TAMING AN ALLIGATOR.

Kumara Times, Issue 1773, 7 June 1882, Page 2

TAMING AN ALLIGATOR.

" You see that item in one of the papers about tamin' young alligators, 1 reckon," said a Gravesend man, capturing the city editor by the buttonhole, and drawing him into a doorway. " You know the pap r said it was the fash'nable thing to d ." " I don't remember. Pe. haps I did. What of it]" asked the city editor. M I ttied it," said the Gravesend man ; " a friend of mine brought me one from New Orleans, and I'm tamin' that alligator for the children to play with." " How does tbe experiment come along T asked the city editor. "I dou't know about the experiment; the alligator is thrivio'. He was six weeks old when I got him two mouths ago, and he's seven years old now. People in our parts says he's all the alligator I'll ever need." " What does he do?" " Well, it's here. When be came he was a sportive little cuss, and just wabbled about friendly. He was chietfy mouth, and we u<ed to feed him fir the fun of oeeiu' him eat. Now we skin around when we see him comiV for the fun of seein' him go hmgrv." " Is he dangerous V asked the city editor. " I haven't been close enough to see. Hi- eat up my dog, and when I 1.-ft this inorniu' he was iu the sty argnin' the question of pork as a diet with the pig. My wife thinks if the pig has any luck he'll Hnd the cow we lost." " Better get rid of him, hadn't yon 1" suggested the city editor. " I don't know," repli. d rlie Gravesend man. » We've stored so much away in him now that it seems like givin' up most of our property, and mv eldest girl says she can't hear of haviu' her let go out among strati er.s." " Did he bite her 1 g off}" demanded the li-r \fi-d city editor. " Sure !" responded the Graves =»nd man. " Took if off short. Then there's he babv. We h.te to part with the baby's giave, so we sorter try and keep the altgator along. My wife insists on keepiu' him, 'cause she thinks she saw a couple ~' peddlers go in one day, packs and all, and she's got an idea the packs nmy come to the front again if we hold on. Besid-s, she seen that item about tame alligators bei.n' fashionable, and sh-'s a good deal on style." " But do you call that alligator" tame?" " Cert'nlv. He conies right into the house, same's any of us, and keeps himself. He's got that heel," and the Gravesend man pointed to a mutilated foot. "There's my son's wife, too. She's part alligator now. He eat hetup a week ago, ami the boy hasn't got over his arm yet. The aligatot got the arm too." •'Great Scott!" ejacula-ed the city editor. "Oh, yes! It's lively down there.)

When he puts himself „n, he's business. He's the lightningest alligator tor a tame one you ever saw. Whea we first got him we used him for a tack hammer, drew nails with him, but now he is the head of the family, ceptpa\in' the rent. When there is any mysterious disappearance around Grave.send the coroner comes and views the alligator, That ends it. When the baby was snatched they held the inquest in a tree. The jury* was all on one limb and the alligator underneath looking up. Bimeby the limb broke, and the jury disappeared in a row just as they sat. We didn't wait for any verdict. The. coroner gave me a permit, and after the funeral we shied an empty coffin at the alligator. Then the ister said. « Dust to dust,' and we all dusted. Do you remember whether that itett. s.ld what a real tame alliga« tor ought to be fed on?" "Don't recollect seing it a fc all. Aren't you afraid he'll eat up some more of y„ U r family 1" "Think he's lia"h!e to?" asked the Graves-nd man, with a curious-expres* Si on of visa»<\ ■" He might. Suppose he should ge« your wife?" "Ah !" said the Gravesend man, "He might get her, mighten he ? Yort think I'd better keep him, then V and the Graveaend man leaned against the door and gave himself up to reflection. "So he migbh; so he might," the city editor heard him say as he drew away and left him there. "That beautiful young tame alligator may get her yet," and the gloom of nightfall enveloped the frame dilating witlt a new hope.— American paper.