The Forrest City times., 1906-01-19
WeeMacgreegor
 at the Zoo
By J. J. BELL
{ tcopyrigh,, 1908, by Joseph B. BOwles.l )

street into Cambridge street-"paw, why do they call it the zoo?''
 Deed, Macgreegor, ye beat me there." returned his father. Lizzie he said 10 his wife, "Macgreegor's ask ing why they call it the ZOO
 "Macgreegor's aye askin'," said Liz zie. If they didn't call it 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 t the lueerer it gets 1 mind T."
 Paw, will we soon be there?' in quired his son, whose pathological craving was apparently neither very severe nor lasting.
 "Ay, yell be there in a minute. Liz zie. are ye sure it's all right about takin wee Jeannie in to see the beasts? I'm afraid she'll be frightened" Frightened? Never fear. John. Wee Jeannies not that easy fright ened. My no, When the minister was in the house on Wednesday. wee Jean Hie was not bit feart-was ye. my iarlin? She jist laughed at him. an played dab at his eye with the leg O her auld jumrin jack MT. Brown was much amused, an gi'ed her one O his cough lo5engers No, no John she's not that eaSy frightened.
 'Aweel, ye know best, Lizzie. See. gi'e her to me
 "Oh, I'll held her till We get inside. She'll soon be valkin' all alone-will ye mo- honey? Jsst keep grip O Mac greegor John. or he Il be fleein' ava an gettin' run over or lost"
 Paw said Macgregor, T see the ] loo."
 "Ay. that's it. Ye never see wild beasts afore, Macgreegor?" T pretty near seen wild beasts in the shows at the Lairgs. paw"
 Oh yes; ye was bidin' with yer amt Purdie then. She wud be feart 10 go in where the beasts was.'
 Aunt Purdie's an auld footer2 saiG Macgresor.
 'Whisht, whsht!" interposed his mother. We're TO to speak that way about yer Aunt Purdie. Shes a real de- cent woman. John ye shouldn't laugh at Macgreegor's talk; ye iist mak him think he's smart
 "Aw, the boys all right. Lizzie Weel. se3l set across the road now
 How" began the boy.
 tEaaGHtePor. talk yer paws h@nd. i'm D wsntin ye 10 be eatched vi one Q tfose electric-ears, said hls mother.
 The stseet was crossed without mis ca2. aed presently the quartette found themselves within the zoo. For a cou- rle Of minutes perhaps. they paused on the threshold, uncertain which direction to take. Then the announcements made by an official in a loud voice to the ef- feet that performance by the lions and tigers was about to take place on the west side of the building sent therl thither with the crowd. Macgregor for once in his life being too overcome for speech.
 Beyond sundry ejaculations. little conversation took place while the train CT exhibited his pluck and wonderful command over the brutes; and it might
 
 never once made the slightest attempt 10 withdraw his fingers from the fatherly clasp
 Mercy me, It's most wonderful" exclaimed Lizzie when it was all over.
 .Dod. it beats eyerything!" said John, as he took wee Jeannie from her arms.
 And small voice al his side whis- peFea. hoarsely: T wasn't afrari. raw.'
 @Aiacgreeg3r's 1ayin' he wasn't afraid Lizzie said John to his wife.
 Maybe he wasn't" returned 10 Liz zie. "but can tell ya was a shakin' when the Liz brutes was loupin about the man. was wonderin what wud do wi wee Jeannia if ony O the beasts run cut of the cages an commenced fur 10 pull the heads an legs of the folk"
 Och woman. there's no fear O that"
 If beast was goin fur to pull ma head of, remarked Macgregor. who had grown suddenly bold, "I-I-I-wud-l wud gie | Nck,'
 | lG lHe DSS Sdlst HIS iHtutI.
 "Ye sudna let him boast like that John" said Lizzie. reprovingly.
 What wud ye do, Macgreegog asked John, with a grin, If a beast was afte. yer maw?"
 I-I-wud pull it's tail" replied the valiant Macgregor. And hen wud-" A loud roar from one of the lions in- terrupted him and caused him to clutch at his parent
 "Aw. Macereegor.9 said his mother. I'm afraid ye wud iist run ava an leave yer nav to be ett
 The boys under-lip trembled. T wudna do that. nav. he said. solemnly.
 "Wud ye Aot my dearie?" said Liz zie, her voice softening. .Weel. weel we'll say TO more about 1t. Whats yer paw an wee JeaHnie after now?a
 Its an elephant, maw.a said Mac greeor. as they overlook the father ana daughter. who were admiring the stuffed carcass of 8 huge elephant Hes not alive" John explained