ant sloth
from South America. The stable is well stocked with monkeys, parrots,
eagles, lizards, tortoises and other curiosities, and in the watering
trough are a sea serpent and a mermaid (said to be the only specimens
of these marvels in a domesticated state).

Alice expressed some anxiety at first that the proximity of the strange
creatures might prove unpleasant to us, and she strictly forbade little
Erasmus associating with the pythons or pulling the crocodiles' tails.
Mr. Robbins has assured us, however, that his pets are docile and
trustworthy, and it is his custom to invite the little children of the
neighborhood to visit and play with the most tractable of them.

I got acquainted with neighbor Robbins in a rather curious manner. His
platypus escaped from its cage in the stable and sought refuge in our
front yard. I discovered that it had made a nest in one of our lilac
bushes and had laid an egg in it. With eggs at twenty cents a dozen
and our family fond of custard, an industrious platypus is by no means
an unwelcome visitor. When Mr. Robbins came looking for his vagrant
pet I suggested that a flock of platypuses would be a decided
improvement upon the poultry with which the average farmer stocks his
farm. I was considerably surprised to learn from Mr. Robbins that the
market price of platypuses is eight hundred dollars apiece, and I at
once foresaw that this strange creature was not likely to become the
dreaded competitor of the hen in the midst of us.

Erasmus and little Josephine became deeply interested in Mr. Robbins,
and they are now spending a large share of their time in the society
either of that fascinating gentleman or of his equally fascinating wild
beasts. Erasmus has learned to throw a back-somersault with surprising
ease and grace and to sing a comic song with electrical effect. These
accomplishments he has acquired under the careful tutelage of Rufe
Botts, formerly known to fame as Professor Botts, manager of the
Nonpareil Congress of Trained Dogs and Trick Ponies. I understand that
he also served Mr. Robbins in "the palmy days" as a clown in the ring
during the regular performance and as a serio-comic vocalist at the
concert immediately after the show under the great canvas. Relentless
time, however, rings in wondrous changes, and the whilom Professor
Rufus Botts, pride alike of the amphitheatre and of the concert stage,
is now plain Rufe Botts on a salary of four dollars a week (a