CHAPTER XII.
A VISIT TO THE ZOO.
The days were growing longer and pleasanter. The trees were all dressedin green now, and the maples in front of the Burton home bent theirgreen boughs and shook their leaves at the invitation of every littlezephyr.
The evening star shone over the western hills, followed closely by theslender new moon. The sun sank to rest behind those same hills, somenights gorgeously attended by crimson and gold and purple clouds; onother evenings, dropping out of sight suddenly, as if in a hurry to getto China, as Winnie was fond of telling Ralph.
Winnie often sat with Ralph on the front steps these days, and showedhim the bright star and tried to explain to him that it was a big world,perhaps full of people; or she would put on her roller skates and skateup and down the flagged pavement, while he rode his velocipede.
Winnie thought she had never known a spring so beautiful as this one.She felt as if she could stay out of doors forever, and found it evenharder to keep her resolution of conquering self-indulgence and stickingto her duties now than when she liked so much to sit by a bright fireand read.
She had her pretty card and her motto in the looking-glass in her room,but she found it so hard to remember--or to want to remember, perhaps,which every one knows is quite a different thing--that she pinned alittle piece of stiff paper with the word "Now" written on it, insideher dress. On the whole, however, she kept pretty well to her resolutionof having a time for everything and doing everything in its time.
But she had never before felt such a desire to be out of doors, and sheimagined she heard fairies beckoning to her from the woods and hills. Soone day, when Aunt Kitty came over and invited Ralph and herself and theother four girls of her little band to go to the Zoological Garden thenext Saturday, the girl's delight was unbounded, and she was in a feverlest something should happen to prevent their going.
She delivered her message to the other girls. Miriam and Fannie at oncesaid they thought they could go, but Ernestine did not feel sure shecould arrange her Saturday duties so that no extra burden would fall onher mother, while Gretta told them she would have to ask her father toexcuse her from the extra practice on Saturday, as they were to taketheir lunches and stay all day.
Fortunately Gretta found her father in very good humor. She had beenmaking excellent progress with her music, and he was very willing sheshould have a holiday. Ernestine, also, had arranged with one of theneighbors in the building to take care of her little children onthe succeeding Saturday, in return for her help in doing some extrahousehold work.
Saturday turned out to be a warm, pleasant day, and in their eagernessthe girls arrived at the Burtons' a little ahead of time, and had towait till Miss Benton came, which she did soon, looking very happy. Asfor Ralph, his eyes were as bright as stars, and he was the very pictureof joy and good humor.
They walked up to Elm Street, and from there took the car to the Mt.Bellevue inclined railway. When they entered the car of the latter, allstood at the front end of it and looked out of the window, and had thestrange sensation, which no familiarity therewith seems quite to deaden,of being lifted suddenly into another region, and of seeing the greatcity sinking down, down, until one wonders where it is going. Then, allat once, the car stopped with its usual jerk, and there they were, atthe top of the hill.
There were very few people about the Bellevue House. They took a walkaround the grounds and through the building, and stood looking at thecity, covered with its workaday smoke from the many manufactories, tillit almost seemed as if it were seen through a cloud.
"How strange it is," said Miriam, as they entered the street-car at thetop of the hill, "to see the houses just as close together here, andto have it seem like a city of itself, and yet so different from thebusiness part of Cincinnati below that it is hard to imagine the two areany part of each other!"
"There is something strange about such things," said Miss Benton. "It isjust like people's lives. Their daily business, which brings them breadand butter, and which is really the largest and most important partof existence, seems to sink into insignificance or to be forgottenaltogether when social relations are taken up. But, after all, I like tolive in the city itself, where there is something of the past lingeringabout. Everything seems so new here."
"I don't know," said Ernestine. "I think I would like to live up here;the air seems so much purer. But I would want a bigger yard than these,where I might have a garden."
"It's cleaner, too, up here," said practical Gretta, who was neatnessitself. "I visit my aunt on Vine Street Hill, and things always looksso much nicer and newer at her house than the same ones at ours. Andit isn't because we don't try, for we do twice the amount of work; mymother and sister are always going about with a duster." And Gretta, whohad made a long speech for her, finished with a sigh, at which they alllaughed.
"Gretta would like a house where everything had a glass cover," saidMiriam. "As for me, I like things jolly and comfortable, and if they getgrimy and sooty, and nobody's to blame, what's the use of making one'sself unhappy about it? I'm afraid I'm a good deal like Josie Thompson,for I do like to enjoy myself."
"Well, no two of us are alike, and I don't think it was intended that weshould be," said Miss Benton. "That is what makes the charm of people'shouses--that they should all partake of the individuality of theirowners. When I enter even a little girl's room, I like to see somesigns of her ownership there, and not have it all as her mother or oldersister or the maid arranged it. I like to see something that looks as ifshe had an object in life, if it is nothing more than a charm string ofbuttons, (which, by the way, has gone out of fashion, I believe,) or ascrapbook."
"Well, then, Aunt Kitty," said Winnifred, smiling at her own thought,"it must be a treat for you to go into Uncle Fred's room; for, if I wereto see such a room at the North Pole, I would think of him."
"Well," said Miss Benton, with a smile, "I might enjoy it better ifit were in some other house. I think, in this case, it must be thatfamiliarity breeds contempt. The fact is, girls, my brother's room ismore of an old curiosity shop than a modern sleeping-room. He has alwayshad a sort of magpie-habit of storing things away, and is continuallyhaving some new hobby; and as his hobbies are often changed, and eachhobby is apt to take the form of making some sort of collection, he hasqueer things lying about. But from the time he was quite a little boy,mother always said, 'Oh, let him have that,' or 'do the other, and he'llbe satisfied at home.'"
"How many canes and walking-sticks has he, Aunt Kitty?"
"Eight, I think, and each one has a history; and two or three of them amystery, which he refuses to divulge. But here we are at the end of ourjourney, and Fannie hasn't had an opportunity to open her mouth."
"It's probably very good for my tongue to get a rest; it works quitesteadily as a usual thing--at least so my father says. But if Ralphhadn't been all eyes, this would have been dull for him."
"I isn't all eyes!" said Ralph, indignantly.
They now approached the entrance to the Zoological Garden, and the girlsonce more took out their pocket books; but Miss Benton was ahead of themagain, and had settled for the party before there was time to demur.
The first thing they spied were the mounds of the prairie dogs, andthey stood watching these a long time. It was such fun to see the littleanimals running in and out of their holes and to hear their funny bark,which Miriam said was "the best part of them, and probably very muchbetter than their bite."
Our little party was fortunate enough to be at the cages of thecarnivora just at feeding time. The great lions lay basking in the sunand looking so innocent and amiable that it was almost impossible toimagine they could be at all dangerous, when suddenly the man who fedthem appeared with the raw meat. Then their roars were fairly appalling,and made the whole crowd jump, while Ralph clung tight to the hand ofAunt Kitty, who said:
"I was just thinking how nice it would be to pat that quiet, majesticfellow on the head, as I would my Angora cat; but I think I'll w
ait tillhe's had his dinner."
"Oh, Aunt Kitty," said Ralph, "I 'ouldn't let you; he'd eat you up!"
It was an exciting but rather terrible pleasure to see the wildcreatures quarreling and growling and fighting over their dinners, andwas also a most effective object lesson on greediness.
Like other visitors, although Miss Kitty laughed at them for it, ourlittle party followed the keeper around from one cage to another as hefed the various animals.
"I like the bears best," said Fannie. "They look like Eskimos when theystand on their hind legs, and they stare up at us and the other peopleas if we were here just for them to look at."
"There is a something within me that, in spite of bears and all theirattractions, tells me it must be dinner time," said Miss Benton, takingout her watch. "Yes, it is one o'clock; suppose we get our baskets."
Ralph, in particular, manifested great approval of this part of theprogramme, and, having selected a nice grassy spot, they disposed ofthemselves as comfortably as possible, each with her basket at her side.
As they opened the baskets, passing the thin sandwiches and pickles,Winnie made a suggestion.
"Aunt Kitty, let's play 'I have a thought.'"
"Very well," replied the lady; and, after a short explanation of thegame, and a little time to think, she announced the fact that she had athought.
"Why is it like the sky?" asked Winnie.
"Because it is round."
"Why is it like a bear?" asked Miriam, her thoughts still on the bearpit.
"Because--oh, Miriam, that is a hard one!--because it is sometimeswhite."
"Why is it like me?" said Ralph.
"Because everybody likes it when it is good." And Ralph wondered whythey all laughed.
"Why is it like the grass?" asked Ernestine.
"Because it is greenest in the spring."
Then the questions poured upon Miss Benton rapidly, as the girls beganto see how the game was played.
"Why is it like music?" asked Gretta.
"Because it suggests pleasant thoughts."
"Why is it like a novel?"
"It is often highly flavored."
"Why is it like an egg?"
"Because it is an article of food."
"Why is it like a cream-puff?"
"Because the best part is inside."
"Why is it like cheese?" said Fannie, putting a piece in her mouth.
"Because it comes on with the dessert."
"Why is it like a book?"
"Because the best part is usually between the covers."
"Why is it like a ring?"
"Because people like to have a finger in it."
At which there was a general shout, and they all said: "A pie, ofcourse!"
"But what kind of a pie, Miss Benton?" asked Miriam.
"That you must find out, too," was the laughing answer; and thequestions went on.
"It can't be lemon or custard or pumpkin," said Fannie, "because we knowit has two covers."
"Why is it like a flower?"
"Because it has various colors."
"And is greenest in the spring," said Winnie, musingly. "Oh, it is anapple pie! And Miss Benton acknowledged that she had guessed correctly.
Then Ernestine and Gretta consulted, and took a thought together. Theirthought was a geography lesson, and of course the resemblances were mostabsurd, and it required all the ingenuity the two girls possessed toanswer the questions.
They were all so occupied with the game and their dinner that no onenoticed Miss Benton had not yet opened her basket, and great was theirsurprise and delight when she passed around to each of them a grocer'sthin platter filled with strawberries, for they were still very scarce,as it was early in the season.
After dinner, Miss Benton took out a book and said she was going to readfor a while, so the girls walked around, taking Ralph with them, andgreatly enjoying the admiration he excited by his pretty dress,his beauty and his cunning speeches. They too, however, soon foundthemselves somewhat tired, so they went back to Miss Benton, and,sitting down for a rest, amused themselves by hunting for four-leavedclovers. In this Winnie and Miriam proved themselves the lucky ones.Fannie had not the slightest success, till finally she gave a little cryand held up a clover.
But Miss Benton's quick eyes noticed a twinkle in Fannie's, and saying,"Oh, Fannie, I'm afraid you're a little cheat!" she reached over andadroitly separated one of the leaves from another, leaving only a commonclover leaf.
"Well," said Fannie, laughing at being discovered so soon, "if I don'thave good luck, I'm not going to let everyone know it. My father tellsme to make up my mind that lots of things will happen to me in thisworld which I'll best conquer by grinning and bearing them. And that'swhat I'm going to do."
"A very good plan, my dear," said Miss Benton, "for even if the grin isa sickly one, it's better than a frown or a whine."
"I guess I don't do that way," said Gretta, whose tongue and conscienceboth seemed to be awaking. "I'm afraid I go away and pout."
"The worst of habits," said Miss Benton, with intentional decision."That is the habit which is most disagreeable to everyone around,most full of unhappiness to the one who indulges in it, and the mostdifficult to break. I am afraid that ill-temper is as powerful a giantas procrastination, because it, too, assumes so many forms; thereare pouting and whining, storming and scolding, and the various othermanifestations which we all, more or less, indulge in. I do not thinkmany people cling to the powerful Giant Hate, but it is 'the littlefoxes that spoil the vines,' and little fits of temper, long indulgedin, might at last lead even to that. But, girls, I didn't inveigle youout here this lovely day to lecture you. So come, let's be moving on."
They next went to the aviary. Here, although they enjoyed looking atthe birds, they became more interested in a party of children, boysand girls, each one looking like the others, so far as clothes wereconcerned. Of course they must be from some charitable institution, butthe girls did not know which one. Afterward, when our little companyhad gone to the monkey house and found a number of the same uniformedchildren, Miss Benton said to one of them, "What school is this, mydear?"
The child looked at her a moment in surprise, and then replied: "Why,this is the monkey school, I think."
"Where is the teacher?" asked Ralph, who mistook both question andanswer, as the child herself had done.
Miriam and Fannie were delighted at this, and, going up pretty closeto one of the cages, Fannie, who had yellow bangs, said, pointing to agreat monkey which was watching them in a very observant manner:
"I think this must be the teacher."
Just as she made the remark, the monkey stretched out his long arms,grabbed her bangs, and pulled out several hairs, which he smelled, andthen threw down with an air of disgust.
Fannie was somewhat startled at first, but, recovering herself, she saidthe monkey must have thought her hair was wisps of hay.
Miss Benton did not seem very fond of the "monkey school," as theydubbed it for the remainder of the afternoon, and she proposed going tothe pony track. This gave general satisfaction. Here, too, they foundthe uniformed children, all of them having a lovely time. Miss Bentonfound out, by conversing with one of the attendants, that they were fromone of the city orphan asylums, and that the whole lovely day was a giftto them from one of its patrons--admission into the garden and a ridefor each child on one of the ponies.
Ralph was not in the least frightened.]
They stood watching the orphan children for awhile, as they rode aroundthe track, and Miss Benton asked if her guests would not like a ride,too. Fannie, Winnie and Miriam said that they would, and each selected apony; Fannie, who had attended a riding-school, riding very gracefully.Ralph thought he would like a ride, too, so the riding-master broughthis smallest pony, and two of the little orphan boys came up and beggedpermission to lead it around the track.
Miss Benton consented, and, Ralph having been lifted into the saddle,they started off, a boy on each side of hi
m. But the little pony startedto run, and one of the boys was soon left behind; the other, who hadhold of the bridle, kept up manfully for a time, but before the pony hadgone round the track, he, too, was left behind. Ralph, however, held onto the bridle himself, and, not in the least frightened, kept his seatin the saddle as if it had been his velocipede. And the by-standersseemed to think it as cunning as did his partial aunt and the rest ofher party. However, in spite of the courage he had shown, Ralph wasquite willing to get off.
They remained at the track a little longer, watching the other childrenriding, and feeling glad that, if children were left alone in the world,there were people noble and good and with means enough to gather thelittle waifs together, and that they, too, had happy holidays.
The Girl Warriors: A Book for Girls Page 12