Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1906-06-07
WeeMacgreegor
at the Zoo
BY }. }. BELL


street into Cambridge street-"paw.
why DO they call il the zoo?"
Deed, Macgreegor. ye beat me
there" returned his father Lizzie. :"
he said to his wife. "Macgreegors ask.
ing why they call il the zoo"
Macgreegor's aye askin'," said Liz.
zie. IF they didn't call IL the zoo,
what wud they call it,"
'Weel, that's true" observed her
husband. But it's queer word.
zoo; an the more ye think o. I the
queerer il gets. | mind l."
Paw. will we soon be there?p in.
quired his son. whose pathological
craving was apparently neither very
severe nor lasting.
LAY. yen be there in a minute. Liz
zie. are We sure it's all right about takin
wee JEANNE in 10 see the beasts? I'm
afraid she'll be frightened
Frightened? Never fear. John!
Wee Jeannies not that easy fright
ened. My mol When the minister was
in the house on Wednesday, wee Jean
ME was not a bit feart-was ye, my
darlin'? She jist laughed at him, an
played dab at his eye with the leg O.
her aud jumpln' jack. Mr. Brown was
much amused. an gied her one o his
cough lozengers. No. no. John; she's
not that easy frightened
"Aweel, ye know best, Lizzie. See,
gle her TO me"
"0h. I'll hold her till we get inside
She'll soon be walkin' all alone-will We
no. honey1 Jist keep a grip O Mac
greegor, John. or he'll be fieein ava an
eettin' run over or lost"
Paw" said MScgregor, II see the
zoo"
"Ay, that's IL. Ye never see wild
beasts afore, Macgreegor?"
Il pretty near seen wild beasts in the
shows al the Lairgs, paw"
'oh yes; ye was bidin with yer aunt
Purdie then. She wud be feart TO 20 10
where the beasts was /"
Aunt Purdies an auld fooier, saiG
Macgregor.
"whisht, whishtl" interposed his
mother. "Ye're no TO speak that way
about yer Aunt PurdIe She's a real de-
cent woman. John. ye shouldn't laugh
at Macgreegor's talk; ye jist max Lin
think he's smart"
Jaw, the boys all right, Lizzie. Weel,
we'll get across the road now"
How" began the boy.
"Macgreegor, TAX yer paws hand
I'm no wantin ye 10 be eatched wi one
o. those electricians" said his
mother.
The street was crossed without mis-
hap. and presently the quartette found
themselves within the ZOO. For cou-
pie OF minutes. perhaps, they paused on
the threshold. uncertain which direction
10 take Then the announcement made
by an Official in loud voice TO the eff
feet that performance by the lions and |
tigers was about TO take place on the |
west side OF the building sent them I
thither with the crowd, Macgregor for
once in his life being too overcome for
speech.
Beyond sundry calculations, little
conversation took place while the train
er exhibited his pluck and wonderful
command over the brutes: and IL might
have been observed that Macgregor
never once made the slightest attempt 10
withdraw his fingers from the fatherly
clasp.
Mercy mel It's most wonderful"
exclaimed Lizzie. when it was all over.
bod. II beats everything" said
John. as he took wee JEANNE from her
arms.
And a small voice at his side whis-
pered. hoarsely: Il wasn't afraid,
paw"
'Macgreegor's cayin' he WASH afraid,
Lizzie" said John to his wife.
Maybe he wasn't" returned TO Liz
zie. but | can tell We | was a shakin'
when the big brutes was loupin' about
the man. was wonderin' what wud
do wi wee JEANNE IL ony O. the beasts
run out Of the cages an commenced
fur to pull the heads an legs of the
folk"
"och, woman, there's no fear O. that.
IF a beast was goin fur to pull ma
head OF. remarked Maegregor who had
grown suddenly bold, "I-l-I-wud-l
wud gi'e I kick,"
we're the boy!" said his father.
"Ye sudna let him boast like that
John" said Lizzie. reproyingiy.
What wud We do, Macgreegor' asked ,
John. with a grin, IF beast was after
yer maw?"
'1-I-wud pull its tail" replied the
valiant Macgregor. "And then wud-"
A loud roar from one Of the lions in
terrupted him and caused him to clutch :
at his parent.
Jaw. Macgreegor, said his mother
I'm afraid ye wud jist run ava an
leave yer NAV TO be EFT"
The boys under-lip trembled. !
wudna do that, NAV, he said, solemnly.
"Wud We not, my dearie?" said Liz
lie her voice softening "Weel, Weel
we'll say no more about it. What's yer
49,, a. xree Teauuie after nOwf'