THE LION.—Leo Baérbarus. 
A gentleman had indulged himself in that rather dangerous pet, a tame Lion cub. The 
animal was very fond of its master, and would play w ith him as euilelessly as if it were a 
kitten. 
One day the gentleman fell asleep, leaving one of his hands hanging over the side of 
his couch. His pet Lion came up to the couch when its master was slumbering, and by 
way of showing its affection, began to lick the exposed hand. In a very short time, the 
rough, file-like tongue cut through the delicate skin of the hand, and caused some little 
pain and a slight effusion of blood, which was eagerly licked off by the animal. 
The pain swhich was caused by the too affectionate creature awoke its master, who 
naturally began to w ithdraw his hand from the caresses of the Lion. But at the first move- 
ment the Lion uttered a short, dee p growl, which was repeated in a menacing manner at each 
attempt to remove the hand from its dangerous and painful position. Seeing that the 
Lion cub had become suddenly transformed from a domestic pet to a wild beast, which had 
for the first time 1 ay ped blood, and thirsted for more, its owner quietly slipped his other 
hand under his pillow, where he kept a ready-loaded pistol, and shot the poor Lion 
through the head. It was an act that went sorely against his will, but was the only 
course which he could have adopted in such an extremity, when there was no time for 
reflection, and when the hesitation of a moment might have cost a life. 
