The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1902-01-17
An Unernected Parade.


Fitkin's yard. There did not seem to
be much else to look at, and after a
day or two she began to tire Of having
to sit so still.
But the worst of a was when her
brother Tommy told her that papa had
promised to take him down town the
next afternoon to see the parade. Anna
had heard all about the parade, for
mamma had read to her about it from
the newspaper, and there were to be
soldiers in it, and bands of music, and
men on horseback, all dressed in splen-
did uniforms, and oh, she did want to
see it so much.
But of course she couldn't, for the
doctor would not even let her walk
about the house yet. 1t did seem too
bad
'T'm awful sorry, Anna" said Tom
my, as he and papa started out the
next day, but I'll tell you all about it
when l got back, just the best l can"
Papa kissed her goodby and whis-
pered a loving little message in her
ear, and then they were gone.
Anna tried to be very brave, because
she knew it would grieve mamma if
she was unhappy about it, and of
course it couldn't be helped; but at the
same time she could not help wishing
that she was we'll and able to go, too.
She did not feel at all interested in
Mrs. Fitkin's hens, and there wasn't
anything else to watch, except a yell
lew dog that was lying stupidity in the
middle of the road.
Anna laid her head against the back
of the big easy chair and closed her
eyes. She was thinking about Tommy
and the soldiers and the music, when
from out in the street she heard a
strange shrill laugh.
She sat up very quickly and looked
out And there was the strangest pro-
cession. There were three, four, five,
wagons coming up the street, and on
each wagon there were two or three
cages, although at a distance they sim
ply looked like big boxes.
Anna called mamma eXcitedly for
in one of the cages on the first wagon
was a gorgeous red and blue parrot
which was talking and laughing by
turns, and evidently enjoying the ride
very much. There were several other
cages on this wagon, some of which
held eagles and others owls, and in one
was a small monkey, which now and
then opened it's mouth as widely as
possible and gave the funniest long
shrill squeaL
The other wagons held larger cages
There were black bears standing on
their hind legs, holding to the bars al
the SIDE of their cages, and wolves
walking back and forth as if they
would like to find some way Of gettin&
out so that they might run off to the
woods again. There were foxes, too
and in one cage was a wildcat. 1t die
not look one bit wild, but like an i'm
mense big house cat, with beautiful
eyes and a coat Of silky hair Anna
said she felt like hugging it,
In a big cage with a tank in 1t
which occupied an entire wagon, Their
were sea lions, but Anna could not SCI
them very we'll, for they could no
climb or walk about like the other ami
mails. But one raised his head, AM
Anna was satisfied with that.
On the last wagon was a large ap
: which must have been leased by tn
boys and girls, for as soon as it caugh
sight of Anna at the window it bega
, making faces at her. This was tn
funniest sight of all.
, She watched the ape until it was on
OF sight, and then she turned to man
, ma and asked, Where do you suppos
they came from, and wasn't it funn
that they came today, just when
! was wishing so much to see a parade?
' Mamma laughed. Eyes, it was fur
: n.y." she said, answering Annals la'
+ question first, "but l think l kno
2 where they came from. They are tn
r animals that have been kept in tn
2 park during the summer, and now Thu
e the weather is becoming colder the
2 are being moved to winter quarter
Y They are to be kept in some lars
h barns on a stock farm outside the city
? Well" replied Anna, as she lean5
e back in her chair, Il am glad they d
o 90 past here; and won't have SOM
thing to tell Tommy when he conn
r home. youths Companion.