Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1872-02-22
Our Southern Guest.

Chummy and were at home. Chum-
my was stretched upon the lounge un-
der the gaSlight, and I was snoozing
with my feet against the steam pipes
when the express-man came in with
the box.
What funny-looking little box it
was, all bound about with strong Irvine
and punched full of little holes! How
we wondered what it contained! In q
moment the string was cut and the box
opened.
Chummy drew back with a shudder.
and too was somewhat alarmed, for
there upon onr table was as .ju,v-ly q
brute as we had ever seen, it was a
little alligator, eight inches long, agile
as a cricket, and tough as pine knot
sent all the way from lake in North
Carolina to Jersey by express. How
soon we became acquainted! He had
not been with us for more than twenty
four hours before the baser propensi.
ties of his nature began to appear, and
upon further development we became
convinced that he must be distantly
related to the monkey tribe.
We hastily constructed little aquar-
ium, and placed it against the steam
pipes upon the top of piano-stool,
with the expectation that Allie would
amuse himself and us by rolling around
in the mud and the water, or by sun
ming himself upon float. And, in.
deed, he mould do so as long as we
were looking at him; but the very
moment our backs were turned, Allies
nose would rise above the side of the
aquarium, two brilliant little eyes
would peep cautiously around, out
would come first one paw and then an.
other, until at last he would perch him.
self entirely one of water, upon the side
OF his habitation, his tail vibrating in
mid air, causing him to appear about
as ridiculous as one of Mr.. Hawkins
Indian elephants. All at once he would
tall to the floor like lump of dough,
invariably landing upon his nose, and.
after shaking himself into proper
shape, would put his head along side
OF the nam steam-pipe, and speculate
upon the nature Of the many queer
things he saw about him,
he insisted upon doing Just as he
pleased, and seemed determined to ar.
quaint himself with everything. about
our apartments Immediately upon his
advent. There was not corner in our
rooms with which he was not familiar.
nor single old shoe in which he had
not slept. Generally he was under our
feet, under our rockers, or in our hats.
though sometimes he would be MISSING
for day or two, when eventually he
would be found snugly curled up in
some cast-off slipper, or else in the bot
tom OF the waste paper basket.
He was shrewd, too, awful shrewd ::
anu 1t was impossible to get the best of
him. You could pick him up, hold
him in the palm of your hand, and he
would lie there as motionless Us q
Dutch doughnut, but all the while he
would be devising some means to Get
your forefinger in his mouth. He was
IN some respects highly sensitive, too,
You could tread on him, rock on him.
or throw him up against the wall, and
he would show the greatest patience
and the most commendaDle resigna-
ton but the very instant you attempt-
ed to grasp him by the front paw he
would lash his tail and fight desperately
for his independence.
We will never forget how astonished
he was upon our lighting q parlor
match. AS we entered our room ono
night, Allie was seen over in the cor
her, i'll array of moonlight Which stream
ed over the floor. At the crack of tie
match and the glare of the light, Allie
WAS astounded, and, rising himself up
on his front paws, regarded us with a
look OF wonder. Az we touched the
gas, and as the room became suddenly
aglow he raised himself "upon all
tours. and extended his jaws, as if to
say. BY Jove old boy, you have the
shortest nights up here that I ever ex-
pcrienced. His love for light amount
cd to Il passion, for where the sunshine
fell brightest, where the gaslisht
strcancd richest, was his place.
Allie was never satisfied with simply
"oticiny things; his happiness was
only complete when he had examined
everything to the most minute detail.
He was lot content with going ground
- thing; he must go over it, under it,
in it if possible. At, times when fe was
exceedingly troublesome for us to keep
him from under our rockers, we would
throw him IL book, and he was always
sure to keep quiet. The amount Of
pleasure which he derived from this
plaything was astonishing. Give Allie
- book, and Allie would regard you as q
l'hi'anthropist. He would first up
proach it cautiously, as though it were
something dangerous. Then, as he be-
came better acquainted, he would
catch hold of it and try to pull it over
to hts favorite corner near the steam
pipes; finding this always Impossible,
he would crawl slowly up on one side
ami roll lazily oifon the other. When he
grew weary of this, he would Withdraw a
little ophilosophize about it; and after