The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-01-25
An Unexpected Parade.

but now she was able to sit up by the
window and see the children go by on
their way to school, and watch the
chickens scratch industriously in Mrs
Fitkin's yard. There did not seem to
be much else to look at, and after q
day or two she began to tire of having
to sit so still.
But the worst of all 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 1t SO much.
But Of course she couldn't, for the
doctor would not even let her walk
about the house yet. 1t did seem toe
bad.
I'm awful sorry, Anna" said Tom
my. as he and papa started out the
next day, but TIL tell you all about it
when get back. just the best 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 IL
she was unhappy about 1t, and Of
course it couldn't be helped; but at the
cov chH holv - oh TN
that she was well 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 yell
low 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 q
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 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 q small monkey, which now and
then opened its mouth as widely as
possible and gave the funniest long.
shrill squeal.
Anna sat up and clapped her hands
softly. 20 mamma" she said. how
funny!
The other wagons held larger cages.
There were black bears standing on
their hind legs. holding to the bars at
the side of their cages, and wolves
walking back and forth as II they
would like to find some way Of getting
out so that they might run of to the
woods again. There were foxes, too,
and in one cage was a wildcat 1t did
not look one bit wild. but like an inn
mense big house cat, with beautiful
eyes and coat of silky hair. Anna
said she felt like hugging it.
In a big cage with tank in it.
which occupied an entire wagon, there
were sea lions, but Anna could not see
them very well, for they could not
climb or walk about like the other ami
mails. But one raised his head, and
Anna was satisfied with that.
On the last wagon was large ape
which must have been leased by the |
boys and girls, for as soon as 1t caught
sight Of Anna at the window 1t began
making faces at her. This was the
funniest sight Of all.
She watched the ape until 1t was out |
of sight, and then she turned to man.
ma and asked, Where do you suppose
they came from, and wasn't 1t funny |
that they came today, just when
was wishing so much to see a parade?"
Mamma laughed. Eyes, it was fun
n.y." she said, answering Annals last
question first, 'but I think / know |
where they came from. They are the
animals that have been kept In the
park during the summer, and now that
the weather is becoming colder they |
are being moved to winter quarters. |
They are to be kept in some large |
barns on a stock farm outside the city"
WELL" replied Anna, as she leaned
back in her chair, Il am glad they did
90 past here; and won't | have some
thing to tell Tommy when he comes |
Companion.