TAMING AN ALLIGATOR.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4242, 5 August 1882, Page 1 (Supplement)

TAMING AN ALLIGATOR.

" You see that item in one of the papers about tamin' young alligators, I reckon," said a Gravesend man, capturing the cityeditor by the buttonhole, and drawing him into a doorway. " You know the paper said it was the fashionable thing to do." " I don't remember. Perhaps I did. What of it? " asked the city editor. " I tried it," said Gravesend man; "a friend of mine brought me one from New Orleans, and I'm taming that alligator for the children to play with." " How does the experiment come along P " asked the city editor. 111 don't know about the experiment, the alligator is thrivin. He was six weeks old when I got him two months ago, and he's seven years old now. People in our parts says he's all the alligator I'll ever need." "What does hedo? :> " Well, its here. When he came, he was a sportive little cuss, and just wabbled about friendly. He was chiefly mouth, and we used to feed him for the fun of seem' him eat. Now, we skin around when we see him comin' for the ■ake of seein 1 him go hungry." "Is he dangerous?" asked the city editor.

"I haven't been close enough to see. He eat up my dog, and when I left this mornin' he was in the sty arguin' the question of pork as a diet with the pig. My wife thinks if the pig has any luck he'll find the cow we lost "

" Better get rid of him, hadn't you ?" suggested the city editor.

" I don't know," replied the Gravesend man. " We've stored so much away in him now that it seems like givin' up most of our property, and my eldest girl says she can't hear of havin' her leg go out among strangers."

" Did he bite her leg off?" remarked the horrified city editor. " Sure!" responded the Gravesend man. " Took it off short. Then there's her baby. We hate to part with the baby's grave, so we sorter try and keep the alligator along. My wife insists on keepiu' him, 'cause she thinks she saw a couple* o' peddlers go in one day, packs and all, and she's* got an idea the packs may come to the front again if we hold on. Besides she seen that item about tame alligators being fashionable, and she's a good deal of style." "But do you call alligator tame?" " Cert'nly. He lomes right into the house, same's any of us, and keeps himself. He's got that heol," and the Gravesend man pointed to a mutilated foot. " There's my son's wife, too. She's part alligator now. He eat her up a week ago, and the boy hasn't got over his arm yet. The alligator got the arm too." " Great Scott! " ejaculated the city editor.

"Oh, yes! It's lively down there. When he puts himself up, he's business. He's the lightningest alligator for a tame one you ever saw. When we first got him we used him for a tack hammer, dew nails with him, but now he's the head of the family, except payin' the rent. When there is any mysterious disappearance around Gravesend the coroner comes and views the alligator. That ends it. When the baby was snatched they held the inquest on 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 verdiot. The coroner gave me a permit, and after the funeral we shied an empty coffin at the alligator. Then the minister said, * Bust to dust,' and we all dusted. Do you remember whether that item said what a real tame alligator ought to be fed «n ?"

"Don't recollect seeing it at all. Aren't you afraid he'll eat up some more of your family ?" "Think he's liable top" asked the Grayesend man, with a curious expression of visage.

"He might. Suppose he should get your wife ?" "Ah !" said the Gravesend man. "He might get her, mighten he P You think I'd better keep him, then?" and the Gravesend man leaned against the door and gave himself up to reflection. "So he might—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 with a new hope.—-American paper.

A fashion writer says: —"A rather novel shade in bonnets has a tall, steeplelike projection rising above the wearer's head." To preserve the unities, a steeplelike projection which begins in vanity should c.nd in a vane.