The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-14
ARMER VIRUMQUE-By w. R. Hopkins

the attention O the lion. an I'd jest started to haul Nuttree a little farther in, when the lion jumped.
 The top O the cage was bout twelve foot from the ground, an he didn't quite fetch it. but he got one paw over the top, an think he'd a pulled 1t down, If it hadn't ben built into the wall He hung there. fer a minute, an l stomped on his foot, an in trying to pull himself up he thrashed about so that he busted in the front O the cage an down he went, smash, on his back. Friends, l wish you could "a heard them monks. l think there was bout 30 of 'em, but 1t sounded as if there was 800. Some of them come up, with me an Nuttree, a few of 'em stayed in the cage, but the most of 'em went visitin,' and every one of 'em was screamin to his limit.
 I dunno whether the monks scared the lion, or whether twas the jar he got, but when he got himself righted. he crawed under the monks cage, an lay there. It was tight fit fer him. an he didn't go way under, so that bout two foot of his tail stuck out, an l watched 1t pretty close, fer a spell, till I made up my mind he was goin' to stay there, an then 1 begun course O first aid to the rattled. l turned Nuttree face Up, an put my flask in his mouth an he soon got his mind back. He looked around, an when he didn't see no lion, he put his arms round my neck. fore I could stop him, an be- gun to kiss me. l showed him off, quick as I could
 "Quit that" I says of l didn't know ye'd ben under some strain, an haint jest right yit, I'd hand ye one.'
 "Ah," says he, you haf my life saved. You are a hero. Alone haf you killed the lion. Is it not true?"
 I don't blieve in thrown' away lbokays. an I had hauled Nuttree up, an I had stomped on the lions foot, but I thought he might try fer us agin, an Nuttree d find out. anyways, so I says:
 Well, no, Nutty l don't b'lieve I killed him-not dead-but I hurt him bad, an as fer savin' yer life,. seen my duty, an I done it. Slim Brown never left friend, when danger frowned-not if said friend could keep up with him.
 Not dead?' says he gittin' white. Where is he then?"
 Under this cage. Want to see him?''
 "Ah, no," yells Nuttree. Gan he not upleap?"
 "He can-some." I says, but not fer enough an Nuttree let out another yell. Every time Nuttree'd holer, the monks'd jine in. an I'd skip to the edge O the cage, an look at the Hons tail an every time he'd be wavin' the tip of 1t mite quicker. I grabbed Nuttree, an drug him to the edge. an pinted to the tail, an explained things to him.
 Nuttree." says l. q don't think he can git up. but l haint noways anxious to have him try so you an the monks have got to hold yer clack. But what troubles f1,,f erft d less-say, Nutty. By thunder! I've got an idee Yes. sir, an if 1t works, I'll hunt that lion back to his waitin' bride quick"
 What for an idee is it?" he says
 You'll see," I says, If it works. Pm goin to git down from this perch, an git out. You stay here. If you keep quiet, l don't think he'll try agn,"
 The cage we was was the first one, as ye,come in the alley, an the door was close to it. I thought if I could climb down, without maxim no noise, till I got close to the floor I could make skip 10 the door, fore the lion could turn him. self fer he hadn't much room. Well. sir, I done it., I slid down the front of the cage, till my feet wasn't more'n yard from the lions tail Then I give myself a powerful whirlin push out from the cage. an quick as I touched the ground, I jumped fer the door. unlocked it. got through, slammed it. an 1t ketched. The lion come agin it. slam, bang, an I heered Nuttree an all the monks screechin' an the lion roarin' I skipped through the next room-full of stuffed birds an sich--an l was dreadful un- easy, for, thinks l. what if I have dis remembered? But I hadn't. No, sir. There it was. jest to one side O the big front door. It was made out O boiler iron, jedge, from the heft of it. an had belonged to Gustus the Strong.
 Gus was a heavy weight but he wasn't no taller'n me, an I calculated if could git into it I wouldn't ask no odds of all the lions in Afriky. What? Why, armer Sure-suit O armer. I s'pose I thought of it, from bein' connected with the name fer so long in the cattle business. We'll I got into it quickern't ye'd think, an grabbed the club that went with it. 1t had an iron nub on the end. with spikes in it-an' started back. It was too loose fer me, an the piece my head was in was too high, an kep' wobblin' sos I couldn't keep the eye-holes in front, an kep' bumpln into things, an mak- in' noise like lot O loose tin roofs in Q blizzard. but I como to the door. an