The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1876-04-27
The Adventures Of Defunct Alligator.

An East-end druggist, says the Louis
vile Ledger, whs has been trying to
tame q young Louisiana alligator, had
the thing to die on his hands last Satur-
day. That night number of young
men assembled at the store, one of
whom began discoursing upon the perils
of drinking, the chief of which was
mania a p0tW. The. horrors of the indi-
vidual with snakes in his boots were
wildly portrayed, and an instance given
from the speakers own experience.
While expatiating thus elOquently about
his ''pet horror" one of the boys
slipped the alligator into his coat pocket.
As he sought his handkerchief to wipe
away a stray tear, his hand came in con-
tact with the defunct reptile. Drawing
! it forth, he threw it from him with
shout of terror, and struck Decline
for the door amid roar of laughter
and the jeering remark, "That beats
snakes in ones boots. l thought your
time would come next. You've got it
bad.n
The alligator was then thrown over
into the yard of German shoemaker.
In the morning the old woman picked
it up with pair of tongs, and brought
it to the druggist. 'Oh, that's my
alligator" said he, "where did you get
it?'' r.- -.
81 shust picked him up in mein pack
yart. Mein ole man hash been by Nei
Orleans und seen desc tings, aber he
keines-nicht so diesen tings coomes
from"
81 guess it must have rained down
from the Clouds" suggested the drug
gist. you've heard all about the
meat that fell from Heaven for the
hungry mud bound people of Bath COun
ty?'5
" Yes, yes, l drinks dash ish so, aber
| no wants to cook him. l no wants
him; you take him."
Yesterday evening young man call
ed at tie drugstore for a cigar and q
bottle of perfumery. While smoking
his weed, one of the boys slipped the
dead alligator into his pocket. He took
his departure in few moments, after
having poured some of the perfumery
upon his handkerchief and into each of
his boots, carrying the alligator with
him.
While awaiting the appearance of his
girl in the parlor, he discovered the
trick that had been played upon him.
A muff lay on the table, into which he
| slipped the alligator. Presently the
owner of it appeared, ready dressed
| for church, and greeted her escort with
| becoming sweetness. He handed her
| the muff, which she declined to wear,
| q
put your hand into it, you'll find it cold
enough" With puzzled air, she was
about to comply, when the young mans
heart failed him, and he said: "Don't
do it, if you value your life.'' This only
made her the more determined to faith
ON the mystery, and, Selling the muff,
she thrust her hands into it, but with
drew them instantly, and cried: "What
have you put into my mutt An alliga-
tor, as live!" and, as the dead mon
ster dropped upon the floor, she gave q
scream and plunge, intending to faint
in the young mans arms, but it was
mo CO." as she was too buxom for that
Taking it with him, on their way to
church he opened the door of the drug
store ashley passed, and threw it into
a group of young girls, who scattered
right and left in charming confusion.
Finally, before 10 o'clock last night,
| the alligatOr's remains were transferred
to the coat-pocket of an old darby, who
! trudoed home in blissful ignorance of
his burden. Stopping on the way, he
bought dimes worth of mixed can
dies, and put the bundle into his other
| % he
ed up his two little grandchildren, and
told them he had something good for
them. They were requested to feel IN
his pockets, and find out what it was.
One of them then explored the right
| hand pocket and drew forth something
cold, but dropped it with scream, and
flew to his mother. The old man put
on his glasses to inspect the cause of
its alarm, and was himself much aston
ished to see one of his old friends from
a Louisiana bayou.
"De Lawd of hebben an airth! Did
dat sto'keeper give me dat instid of de
candy bundle? No; here it is in de I'D
der pocket. Well, if dat don't beat
mei''
The old man never did find out where
it came from, or how it got into his
pocket, but the instinct of trade being
stronger than wonder, he brought it to
the aforesaid drug store this morning,
and wanted to know if he would buy it
as d" curiosity to keep in sperits." But
as the druggist didn't want the "curosi-
ty," being heartily tired of ii, the old dar
ky has been going about interviewing
other druggists and scientific men, and
offering to sell his curiosity" for any
thing they may choose to give him, be
it money, food or clothes.