was. The circus was a big thing back then. There wasn't a boy around who didn't hanker to be a circus man. Anyway, the circus came to Toby Tyler's town, Guilford. And sure enough, down went Toby to the circus grounds. And the first place he headed for was a refreshment stand where one of the circus men was selling peanuts, candy, and lemonade. Yes, peanuts, candy, and lemonade right here. Get it where in the mouth. Ice cold lemonade. Fresh roasted peanuts right here. What's it be, young fellow? How much are your peanuts, mister? A nickel a bag. Well, he got a nickel. Only a cent. How many peanuts in a cent for it? I said I'm six for a cent. Oh, couldn't you give me more in that? Nope. Six for a cent. It was and six it is. Well, all right then. What's your name, boy? Toby Tyler. Well, you're quite a little shaver to be here all alone. Where's your father and mother? I don't know. Uncle Daniel says I'm an orphan. Uncle Daniel? Yep. He ain't my real uncle, though. I just live with him. Oh, so you're an orphan, huh? Yep. The same mister. Here's a bad peanut. Gonna give me another? Oh, yeah. I guess I'd better. Say, the way you're eating those peanuts seems to me you haven't had any vitals for a week. Oh, yes, sir. I just had dinner when I am an orphan leader. I just can't seem to help it. Somehow, I'm hungry all the time. Say, mister, I don't suppose you'd like to sell me some candy and lemonade, and let me tell you when I get older, would you? No, I don't do business that way. Well, I didn't suppose you would. Say, young fella, about your uncle Daniel, do you work for him? Yep, and I work hard, too. When Uncle Daniel says I eat four times as much as I earn. Well, then maybe you'd like to work somewhere else, huh? Well, I might. I see. Would you like to work for Joe Blore, boy? Who's Joe Blore? Well, that's me. You mean, travel with the circus? Yeah, that's the idea. This is your chance to be a circus man, young fella. You can help me sell peanuts and candy and lemonade. Gosh, me? A circus man? Well, boy, how about it? Is it a bargain? Oh, you bet, Mr. Lord. I should say so. All right, then. You'll be here at ten o'clock tonight. And mind you, not a word to your uncle Daniel. You see, he might not understand and stop you from coming. I mean, you can imagine how excited Toby was. This was his big chance, all right. He ran for home almost as fast as his legs could carry him. But as night came, he began to feel pretty scared, too. You see, son, Toby hadn't lived anywhere else but Guilford all his life. And this was a pretty important decision for him to make. His uncle Daniel noticed at the dinner table that something was wrong. Well, Toby, what is it? You haven't eaten a thing? Oh, there ain't nothing the matter, Uncle Daniel. Nonsense, boy. Nonsense. Are you sick? No, sir. I ain't sick. The first time I ever see you leave anything on your plate. Anyhow, you'd better go upstairs to bed. Nothing like a good night's sleep to set you straight again. I'm going into the parlor and read the script. Well, son, it got pretty close to 10 o'clock, and over at the circus grounds, Joe, Lord waited, and wondered if Toby had managed to get away from his uncle Daniel's farm, or whether the boy's nerve had failed him at the last moment. As Lord watched the wagon leading to Guilford, an old circus wagon driver who everybody called old Ben joined him. I hear you hired a new boy, Job. That's right. Been waiting for him now. You don't seem to have much luck with the boys you hired, do you, Job? What do you mean? Well, I don't seem to keep them very long. They all run away sooner, lady. And good riddance. They were spoiled brats every dang one of them. Well, maybe they run away because you don't treat them right, Job. Maybe you'd try and mind in your own business, Ben. Well, it seems to me, if he's up on this new boy, why, he might be able to keep him alive. Now, look, Ben, I don't need any advice from an old broken-down teamster like you. I'll handle this boy the way I see fit. Well, in that case, I hope the boy don't show up. Well, go ahead and hope, Ben. Won't do you much good because here he comes now. On those days, Tommy, the circuses weren't very big, and they didn't travel on trains and trailer trucks like they do now. Everything was loaded on big, high wagons. And in this way, the circus moved from town to town. Well, as I said, old Ben was one of the drivers. He arranged to have Toby ride with him through the night. The two struck up a friendship right away, and the veteran teamster gave the young fellow some good words of advice. Yeah, Betsy. Come on, man, lift them hooves. Well, Toby, I reckon you're pretty excited about being with the circus, aren't you? Yes, sir, I sure am. Well, I ain't never met the boy who wouldn't be him. But now, Toby, listen to me and listen sharp. The circus ain't no place for a little fellow like you. But now that you're here, well, you got to make the best of it. You just keep your red head on your shoulders and your wits about you. You shouldn't have no trouble. It was a pretty long ride before they reached the next town, and Toby managed to fall asleep in spite of the rough motion of the wagon. When he awoke, it was broad daylight. He saw that the wagons had stopped in the middle of a broad, grassy field. The whole place was buzzing and humming like a high-powered beehive. And he saw men putting up tents and pounding stakes and leading out the animals. Well, when Toby saw this, he scrambled from the wagon and walked over to a brook at the edge of the field. He was just leaning over and washing his face when he... Good morning, Mr. Lord. Good morning, your little brat. Where have you been all this time? Well, sir, I just woke up and walked over here. I thought I'd wash and tidy up a full breakfast. Wash up? I'll soon break you with that, you little scamp. Do you think I hired you to take up my time washing? But, Mr. Lord, it ain't right to eat breakfast without washing. It ain't proper. Oh, so I picked up a preacher. Have I now listened to me, my banter? I do all the preaching around here as well as the practicing. And I've got a nice, quick way of making you understand. Come here, boy. Mr. Lord, what are you going to do? Well, when nothing told me nothing at all, I just lost my temper for a minute. You're my little friend, boy. I wouldn't hurt you. Come closer. That's it. Ah, this will lawn your respect, I want it. Ow! Oh, please, Mr. Lord. Don't hit me with that cane again. I'll lamb base some manners into you. My back! Oh, my back! Hey, old Joe, Lord. What's that? What's going on here? Here, give me that cane. Why, you give me that cane, I say. Why? Mr. Boy, is that your job? I'll bust up this cane here so you'll never use it again. Now, look here, then. I told you to keep your nose out of my business. This boy works for me, and I'll do as I please. If I ever hear you flogging this lad again, you'll get a thrashing from me you'll never forget. You understand? Toby, boy, I'll see you later. We've got some human folks around here. I'd like to have you meet. Toby, meet Bosco the Clown. Bosco, this is Joe Lord's new boy. Hello, boy. Gosh, hello, Mr. Bosco. You don't look well, boy. Undernourished, if you ask me. Well, I ain't never had enough to eat, but I feel all right, Mr. Bosco. It's them who feel all right to go sudden. Here today, gone tomorrow. Take care of yourself, boy. You'll never come back. Gosh, Ben, is Bosco really a clown? One of the best in the big show. Well, why is he so sad? Oh, he's repressed, Bosco is. You see, Toby, he always wanted to be an undertaker. Oh. Oh, and Toby, meet Sam Treat, the living skeleton. Hello, son. Gosh, Mr. Treat, you sure are skinny. I'm the skinniest man in the world. Yes, sir, I'm the skinniest bank of bones there is. Say yes, you're Joe Lord's boy, aren't you? Yes, sir. I've heard what the old tyrant's trying to do to you this morning. Lucky you happened along, Ben. Yeah, like I told the boy, if Job tries it again, he'll answer to me. I guess Lily's looking for you, Sam. Here I am, my dove. Is all that your wife, Mr. Treat? She sure is. She weighs over 400 pounds and still gaining. She's what they call the fat woman, Toby. Yep, with me is the living skeleton, and her is the fat woman. We make a pretty good thing of it with the big show. Samuel Treat, where's your head? Look at your death and the mnemonious cannon out in the cold like this. Oh, hello, little boy. I didn't see you. Lily, darling, this is Toby Tyler, Joe Lord's new boy. Why, what a little chap you are. Isn't he small, Samuel? Yes, and small as he is, Joe Lord laid a cane across his back this morning. Oh, that Lord man is a precious one he is. I'll give him a good shake in one of these days. Morse me. Well, Tommy, old Ben introduced Toby to many other circus performers, and they all became Toby's fast friends. But the best friend of all, the closest in Toby's confidence was an old monkey. The old fellow, as soon as he saw Toby there with his nose pressed against the bars, jumped down from the ring on which he was swinging and reached out a hairy hand through the cage. Wow, hello there. So you want to shake hands and be friends? Well, I do too, and here's my hand on it. You know what? I like you, and I'm going to call you Mr. Stubbs. Yes, sir? You know why? Well, because you look so much like a fellow named Stubbs I knew back in Guilford. Yep, Mr. Stubbs, you're the limit image of him. Although he don't have quite as many whiskers as you do. You know, Mr. Stubbs, it's mighty funny. You're a monkey and I'm a boy. But you seem to know what I'm saying, and I know what you're thinking. Hey, you! Boys! Well, Mr. Lazy Bones, what entire nation are you doing out here? Get away from that monkey cage and get into that main tent quick. Be sharp about it now. There's a good crowd in there, and you'd better let them know you're selling lemonade. You understand? You know what, Mr. Stubbs? I'm going to run away from this circus the first chance I get. Now remember, Mr. Stubbs, this is a secret. Nobody knows but you. Some of the folks give me extra money when I sell them lemonade. And I'm going to save and save. And when I save enough, I'm going to run away and take you with me. At that very moment, other plans were being made for him. The circus riding master, and face fellow by the name of Castle, dropped in to see Toby's employer. Hey, Joe, but I've got a proposition for you. About that boy of yours, Toby Tyler. Well, what about him, Castle? I'd like to train him to be a bareback rider. A boy as little as him riding on a big horse and be a sure-fire crowd pleaser. Maybe, but he's doing pretty well where he is. He always looks hungry and sad, and the customers buy. I'll be a fool, Joe. You'll make ten times more out of him if you ride in the center ring. He'll draw big salaries a performer. Well, that sounds fine, but what's in it for me? You own him? I'll train him. We can split his earnings 50-50, what do you say? All right, Castle, it's a deal. You can start to train him tomorrow. I don't know whether you know it or not, Tommy, but riding bareback is one of the hardest things there is. For days, Toby dangled in the leather belt trying to keep his balance and his courage as his feet slipped about on the horse's back. And Mr. Castle, by the way, was almost as hard a taskmaster as Joe Bluord was an employer. Now, boys, stand up on the saddle pad and try to keep your balance. If you fall and the horse gets out from under you, the leather belt will hold you up. Yes, sir, Mr. Castle. I'll try. Keep your wits about you now. Stand up on the horse. Yes, sir. All right. Now, here we go. Stand up, boys. Stand up. Bet you don't look at the ground. Look ahead. Faster, Sultan. Faster. Stay on your feet, boys. That's not it. Whoa, Sultan. Whoa. You clumsy little fool. Can't you learn to stand on that horse? Oh, it's no use. You'll never learn. Get to bed now. But, Mr. Castle, I ain't had any supper. Oh, you ain't had any supper. Well, my bad, and you won't get any either. Maybe you'll learn how to ride tomorrow on an empty stomach. Toby didn't know that a little golden-haired girl had watched the whole performance. Old Bennett introduced them when Toby had first come to the circus. She was a performer, a bareback rider, who used the professional name of Mademoiselle Jeanette, but whose real name was Ella. When Toby left the riding circle after Mr. Castle had dressed him down, she bothered him. Don't cry, Toby. I saw your ride just now, and I think you'll be a fine performer someday. No, I won't. I'm scared to ride. Well, you're not scared of the horse. You're scared of Mr. Castle. Tell you what, Toby. What? I'm going to ask Mr. Castle if he'll let us ride together. I can help you a lot. And he won't be very alone before we can do an act all by ourselves. And then we'll want the people to ride together. Oh, gosh. Do you really think we can ride together, Ella? Why, of course I do, Toby. Whatever this fellow Castle was, Tommy, he was a showman, and he was quick to see the money-making possibilities of this new team. He put Toby and Ella through their paces hour after hour, day after day. Stay close, you two. I straight ahead. Feet flat on the salad pad. Fast as softens. You're ready now. You're opening your act tomorrow night. Gosh, Ella, I'm scared. You needn't be, Toby. I'll be with you every minute. Now, you just hold my hand tight. Hold till we ride out to the ring. All right, Ella. I guess I ain't scared anymore. I was there, and I can tell you Toby and Ella were a sensation. In fact, the owner of the circus was so pleased that he gave Toby Mr. Stubbs the Monkey as a reward. Toby was now a successful performer, yet never for one minute kept him from planning to run away and take Mr. Stubbs with him. Finally, he told his secret, the secret that only Mr. Stubbs and he knew to Ella. I'm going to run away from the circus, and Mr. Lloyd and Mr. Cassellella run away. Yep, I'm going home. Don't go down. What's the matter, Ella? If you run away, I'll never see you again. Oh, yes, you will, Ella. Honest. You know what? I'm just a runaway boy now, but Sunday I'll be grown up into a man. Then I'll come back with my pockets full of gold dollars and buy a whole circus just for you and me. Who are you, Toby? Honest. Cross your heart and hope to die. Cross my heart and hope to die. Toby, Toby, I'll miss you. I'll miss you just also. It's dark, and I don't think there's anyone following us. Mr. Stubbs, we've got to be careful not to make any noise and wake anyone up. Once we get away from the circus grounds and down the road, you can talk all you want. Yes, sure, Mr. Stubbs. We're going home to Gilbert and the farm. Won't you have a good time when we get there? You can run all over the barn and up the trees and... Toby, stop! Come on, we'd better run or we'll get caught. Toby! He's gaining on us, Mr. Stubbs. If it's Mr. Lord or Mr. Castle, we'll get whipped. Toby, you don't have to be afraid. Go ahead, Ben. Oh, Ben. Oh, gosh, he scared me. I thought maybe it was Mr. Lord. I got the note you left on my bed, Toby. But I wanted to see it before you left. Oh, gosh, Ben. I left the notes because I wouldn't wake you. I know, I know. Now listen to me, Toby. Go into the woods for a day or two before you take the train back to Gilbert. You're too big a prize for Joe Lord or Castle to lose. And they're going to do their level best to catch you. Do you do that, son? Yes, sir, Ben. I will. Well, goodbye, my boy. And if ever the time comes and you want to remember that, well, that you had a friend. You think of old Ben, whose heart this beats as warm for you as if he was your father. Goodbye, my boy. Goodbye, and may the good Lord bless you. Goodbye, Ben. Goodbye. Wait, but these here trees are so thick and there's no moon. Mr. Stubbs, listen. Dear apples, Mr. Stubbs, Mr. Lord and Mr. Castle, they've got dogs and they're following us. Come on, Mr. Stubbs. We better run deeper in these woods. We've got to get away. They're closing in on Mr. Stubbs. I'm so tired. I just can't run anymore. Maybe, maybe we better climb up these trees and hide. Maybe they'll go past us. Looks like we've finally treed the little farmer. Yeah, there he is, Lord. Up there. Holding a monk. Come down out of that tree, boy. Come down and be quick about it. There goes the monk. Good shot, Joe. You got him proper. You kill him. You kill him, Mr. Stubbs. Now then, my cock of the walk, we'll deal with you. Come down out of that tree. Sit, my boy. Come on down. You let us a pretty face, but we're willing to forget me and your soul, baby. Yes, I did. What do you mean running out on us after all? We've done for you. Seems to me the boy needs a little lesson, Joe. Yes, Castle. That's just what I'm thinking. Yeah. I'll hold him. You let him have it with your keen. Go ahead and square him, boy. It ain't going to do you no good. You need a thrashing and you're going to get it. Right out on us, will you? No, sir. Castle, somebody's coming. Stop beating that boy, you clown. What do you think it is? I don't know. I'm going to give you some of the fashion you'll never forget for whipping that boy. Oh, now you're down, Joe. Don't lose your head, you fool. Look, it's old Ben. Joe blored your crazy fool. You killed him. No, no. I didn't mean to do it, Castle. I didn't mean to do it. The gun went off. Shut up, you lunatic. We haven't got time for that now. We got to get out of here quick. Come on. Well, Tommy, they found Toby in the morning crying his heart out over Mr. Stubbs and the old Ben. Then they took Toby back to the circus grounds and the circus folk got together a collection, put Toby on the train for Gilford. And so it was after ten weeks with the circus that Toby Tyler entered Uncle Dannell's familiar power again. The old man was sitting by the window. His face was sad. Uncle Dannell. Uncle Dannell. Wait, wait. It's Toby. Toby, you've come home. Oh, bless my heart, boy. You've come home. Please, Uncle Dannell, forgive me for being wicked and running away with the circus. Please let me stay here again, Uncle Dannell. Oh, my dear boy. My little lad. You've made me a happy old man. Why, of course. Of course you can stay here. I didn't know how much I loved you until you went away. And I know now why you did run off. Uncle Dannell. Oh, now, Toby lad. Toby, I want you to stay here. And Toby, I'm glad you came home. Well, Tommy, I guess that's about all, that they finally tracked down Job, Lord, and Castle. Those two gentlemen got what they deserved. Well, that's the story of Toby Tyler, just as it happened. As I said, you reminded me a lot of him. That's why I told you the story, I guess. He'll feel like being a circus man. Gosh, I ain't so sure now. Maybe I'd better wait a little while. Yes, I guess maybe you had. Well, Tommy, we'd better get back to hauling water. Those elephants are beginning to look thirsty again. Oh, uh, there's a couple of pastures for the big tents for your trouble. Gee, two pastures. Reserve seats, too. Can you show you can spare them, mister? Oh, I guess I can. You see, son, I own the circus. Toby, Toby Tyler. All right, Ella dear. I'm coming. Toby Tyler, or Ten Weeks with a Circus, the children's classic by James Otis was adapted for Adventure Ahead by Max Erlich. Special music was written and conducted by Henri Nosko, and the production was under the direction of Joseph Mansfield. NBC and its independent affiliate stations present Adventure Ahead as a public service.