Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1882-03-18
TANNING An ALLIGATOR.

capturing the city editor by the
butts n-hole, and drawing him into a
doorway. "You know the paper said
it WAS the fash nablelthi' & to do"
II don't remember Perhaps did.
What Of 1t ?" ssbed the city editor
AZ tried it," said the Grsv-s.n'
man. "a friend cf mite brought me
one from New Orleans, aud I'm tam
in that alligator for the CHI dren to
rlav with"
How does the experiment come
along asked the city editor.
IL dent know about the eI eriment;
the alligator is thrivln. He as Elk
weeks oil when | got him two mon hr
"go, and he's seven ye'rs od now.
People in cur parts s,y he's all the
alligator I'll ever nee -"
"What does he do p
"Well it's here. When he ca
he was spoit tive little cuss, and just
wafbled around friendly. He was
chiefly nouth, and we uaed to feed
i'm fol- tie fun of seeia' him eat.
Now, we skin around when we see
him comm for the fun Of seeiu him
go hungry"
"Is he dangerous? asked the city
editor.
"I haven't been close enough to
see. He eat up my dog, AMI when l
left this mornin', he was in the sty
arguin the question Of pork as a
diet with the pig, My wife thinks
| if the pig has any luck he'll find the
COW we lost"
Better get rid of him, hadn't you ?"
suggested the city editor.
Il don't know" replied the Grave
Sc d man. "We've stored so much
away in HIM now that it seems like
g vim up most Of our property, and
my eldest girl SAYS III cant hear OF
avn' her leg got OFT among stran-
gers" Ea
did he bite her leg off?' demand
| ed ,he borrlfied euitol.
"Sure' responded the Grav escud
man. "To, k it off short | Then
there's the baby. We hate to part
with .he b by's grave, so we Horfer
try and keep the alligator alons
My wife insists on keeping him, cause
she thinks she saw coup o ped
dlers 50 in one day, racks and al 4,
and she's got an idea the packs may
come to the front again if We hold
on, Beside, che Eeen that itein about
tame slligators b,iu' fash nable, and
she's a good deal on style"
"Bat do you call the alligator
tame2
"Cer'n'y. He comes right into
tie house, Games any of US and
ke, ps himself. Hes got that heel,
nd th- Gravesen man pointed to a
mutlatud foot. there's my sons
wife, too. Sh 3 par, alligator now
He eat her ny week ago and the
boy hasn't got over his am yet.
The alligator got the arm too
Great Scott ?" sjsculstsd the city
editor.
"Oh, yes It's lively down there
When he pnts himself up, he's busi-
ness. He's the lighteuingest alligator
for lame one you ever saw. When
we fist got him we used him for 6
tack hammer, drew nails with him
but now he is at the head of the fam.
lily, except psyin' the rent. When
there's any mysterious disappearance
around Gravesond the coroner comes
and views the all gator That snda
1T. When the baby was snstched
they held the inquest in tree. The
jury was all on one LIMB and the al
ligatcr underneath looking up. Bima'
by the limb troks, and the jury dis
appeared in low, just as they sat.
We didn't wait for any verdict. The
coroner gave me permit and sitei
the funeral we hied an enpey ofio
at the alligator. TAen the minister
said DIST to dust, and We all busted
Do you remember whether that 1t, III
said whai a real tame alligator ought
to be fed on p
Don't recoll+ct seeing it all
A en't you afraid he'll eat up some
mo of your family ,"
Think he's liable toP' asked the
Gravesend man, with a curious ex-
preston of vissge.
HE might. Suppose he should
get your wife ?
"Ah - said the Grayesend maa.