Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1884-03-13
NINE. AUGUSTE'S LION.
(Translatiop from Horace Bernn..

She had come, one summer sunday,
to erect her canvas booth under the
poplars of the village of lie Cours, not
very far from the church. on either
side of the enhance there was ilhring
painting representing lions of enormous
size, with open jaws and waving names
rising upon their hind legs as though
seeking TO devour the spectators. The
peasants, especially the women, felt cold
chills run down their backs; and in
spite of the pressing appeals of the
doorkeeper, no one dared for long
time TO enter the interior.
At last when the tax x.collcctor-who
was an eX-otiicer of louuves-made up
his mind to cross the threshold OF the
menagerie. some of the villagers sum.
moped W courage enough to follow
him.
boy moved back a sliding partition
in the cage, and pokcd a big iron pitch
fork between the bars. Then q lion was
seen to rise up painfully-an aged lion,
all broken down and worn out--a blear.
eyed lion, whose fur was mgarre and
filthy, and whose tail was all raw, cx.
coriatcd, -cabby. When he yawncd,
only few stumps Of teeth were visible
in his jaws. Madame Augusie drew a
curtain aside, and introduced herself %
the public. She had a thin face Scared
with smallpox, and nose likcan eagle 5
beak. Her faded velvet bodice and
tights speckled with greascspot-, never.
thelcss excited the admiration OF the
country people. She entered the cage
brandishipg a whip. The lion uttered
feeble roar. There was timid shrink.
ing toward the doorway on the part of
the spectators-aui some Of the peas
ant women even had one foot on the
street. \ little girl sobbed with terror,
and pulled at her mothers dress.
Madame Auguste, however, foeged
the old lion and the animal finally re.
signed himself to the duty of lesping
over bar; but only to lie down again
Immediately at the further end Of his
cage. Then the lion-tamer crouchcd
dewn before the animal, and, opening
his mouth, thrust her pitted face again
against his jaws. All the spectators
uttered cry Of horror, and the women
rushed out in alright, communicating
their panic 10 The whole crowd of urchins
gathered at the door A few Of the
men, seeing that the tax.collector mere
ly shrugged his shoulders, held their
ground. Madame Auguste then arose
with smile, and the performance was
over.
As they went out the country folks
discussed the wonderful courage of the
lion tanner; and continued to ask one
another whether the bars of the cage
were really strong enough.
The tax.collector was the only one
who had hard word for the lion, when
they talked the thing over among his
own circle. "He's limp az an old TO
bacco quid," said he to the notary and
the druggist "I've seen a very differ.
ent kind of lions in the province oi
Constantinel'
~.
Three o'clock had just struck. The
man Of tba ,,;lIo,a ,yara ,v,,.;1, Il, n.,,
selves in various ways some playing
at piquet in the tavern, Others at ten
pins 90 the public road The women
we're hurrying by to disappear within
the doors Of the church, where vesper.
were commencing. The peal of bell.
from the stceple alone broke the silence
Of lie Cours, which soon appeared com
pletely deserted. Behind the canvas
booths a thin column Of smoke wa.
rising from the roof of the canary
colored wagon, with its shafts in cir
Madame Auguste was cooking in hei
traveling-csr.
The menAgerie was tranquil; the ole
lion continued to sleep, and the menae
erie boy had gone TO the inn TO se'
whether Madame AugustO's horse anC
mule had received their peck of oats.
But after little while, the lion leaseC
aud harrassed by flies, opened one eye
moved his TAIL and rubbed his heat
against the bars. Forthwith The barre,
door by which Madame Auguste ha,
entered the cage moved upon its hinges