Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1898-03-31
The Prince of the Zoo.
By MabIe Hay Barrows.
1NIoW do come away from those

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anything at the Zoo"
well, Nina, it's getting late, and
do want you should see the gyrafft, and
if we don't go right along they'll have
his house locked up"
The visitors who still fingered before
the monkey cages glanced smilingly at
the two women from ''up country way
as they hurried, the little one with
eager step, and the tall one with back
ward chances, along the path to the
giraffe house. It was early summer,
and the sun was not set, though it was
nearly closing time. The gardens were
quite deserted, and the guards stood eX-
pectantly by the gates.
Miss Kitty Pearson and her guest
found the giraffe alone, but not socially
inclined.
HE looks so naughty that I kinder
hate to offer him a cookie" said the tall
woman, land 1 don't s'pose he'd so
much as look at a peanut. dunno as
'twould be worth while to swaller a lit
tie thing like that when it had such a
long ways to go down. Seems kinder
wasteful, having such an awful ZENITH
o. neck, an his head don't amount to
anything after you get there"
Miss Kitty was clearly disappointed.
"Why, Nina Johnson, l think he's ele-
giant. come to see him every time I'm
in town. Ny brothers folks say 1
spend more time here than I do with
them. You Just come up here close and
see his soft fur. if that's what you call
it. and his handsome polka dots. He's
got real nice face, too-gentle, but not
to be put upon"
They wandered about in the great
glass-roofed room where the giraffe
lived. His halter rope was fastened to
the roof, and high up on the wall was
his crib, which the keeper had just
filled with hay. He thrust it down
through the skylight, and so did not see
Miss Hitty and Jemima in the gathering
shadows below.
As they talked and coaXed the great
creatures attention they lost track of
the time. In fact they were so absorbed
that they did not hear the great gong
that announced the closing of the Zoo.
Neither did they notice the click of the
door to the giraffe house. 1t is sur
prising how much there is to see and
admire in a giraffe if you set about it.
Miss Kitty, you haven't got your
watch on, have you?" asked Jenlima,
after she had exhausted the giraffe's
charms. 'Twouldn't be polite if we
was late to supper, long as am at your
brothers, and l seem to feel it supper
time
''Salles, what Il child you are!"-Mima
E. . 1T-I
dinner" replied the reluctant Miss Hit
ty. But sister Jane will want to hear
all about our shopping before tea. John
says it takes his mind off his victuals if
we talk about bargains at the table, so
we'd better step along"
They turned to the door at one end,
but it was fastened. They walked the
length of the room to the other door,
but that, too, was locked.
"Sakes alive, Nina Johnson, what are
you giggling at?' demanded Miss Hit
ty with some asperity.
"Why, don't you see we're locked in,
and have to stay all night with your
lovely gyrafft?" and Mima's giggle be-
came hysterical.
I'D rather spend it here than with
those monkeys you took such a shine
to-" retorted Miss Kitty, with great
presence of mind. But / don't intend
to stay with either. Here, you! Here!'
She began to call and pound on the
door with the end of her umbrella. Je-
NINA Joined in the cry, but there was
no response. The usually noisy Zoo was
quiet as dawn. The animals were left
In peace, and the guards had gone to
supper. Fortunately it was not yet
dark, and plenty of air came in at the
open skylight.
Whatever shall we do?" gasped
Nina.
do? l rather guess we stay where
we are, for the present" Miss Kitty re-
piled. "You jest sit down on that box
while I think"
Miss Kitty thought at some length.
but to little purpose. It-was clear that
nothing could be done till the guards
finished their. supper. At the mention
of supper Jemima caught her breath.
Ever since II o'clock she had been sight
seeing, and her first day of the city had
been quite enough for her.
There, child, know you're hungry.
Never knew a young one who wasn't.
Amt it a mercy we didn't give all
our sweeties to the elephant? Here's
three seed cookies and a bun, and 1
guess you got an orange and the bag
O. peanuts, amt you? Come, now,
that's famous. Wen eat right away.
then it won't seem so long waiting.
I'll spread my clean pocket handk'cher
for tablecloth and we1l play we was
to a Sunday school picnic"
The timid Jemima soon recovered her
spirits, and they had quite merry
meal. While they ate darkness set
tied over the Zoo, and night came on,
but there was no sign of the returning
guards. When they had eaten the last
peanut Miss Kitty began to look anx-
ious. 1t was all very well to have
something queer happen to her; it al
WAYS did; but here was Nina, and the
Johnsons would never forgive her If
anything happened to their Nina. She
wished to goodness she'd never brought
her; but, then, nothing would happen.
She wouldn't let it. She turned deter
minedIy TO Nina and said:
"Now, Nina johnson, you're all tired
out. Just you curl up on that fresh
straw and take a cat nap. Likely
that's his bed, but he won't begrudge
it to you. I'll speak to the guard when
he comes by. That's a dear"
Her faith in Miss Kitty was strong,
and her WEAKNESS was great, so in a
| few minutes Jemima was sound asleep.
Miss Hitty spread her shawl over the
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