Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-10-30
BY. Mrs. NJ. b. Williams.


There were SO many curioslties in st.
Augustine and the rest of Florida that
Dr.. James Munro, amateur naturalist,
conchologist and etymoIoglst. had found
the days all to short Tor his delightful
work
The trip undertaken for his health, ex-
hausttd rs he was 10y his professional Ia
Oors, not only accomplished the desired
nd, bot gave mnI an opportunity OF rc'
ing bis scientific hobby to his hearts con
tent
He was an excellent and successful
physician, but doubt It his most extra
ordinary cases awakened the keen interest
which the discovery Ofanew specimen gave
him. And there was his friend, Prot,
Virchow, of the Lincoln institute, st
grateful to Aim for the rare insects and
shells and skeletons of extinct animals he
had sent him.
If fact, in the pamphlet on which TIE
professor was engaged, he had spoken
with warm gratitude OF Or. Mumoe as a
scientific laborer whose researches had
been invaluable to him. Grateful to the
doctor was this incense, and it spurred
him to fresh efforts.
He spent the winter in Florida, and
spring found him turning bis face home
ward. He was sirolling through Jack.
sonville when he was accosted by dealer
in many of the specimens which went t.
enrich the Lincoln Institute.
Halo, DOCTOR" he cried; eve go,
something at my place you've been want.
ing for ever so longs
whats that, Colins2"
Come along and see.
collins took him to large tank back
of his warehouse. A large alligator with
young one frisking about on the wat er
greeted the doctors's delighted eyes"
There your baby alligator, doc, that
you've been hunting for ever since you
came to Florida It's frisky little crea
ture amt it? md it'll make tn niceNt
kind of a pet for a year or two. If YOU
don't want him there's been three elbow,
f0m Boston who do, but | promised you
the first gator that came to hand, ant
here he is. "
"Of course | want him. and the doc
tor gazad ecst ca y at the playful young
saur an. Are you sure, Collins, you en-
box him up so that he'll reach New Yorl
alive ard safe?'
alive and safe!' exclaimed Collins
laughing. why, docter r, We .Sshnlppeec
hundreds OF alllgators, org ana niue, tC
the north, ana ] We never heard tnaI ont
or them die0 on me way but look mere
lets strike hSl gam M tEpecIih.
three or four 0lg fellows ana II ne eIal
to get the mother gator ! OF the way
hey re ugly customers wneh they naF'
| U{UI
the strangers; Come now, take the moth.
gator ana IL / you lave them OoIh at
bargain wv,
Inc doctor pondeTea a moment w ma
a boon the aihgotors would be 10 MS Irleh'
FlfGchoW, VINO was no" engaged IN "ilIihA
up the habits or saurlans' -. 49,,
Wei, II take her. Collins, the doctoI
sald at IaSt,, ~ you guarantee sue II ar
rive IN good condltlon'
What VIII a FLORIDA dealer NOT gaaran
| tee, "hen ne Is maslhg trdde WIN
northern traveller, crazy 1or the curI0u
productions Il TINS strange lahdE me
trade was soon maoe' iof the doctor wa
IN hurry. ,.,,.
Il nave them ready LOT SHlPmenC ihl'
evening, CoIi.na Sato i.',o, w., Ioo' VI
1 Du ~ eoins "l'N0"V e''iHe nv '''0 Nv
uieSS.
IN be back In couple OF hours, th'
doctor called out; Il start home tome
row myself, and | 7e got to have box o
fruit packed and shipped to my family
I'll get home in time to receive my ahga
tor when it reaches New York.
Don't forget to come back, Collin
called after him anxiously. He knew tot
well that the doctor was the most absent
minded Of iren, and wonld foIg get his owl
head L it could be detached from I'M
shoulders. 1t was Therefore great, rehe
to HIM, when alb ut noon, the doctor DaIo
head was p1ppet into his oihee;
N in the greatest possible hurry
Collins, he painted, FOR ] IN on IN