The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-03-21
poMEsrIcArnD LION.
Circus uHby which WINS Adopted hy3
SOmc Ylrgtnta ChtldreM.

6Vs"U w
Some few years ngo. In nm old virginia
home, I CHANGED to sce one Of the strangest
sghts one could well imagine full grown
lion with three children as playmatcs. The
home belonged TO a relative Of mine. whore
had come for n short visit; but At the cato
| paused NV CONSIDERATION to zee tho hcAu-
titui king OF the iorest'' leap out Just like
tame dos Tho children called. and the
handsome animal bounded 10 them and
| commenced to play, l was amazed, for
had never conceived that n liou. OF all anil
| mails. could be domesticated. He played
| with the children as ono OF them. licking
| their hands. again taking them In his hugo
arms. as 1t were. and entering into their
games and amuscrnents. A dog ran up, but
Leo was jealous OF their attention, and
with ono blow OF his big paw tho dog was
unccremoniously slapped over. leaving this
lion master " the neld. says writer IN
Animal Friends.
on reaching tho house ono Of my frst
question: was 10 ask my cousin the history
of the chiidren's pot. which ] VIII give In
| her own words:
zone day some two years ago. circuu
was passing through the country. and while
| they were In tho town a lion cub was born.
| II was not larger than a good siycd puppy,
and as the circus was on its summer trip.
and they could not be bothered With II,
they were going to Kill It, begged II from
them, they were glad TO be rid OF their un-
welcome visitor, and gave him 10 me.
Leo was pretty little thing, and very
gentle. He was fed out OF bottle like .
baby. and grew up with the children till no
became their companion and protector.
AS he grew larger people became
alarmed 10 SEQ a lion running at large, and
| talked 80 much about II that at last II
even made the grown members OF tho fam
| Al nd la la
with him He was magnificent specimen.
far more beautiful than any kept In con-
/ fnement, and my cousin sont word to the
| mcnagerje IN Lincoln park, Chicago, that
| n they would send for Leo they might have
him. vol knowing that the keepers would
give him all care aud attention Many tears
| wcrc shed when he whn sent away, ana the
children refused TO bo comfcrtcd for the
loss OF their playmate.
| Two years went n.y. md the famous
| Worlds Fair In Chicago was the absorb-
ing topic Of the day, My cousin and hcr
cldcst girl visited II, but not even the beau
| tios OF tho white CITY with Its many
attractions could keep them from Loo. ~
| they came near his cage he ran to tho ride
nearest them, and seemed to know tho
| child Her mother wal afraid and called to
her TO stand back, but tho girl answered.:
Leo VIII not hur, ME, mamma; SOC, he
knows me-, aud indeed hc did Tho mighty
| lion put his front pnws through the phrr.
pressed his face against them and pulled
bis playmate TO him. holding her In his
arms as no had done many times IN his
far-away homo Ia virginia, licking har
face for 10y Mother and child had tears
In their eyes when they at last left their
dumb friend"
Strange an this may seem, II IN true
story, many people knowing all tho circumrs
stances 1t In well to show what Kindness
TO dumb animals may mako OF them Loo
might some day have shown his savage ma
turc and harmed tho children. but u -
hardly probable.