The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1869-06-05


with his autograph 10 the corner, in red
ink! Why. the Mayors own invitations
are not more splendid"
Don t talk of the Mayer, woman, for
that makes me think of me mace" re-
Piled the husband with a shiyer 81
don't wish to see any show but one, and
that's the man that stole that mace, with
pair Of handouts on him, or, what
would be better still, a standing under
meath bit Of wood, with rope round
his neck, and parson by his side. But
there, it's no good wishing. Upon my
life, sometimes wonder if the devil
himself is not doing it to vex me-"
s'Lor, John, you make me creep ~
"Wcll, l can't make you fly, reckon"
replied Mr.. Scott, surlily; land yet that's
what this fellow can do, confound him !.
He's like bird Of the air-a bird of
prey"
"Well, John, do you know can't help
sometimes thiuking-only / would not
have mentioned it unless you habitat,
perhaps, after all, it is bird You
know magpie is thief by nature
"And so you suppose magpie could
have stolen the town mace, do you
Why, you are greater fool than the
| newspapers.
~ forgot the maze, John" observed
Mrs. Scott, humbly.
Il wish [ could forget it, growled the
Chief Constable. You had better put
On your bonnet and take my ticket round
the corner to Mrs. Jones, who will be
glad enough to 60 with you; only take
care Shaw don't keep you both, and put
you in a cage for pair of owls. There,
am sorry to be so rude, Mrs. Scott !;
but the fact is, feel as [ shall go out of
my mind unless | tackle this mystery !;
| and [ must be left alone to think it out. )"
So Mrs. Scott, obedient wife as she
was, attired herself in gorgeous apparel,
and accompanied by her friend and
neighbor, the parish doctors wife, hon.
| ored Mr.. Shaw's menagerie with her
presence. 1t was a sort of .fete which
that practical student of Natural History
| (Which included some knowledge of
mankind) had given to the inhabitants
| of the town, and everything was on a
very splendid scale. The show was lit
up by rows of chandeliers, made of cir
clets OF wood and candles, from the latter
| Of which, as they of necessity hucg very
low, the tallow dripped upon the heads
Of the company but that was not found
! out till the next morning.
The floor and cages had been thorough
ly swept and garnished and some attempt
had euen been made, by means of un-
guents and spices, to mitigate the odor
| that hangs about all establishments de-
voted to tue reception of wild beasts.
| But it must be confessed that this last
| refinement was failure-it was like the
| jar of altar, which, '.do what YOU will,
| the scent of the roses would cling to it
still )" only in this case the perfume was
the result of combination the hyena
and the muskrat, the royal Bengal tiger
| and the marmoset, each contributed their
soupcon. In place Of the usual Snowman,
Mr.. Shaw, himself, with an elegant white
wand, pointed out the various objects of
interest, explained their habits, and mar
rated anecdotes Of their extraordinary
sagacity. The monkey cages, as usual,
were the chief attraction; their innocent
| gambols, and the remarkable penchant
|
tails, were the admiration of the behold
er. Mrs. Scott, while regarding these
parodies upon mankind, with contem-
plative air, was very nearly-indeed. lit
orally within half an inch or so-paying
great penalty for her philosophic alb
straction. A ribbed-faced baboon of gi-
gantic size, looking not unlike one of
Mr.. Cooper's Indian heroes in his war
paint, made a snatch at her fingers,
which, loaded with rings, happened to be
ungloved, for she had just been taking
refreshments.
"Your charms even vanquish the brute
creation, Mrs. Scott" observed the clerk
gallantly "the enamored animal seeks
your hand"
eyes; but, like the rest of the male
sex, for what is in it, or on it," replied
Mrs. Jones, who had been an heiress in
small way, till her husband removed
from her that inyidious distinction by
spending all her money.
| The ribbed faced baboon screamed with
disappointment, and swung by his rope
headforemost, and with his eyes shut, for
the rest of the evening.
| It was one A. M. aud the Chief Con-
stables wife had been in bed since mid
night. but she had not yet fallen asleep.
She was awaiting the arrival of Mr.. Scott,
in hopes that he might have some good
news to tell her, or to comfort her with
his sympathy in case he hadn't. It was
beautiful night, and she had left the
window open, through which the soft
fresh air came gratefully enough after the
atmosphere of the menagerie. She would
be able to catch the majestic football of
her lord while it was yet a great way off,