The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-11-01
Tanning an Alligator.

"YOu see that item in one OF the papers
about tamin' your alligatorS, reckon"
| said a Grayesend man, capturing the city
editor Of Texas paper by the button
hole and drawing him into a doorway.
You know the paper said ii was the FASH
ionable thing to do
81 don't remember. Perhaps | did.
| What Of it? 2" asked the city editor.
II tried it, said the Graycsend man.
~ friend Of mine brought me one from
New Orleans, and I'm tamin' that alligator
| for the children TO play with"
How does the experiment come
along ?" asked the city editor.
81 don't know about the experiment:
the alligator j. 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 alligator I'll ever
need"
"What does he do?"
"Wcll, it's here. When he came he was
a Sportiye little cu>s, and Just warbed
around friendly. He was chiefly mouth,
and we used to feed him for the fun OF see
/ ing him cat. Now we skin around when
we see him comm for the fun OF seeing
him 90 hungry
as he dangerous :" asked the city edi-
tor.
a. haven't been close enough TO sec. He
ate MP my dog. and when | left this morn
in he was in the >ty arguin' the question
OF pork "a, a diet with the pig. My wife
thinks ii the pig has any luck he'll find the
COW we lost"
Better get rid OF him, hadn't you:'
suggested the city editor.
q don't know replied the Gravo>end
man. "Wc'vc stored so much away in
him nov that it seems like twin mp most
OF our property, and my oldest girl says
she can't hear OF having her leg 20 out
amongst Strangers"
did ne bite her leg OFF," demanded the
| Mortified city editor.
"Surc - responded the GraycSend man.
Took it of short Then there's the baby.
We hate to part with the laby's grave. 80
we sCrtcr try and keep the alligator along.
NV wife insists on kccpin' him. cause she
thinks She saw couple o pcdderS 20 in
one day, packs and all, and she's got an
idce the packs may come 10 the front again
if We hold on. Besides, she seen that item
about tame alligatorS bcin' fasl'nablc, an
/ shes good deal on style"
d" But do you call that alligator-tamin' -
/ "Ccrt'nly. He comes right into the
house. same as any Of lis. and keeps him
/ self. Hes got that heel" and the Grave
send man pointed 10 4 mutilated foot.
There's my SON, wife, too. shes part
alligator now. He ate her up week ago.
and the boy hasn't got over his arm yet.
! The alligator took the arm too"
"Grcat scott! :" calculated the city cdi-
tor.
$50, yes. its lively down there. When he
puts himself up, he, business. Hes the
iiehtenince,t alligator for a tame one you
ever saw. when we first got him we used
+ him for tack hammcr-drcW nails with
/ him: but now he, head OF the family. cX-
cent payin' thcrcnt. When thcrc'S any myS-
tcriou- disappearance around Graycsend,
/ the coroner comes and view, the alligator.
/ That ends il. When the baby was
,natchcd they held an inquest IN a
tree. The Jury was all on one
/ limb, and the alligator underneath, look
/ ing up. Bimchy the limb broke and the
Jury disappeared in a row, just a they sat.
/ We didn't wait for any verdict. The coro-
uer cave me- permit, and after the funeral
we SHE'D an empty coffin at the alligator.
/ TLen the minister said, "Du>t 10 dust"
and we all busted. DO you remember
whether the item said what a real tame all.-
gator ought to be fed 0nt'
".Dont rccollcct seeing il at all. Aren't
YOU afraid he'll eat up some OF your FAINT
W."
."Think he's liable TOT" asked the
Gravesend man, with a curious expression
OF Visage.
Eyes, indeed" replied the city editor.
Suppose he should swallow your wife -
"Ah!" said the GravcSend man. lie
might get her. mightn't he! You think d
better keep him. them" and the Graves
end man slowly disappeared in the gloom
with new hope.