Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-04-11
The family CireIf.
Bedtime Stories.
ABOUT HUNTING THE GIRAFFE

One Tune MI. Ddrnunl Wduleu Suaue
for his big show-a real live giraffe, not a
stuffed fellow with glass eye, like the one
he carted round last year. And so he
hired m Englshman, who was u great
hunter of all sorts Of foreign animals, to
90 to Africa and see if he could catch one
alive. The hunter got together everything
he wanted and started.
In about two months he came to the
country where the giraffes live-a beau iGul
land it is too, where it is never cold, and
there are palm trees and all sorts of birds,
and monkeys, parrots, leopards and lions,
and where the woods are like a big animal
show without any cages. The hunter soon
found negro village. where the natives
said they knew all about the giraffes. But
they only grinned and shook their woolly
heads when he told them he wanted one
alive; and one of them ran very fast, with
great long steps, and then stopped and
kicked up his heels-which was his way of
telling the hunter how the giraffe acted
But he had brought along swift horse,
and some long stout slip-noose lassos, be-
sides his Guns and dogs, and said he'd
show 'cm how to hunt.
So the next day he started out, with six
or eight negro hunters to help him. They
trotted along by The river bank for few
miles, till they came to the woods where
the girafles were feeding, and pretty soon
saw two big fellows, about fourteen feet
tall, browsing off the tops of the young
trees, whose tender leaves they like.
The hunter knew he couldn't get at them
without being seen, because the girafles
have n very large, full eye, and can see on
all sides, and even back Of himself-as he
needs to keep out of The way of lions and
leopards. So he called to the negroes to
follow, and rode right at the gratles, with
his slip-noose coied up in his hand. They
can run us fast rs IL horse but those had
never seen Il horse before, and didn't
know what to make of it. So, us they
stood looking, the hunter rode up within
about fifty feet, and let fly his lasso. 1t
went right over the short, stout horns of
one of them, and he pulled it tight
$50, no! can't catch "a giraffe?" said
he. "Just look and see what an English
man can do"
But in about minute he wished he was
back in England or somewhere else; for
he had fastened one end Of his lasso TO his
horses saddle, and as the giraffe started
to run he pulled the horse toward him,
and then all Of II sudden he wheeled and
let fly his two hind legs, and kicked the
horse smack in the breast. The blow sent
horse and hunter rolling in the sand; the
asso broke, and away went the giraffe
u 2 40 gait INTO the woo Is.
All the natives set up L chatter of laugh
ing, and showed ivory enough to make
Keys for II piano. But the hunter was
Dlucky and wasn't to be stopped So
hough he said the beast was the longest
'ange kicker he ever saw, and had more
han forty-mule power in lis legs. lie
imped back to the village, and said he'd
ny again.
So the next day he fixed up four long
asses, and took only three of the best MI
i've hunters with him for what he called
still hunt He got sight of four or five
more giratfes, and watched them till they
vent to lay down for the night. Then,
When it was nearly dark, be told the no. !
yroes to follow him, and do Just as he did.
30 they all crawled carefully on their
lands and knees after him, and went so
low and still that even the deer could
hardly hear them. ,
The giraffe lies down, you know. very )
ike Il camel-with his fore legs sticking ,
nut The hunter told one of the negroes J
0 take one leg, and he would the other,
When they got near enough, and slip
1850 over it, and wind the other end !
round tree. They both did il at the
anne time. And when the giraffe went r.
. jump up, as he felt the rope tighten, he
ound he had but two legs to stand on, for :,
he men jerked his hind legs out from I'M
CT him, and let him down kcrslap on the n
round. He snortcd and paved, and
lmped up and fell down till he was tired j,
ut; but the ropes were strong, and held
i'm fast.
They watched him all night, and in the
lornng threw him some fresh grass to
1t. But he was so mad and scared that
g wouldn't eat any all day, The next "
ny the hunter united the ropes from the il
zee, and had five or six negroes take hold
each one, while he started to tame the W
iraffe. As long as he walked along quiet e.
: the men followed him with the ropes:
ut the minute he started to run or kick, 81
icy would all pull together, and down Of
IT. Giraffe would GO into the sand. He SC
'on got sick of this, and give up the A
5ht. They drove and lc him to the tc
illage, and coaxed him into Il cage with n
me food that he liked very much, and m
len they drew him down, put him aboard ia
ship, and brought him to this country, al
mere lots of eXlra-nice people went to the al
low on purpose to see him, hut spent Al
ost of their time in the circus tent, lust tn
9yOnd, where the seats gave them bl
lance to rest and think about the wonder to
/ animals. Golden Rule.