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

JunO'S Wonderful Troubles.
Juno lived in great park, where there
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
cured up in corner of the cage, and
seemed rs 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"
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 o pref
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 g 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
IL favorite with many. To be sure, the
wolf snarled at her, said it served her right
for thinking that she, Il 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 leased her,
saying they guessed she would be given
another family to take care of-sca-l 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 it
made her quite uneasy.
" 1t is not possible they would want me
to nurse young sea- lions, said she. They
are 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-yoiced adjutant.
Good gracious exclaimed Juno.
You don't think it possible?"
"Of course it is possible said II peli-
can, stretching his neck through his cage
bars. " You'll see what comes of being
too obliging."
L" We all think you are good creature,
Juno said Il 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 no
telling whose family you may have next
Juno went and 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 a doze,
when she heard the keeper whistle for
her. She ran to him and found him in the
appropriateness cage.
Juno" said he, u guess you'll have
to take charge of this young hippopota-
mus the poor little fellow has lost his
mother"
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
| ho ,,o,,rrLt,r bn lla1 hin,
clip -pot-a-mus, are MT you ashamed
of yourselI?n But he was II great trial
lie was awkward and clumsy, aud not u
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 ailerward.
Buthe grew up at last, and just as Juno
had made up her mind not TO take care of
other people S families any more the keep
er came to her with two young giralles,
and told her she really must be IL mother
to the poor little scraps of misery, for
their mother was gone, and they would
die if they were MT cared for Immediately.
These were dreadful trouble, and be-
sides, they would keep trotting after her
everywhere. till the pelican, and the adiu-
lant, 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 to
take care of The young elephant. she felt
that she could stand it no longer, and
made up her mind to run away. So she
said goodbye to al her friends. and ran
to the wall of the park There she cave