piazza post. This is the worst I ever heard
of--Uncle Toby leaving us a menagerie!"

"'Tisn't quite as bad as that, though 'tis, almost," said Mrs. Watson.
"There isn't an elephant, but there is an alligator."

"An alligator! Oh, that's great!" cried Ted. "Where is it?"

"This is terrible!" declared his mother.

"It's only a little alligator," explained the housekeeper. "He's real
friendly, though his tail scratches when he rubs it against your hand as
you feed him."

"Anything else?" asked Mr. Martin. "Please go on. We may as well hear the
worst. It sounds like a circus that Uncle Toby kept in his house. What
else, Mrs. Watson?"

"Well? that's about all, except some white rats and mice and the pigeons.
Uncle Toby didn't get the snake he wanted."

"Let us be thankful for that," murmured Mrs. Martin, "though it is bad
enough as it is."

"Bad?" cried Teddy. "I think it's jolly! Can't we go in and see Uncle
Toby's pets?" he asked.

"They're going to be our pets, aren't they, Daddy?" asked Jan. "Didn't
Uncle Toby say you could have them?"

"That's what he said," replied the father of the Curlytops. "But I don't
know whether to take him at his word or not. But we may as well go in and
look at the--the menagerie!" he said to his wife, with a smile.

"They'll need feeding--the animals will," said Mrs. Watson. "I'm glad
you're here to help me. I was staying only until you came. Uncle Toby
said you'd be over in a day or two. I'm leaving to-night, now you're
here."

"What? And make us take care of all the pets?" cried Mrs. Martin.

"Oh, they're real kind and gentle--every one, even the little alligator,"
Uncle Toby's housekeeper made haste to say. "And as long as you have
children the pets will be just the things for the Curlytops. Only I can't
stay much longer. I was just waiting for you. I went outside as it was
quieter," she concluded, as, once again, the pet animals set up a
screeching, barking and mewing.

"Well, let's get it over with," suggested Mr. Martin. "Maybe they'll be
quieter if we feed them. Is there anything in the house for the menagerie
to eat?" he asked the little old housekeeper.

"Oh, yes, Uncle Toby always fed them well," she answered. "Oh, I'm so
glad you came to take charge of the pets!"

"I don't know whether we are or not," remarked Mrs. Martin. "I suppose,
though," she said to her husband in a low voice, as they prepared to
enter the house, "we can sell them. We don't have to keep t