The Advocate and news., 1898-05-11

era of water like lawn sprayer; and
she had such an awful mouth and such
little pig-like eyes that she waS most
ugly thing to look at; but while they
watched her, up popped tat baby hip
pOpOtamus, all dripping with water and
blinking It's eyes so stupidity at the boys
that they all laughed. The name of the
big hippopOtamus was Mrs. Murphy, ana
the baby's was Iris; two names which
you think do not sound as though they
belonged to the same family; but then
you must know that Mrs. Murphy had no
choice in the naming of her daughter,
for II she had / am sure she would have
called her Bridget-that Is, il she had
any national pride. Now, II hardly seems
fair not to allow a mother to name her
own children, but this Is how 1t came
about.
When the baby hippopOtRmus came,
it's birth was considered such q great
event that 1t was published in the news
papers Of the city and the children were
asked to suggest names for 1t, and one
little girl suggested Iris, which name
pleased the keepers Of the Zoo, and
so they called her Iris.
On the way back the boys met many
people on horseback, and these riders
were a curious sight to Tom. They all
rode sleek, bob-tailed horses, and the
men and women bumped so high as the
horses trotted that Tom could see the
landscape between them and the saddles
The horses were fine but there wasn't
Texas pony nor a brOnchO among
them. The riders looked like very grand
folk, but they rode so stiff that they
didn't seem as though they were en-
joying it very much. Then they came
to a great procession of carriages. At
first Tom thought 1T must be funeral,
although the people dressed rather gay
and the horses trOtted rather fast, and
then he concluded 1t must be some sort
Of circus parade, but Jimmie Doyle
said 1t was just the rich folks out driv-
ing. There were carriages with coach
men and footmen sitting up high in
front dressed In white trousers, top boots,
high silk hats and coats with silver but
tons. Tom thought these fellows In the
front seat must be very rich, as they
dressed so fine, but the other boys
laughed at him and said they were only
the servants. The horses had silver
mounted harness and dashed by with
rattling silver chains. The ladies' in the
carriages were dressed in silks and laces
like those in fashion books. Such lot
OF flnery Tom had never seen, and after
having been among the poor, miserable
people down town these people seemed
doUbly grand The driveway was full Of
them, and they rolled by in what seemed
never ending stream.
The sun was getting low, so the boys
hurried on toward home. Just as they
were nearing the park gate Tom saw q
bunch of beautiful flowers that he
thought he would like to have and he
ran across to the bush and broke of the
branch.
'Hi, there!' yelled the boys, "the cop
will catch YOU"
whats that?" asked Tom.
why, the policeman. Don't you know
that no one is allowed to pick flowers in
the park?"
mo, didn't know said Tom, as he
looked down at the flowers. What will
do with them"
"T wouldn't throw them away. Better
Keep them now" said Jimmie, but we'd
better hurry"
Tom felt sneaking. Just outside the
gate well-dressed boy passed them, and
seeing Toms flowers and sheepish looks
said taDtalizingly, "Where'd you steal
EN-?
81 didn't steal EN-" said Tom, hotly.
Don't get smart. OF course you did"
This made Tom very angry, for he had
not taken the flowers with any thought
Of stealing.
"You had just better say that again."
ooh, you want to fight, do you? I
wouldn't, * were you You're so clumsy
you'd fall over your own feet. Where
did you get those country stogies?"
I'll show you In just a iiffy IL you
don't shut up" said Tom.
Thar Ahn~v IA