Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-03-06
JunO's Wonderful Troubles.

cuhO lINSt III iOftu p'ti NJ "hNiS thSi u
was II menagerie, and neither the park
nor the menagerie could have done with
out Juno. Now, what do you think Juno
was? She was dear old black and brown
dog, the best-natured dog in the world.
And this was the reason they could not do
without her at the park. A lioness died,
and left two little lion-cubs with no one to
take care of them. The poor little lions
curled up in corner of the cage, and
seemed as if they would die. Then the
keeper brought Juno, and showed her
the little lion-cubs, and said Now, Juno,
here are some puppies for you; go and
take care of them, that's II good dog" y"
Juno's own puppies had just been given
away and she was feeling very badly
about it, and was rather glad to take care
of the two little lions. They were 80 pret-
ty, with their soft striped fur and yellow
paws, that Juno soon loved them, and she
took the best of care of them till they
grew old enough to live by themselves.
Many people used to come and stand near
the big lions cage, and laugh to see only
II quiet old dog, and two little bits of lion
cubs shut in it.
1t was very pretty TO see Juno playing
with the cubs, and all the children who
came to the park wanted first to see " the
doggie that nursed the lion-puppies. But
when they grow large enough they were
taken away from her, and sold to different
menageries far away, and poor Juno won
dered what had become of her adopted
children. She looked for them all about
the menagerie, and asked all the animals
if they had seen her two pretty yellow
striped lion-puppies. No one had seen
them, and nearly every one was sorry, and
had something kind to say, for Juno was
II flvorite with many. To be sure, the
wolf snarled at her, said it served her right
for thinking that she, II miserable tame
dog, could bring up young lions. But Ju.
no knew she had only done as she was
told, so she did not mind the wolf. The
monkeys cracked jokes, and teased her
saying they guessed she would be given
another family to take care of-sca-lions
most likely, and she would have to live in
the water to keep them in order. This
had not occurred to Juno before, and il
made her quite uneasy.
" 1t is not possible they would want me
to nurse young sea-lions, said she. I" They
arc so very rude, and SO very slippery,
never could make them mind me"
You may be thankful if you don't get
those two young alligators in the other
tank" said II grulf-voced adjutant.
Good gracious " exclaimed Juno.
"You don't think it possibe?"
"Of course it is possible" said II peli.
can, stretching his neck through his cage.
bars You'll see what comes of being
too oblging."
4" We all think you are good creature
Juno said crane. Indeed, | should
willingly trust you with my young crane
children, but really. if you will do every
thing that is asked of you, there's nc
telling whose family you may have next.
Juno went ard lay down in II sunshiuy
place near the elephants house. and
thought over all these words. Very soon
she grew sleepy, in spite of her anxiety
and was just dropping off into doze
when she heard the keeper whistle fol
her. She ran to him and found him in the
hippopotamus's cage.
Juno" said he, Il guess you'll have
to take charge of this young hippopota-
mus, the poor little fellow has lost his
mpther.'
Dear, dear!" sighed Juno. - was
afraid it would come to this. I'm thankful
it isn't the young alligators."
SO Juno took charge of the young hip
po,-she called him hippo for short, and
only when he was naughty she called him
clip po- -pot-a-mus, are MT you ashamed
of yourselfp" But he was II great trial.
lie was awkward and clumsy, aud not Il
bit like her graceful little lion puppies.
When be got sick, she had to give him
peppermint, his mouth WAS SO large that
She lost the spoon in it, and he swallowed
spoon and all, and was very i'll aflcrward
But he grew up at last and just us juno
had made up her mind not TO take care ol
other people S families any more the keep
er came to her with two young giraifes,
and told her she really must be Il mother
to the poor little scraps of misery, foi
their mother was gone, and they would
die if they were Mt cared for Immediately
These were II dreadful trouble, and be-
sides, they would keep trotting after hel
everywhere. till the pelican, and the adin
tant and the cranes nearly killed them
selves laughing at her. Poor Juno felt
worse and worse, till one day she heard
the keeper say she certainly would have tc
take care of the young elephant. she felt
that she could stand it no longer, and
made up her mind TO run away. So sht
said goodbye to al her friends. and ran
to the wall Of the park. There she gave
IL great jump, and,-wnked up, and found
herself in the sunshiny grass near the ele-
plants house.
"Oh, how glad ami" said Juno.
"What in the world has been The mat
ter?" asked the elephant, You We been
kicking and growing in your sleep ut Il
great rate. I've been watching yo1 this
long time
"Such dreadful dreams! sail Juno
Lion puppies are lll very well, but when
it comes 10 hippopolamns, and giratles
and elephant - .,
What are you talking about? said
the elephant. II guess you'd better go tt
your supper; beard the keeper call yor
long ago.
So Sumo went to her supper. very glad
TO find she had only dreamed her troubles
but she made up her mind that if the ol,
hippopotamus should die she would run
away that very night MaIIer. 81
V;cGoiaS far MdTch