The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1882-07-20
Tanning an Alligator.

pers about tamin' young alligal0rs.
reckon said aGrayesend man, captul-
ing the city editor Of Texas paper by
the buttonhole, and drawing him into a
doorway. "You know the paper says
II was the fash'nabIc thing to do.n
81 don't remember. Perhaps | did
What OF itP' asked the city editor.
II tried it," said the Gravesend man.
"a friend Of mine brought me one from
New Orleans, and I'm lamin' that ALI
gator for the children to play with"
"How does the experiment come
alongP" asked the city editor
Il don't know about the experiment;
the alligator is thriyin'. He was six
weeks old when got him, two months
ago, and he's seven years old now.
People in our parts say he's all the ALI
gator I'll ever need"
"What does he doP'
"Well, it's here When he came, he
was sportiye little cuss, and just war
bled around friendly. He was chiefly
mouth, and we used TO feed him for the
fun of seem him eat. Now we skin
around when we see him comm, for the
fun Of seeing him go hungry
Is he dangerou5?' asked the city
editor.
II haven't been close enough to see
He ate up my dog, and when left this
mornin' he was in the sly, arguin' the
question Of pork rs a diet with the PIC.
My wife thinks if the pig has any luck
he'll find the COW we lost"
Better get rid Of him, hadn't your"
suggested the city editor,
81 don't know replied the Grave
send man. We've stored so much
away in him now that it seems like giv-
in up most of our property, and my
Oldest girl says she can't hear Of havin'
her leg 90 out amongst strangers"
Did he bite her leg off?'' demanded
the Mortified city editor
Sure" responded the Grayescnd
man. Took it off short! Then there's
the baby. We hate to part with the ba-
by grave, 50 we sorter try and keep
the alligator along. My wife insists on
keeping him, cause she thinks she saw
couple o pedlers 90 in one day, packs
and all, and she's got an idea the packs
may come 10 the front again If We hold
on. Besides, she seen that item about
tame alligators bein' sh'nable, an
she's a good deal on style"
"But do you call that alligator tame?"
"Cert'nly. He comes right into the
house, same as any Of us. and keeps
himself He's got that heel" and the
Grayesend man pointed to a mutlated
foot. There's my sons wife, too She's
part alligator now. He ate her up
week ago, and the boy hasn't got over
his arm yet. The alligator got the arm,
too.n
Great Scott"' calculated the city
editor.
30, yes It's lively down there.
When he puts himself up, he's business.
He's the lighteningst alligator for a
tame one YOU ever saw. When we first
got him we used him for a tack ham
mer drew nails with him; but now he 5
the head of the family, except payin'
the rent. When there is any myster-
ious disappearance around Gravesend,
the coroner comes and views the alliga-
tor. That ends it. When the baby was
snatched they held an inquest in a tree.
The jury was all on one limb, and the
alligator underneath, looking up. Bme-
by the limb broke, and the jury disap-
peared in row, just as they sat We
didn't wait for any verdict The coro-
ner gave me permit and after the fu-
neral we SHE'D an empty coffin at the al
ligator. Then the minister said" Dust
to dust, and we all busted. Do you're
member whether that item said what q
real tame alligator ought TO feed onPn
Don't recollect seeing it at all.
Aren't you afraid he'll eat up some Of
your family?'
Think he's liable tor asked the
Grayesend man, with curious express
sion of visage
"Yes, indeed" replied the city edi-
tor. Suppose he should swallow your
wifePn
"Ah" said the Gravesend man. 'IIe
might get her, mightn't he? You think
I'd better keep him, then?n and tho
GraveSend man slowly disappeared in
the gloom with new hone.