[Frank Goss's cousin Bill, with whom he went to the circus, was informally adopted by Frank’s parents around 1905, after being orphaned. The boys were about the same age]. 

Arriving at the field, our threepences clutched tightly in our hands, we presented ourselves at the entrance barrier. The man taking the tickets, looked at us quizzically than [sic]laughed gently,  “Sorry sonny, it’s only half price for the afternoon performances.” Outside, with the flickering lights of the tent’s entrance beckoning us to the [fairy?] land of gaiety and pleasure within and the music of the mechanical organ throbbing out waves of exhilaration, we took stock of our sorrowful situation.