The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-07-12
THE rrMrs-arcHMoNp VA. SUNDAY: JULY II 1891
.couoin,orco ~ catholic priest. Father

acquaintance Of Catholic priest. fatnel
Minter, who was dying of consumption gnu
no longer in service. but lingering IN tu s
wnrm climate hoping 20 so prolong MS lIie.
He had no relatives in This country: ne Nn'
q man Of Intelligence and wide informat.:on.'
and found his society most pleasant s ,sn.
inc him one day, / was startled to see ntSIo
creen head peeping Mt the from under the
priests pillow. Following my gaze, ,no
Father held out his hand TO the lizard, WHICH
snuggIed init like kitten:
":Hv only friend he said, and the learned
and accomplished Monsieur Vert -Mr. Green.
Now. you must show the gentleman what you
can do. Mr.. Green 49, -
"He here produced q little ladder made OF
strow. which the lizard mounted at a word on
command and then descended, carrylng, on
the ladder on its back TO the box IN when IL
was kept. Then being hidden, II oroueht
ONT n miniature wine glass. Monsieur vert
has bad habits said the Father. lie Is q
toper.' at which the little creature pretended
to drain the glass, and wnen IT. master con
timed He can't walk straight, began 70
wobble from side to- side in way that made
me laugh most heartily. There is but one
and for drunkards produced a sudden founce
over on it's back. astiaening OF the queer little
feet. and the poor topper was presumably dead
Only ono twinkliug eye kept watch on u 10
see what effect the scene would nave father
Minter pretended to weep, when Monsieur
Vert jumped up. and running TO HIM, crept
into his hand.
Now. YOU must tell US the dearest coun-
try in the world said the priest one rap
Of the tail shall mean NO" and more than
one Yes" Now. then, Germany! The tail
cave n vigorous rap. No? Then perhaps
Turkey?' Another single rap. Wen. say
France? No? Then perhaps England, Az
this the lizard rolled over and repeated the
lying dead performance, but when Its mas
ter called How about Ireland, 1t turned
again and beat regular tattoo with us TAI.
80 that's it Monsieur Vert. But what nave
Won to saw of the United States! The lizard
expressed its enthusiasm by turning SLOW
and most impressive somersault. That ended
the performance. which had | not witnessed
/ would not have credited It, but Father MIN
ter assured me that IL had not been the
trouble TO train the little creature that III was
to teach tricks to dog.
The lizard made its home somewhere out
side the priests window, but spent most OF
it's time running or sleeping on It's ledge ana
would often be for hours watching ts friend.
When he grew too weak TO play with II IL
would creep into his hand and never stir I'M
til he would command It TO go home. when IL
would start perhaps dozen times only 20 re-
turn and try and steal back TO him. The day
the priest died il could not be induced 70
leave him for q moment. and when he hau
breathed his last l had to remove the poor
thing from his cold fingers. meant 70
ADOPT the lizard for my own, but 1t fell VIC
tim on the day Of its masters funeral TO the
foolish prejudice | spoke OF: An attendant
seeing the little creature crawling about the
couch where it's dead friend law, knoc ked IT
off and killed it with a broom, but had II
preserved. "-Lette from New Orleans IN St.
Louis Globe-DemocTat.