GOOD-NIGHT STORIES.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 127, 1 June 1927, Page 12

GOOD-NIGHT STORIES.

BOBBY MEETS A NEW MEMBER OF THE ZOO.

(Told by BLAXCHB SILVER fop PETER TAX.)

"Goodness. I'm mighty glad to meet you, Mr. Wolverine." cried Bobby, as he clambered upon the rail to "sec the prisoner behind. "Where in the world did von come f rom V

"I don't mind telling you in the least," replied Mr. Wolverine. "I came from the great forc«ts of the North."

"I've never lived up North, so I guess that's the reason I'vo never seen one of your family before," said Bobbv.

"You wouldn't have seen me" if you had lived up North," laughed Mr. Wolverine, "for we are very 6hy creatures and keep out of eight most of the day. We most always come out in search of food at night. I was always taught by my mother to fear mm. but since I've come here to the 7.00 t> live I've learned to love all mankind. You see, up in the Far North the trappers set their traps to catch our neighbours.' So when we find any traps baited we just eat the bait off. Sometimes we oven eat the animal that is caught, iust as a lesson to the tmppers. You notico, I'm very larpo and strong. There's very few traps I can't rip up. Some folks call us gluttons because we eat so much. I guess the name fits all right, for we never get enough to eat. That's another reason I'm glad to live in the zoo here. I get all my meals for myself and wife and don't have to go out and hunt for them."

"I suppose your wife is here with you," suggested Bobby. Mr. Wolverine nodded his head, gave out a funny, shrill cry and out of a hole in the ground came his wife, followed bv three little wolverines.

Bobby had never seen so many wolverines at once, and he laughed at the capers of the youngsters.

"How in the world did you happen to get biamght here?" he asked.

,- Xo one to blame but myself," spoke up Mama Wolverine. "He had eaU-n just iihout all he could hold, hut he thought he wanted some more food, m> we started out. Soon we found whore some trappers had built a log cabin. I'hoy were away from home, so daddv wolverine decided I should hide behind M>mc stones and he'd venture inside the

cabin to src what was there. He got in all right, but the door blew shut. 1 icard him calling and ran to help him. The owners returned and there we were both caught. I for one, am very glad of it, for this zoo is a lovely place to live. Wo get plenty to eat and folks stop and chat with us. They arc not afraid of us when we arc held behind the bars. There comes our dinner right now. Excuse us, Bobby, and well go and eat."

"Sure enough." laughed Bobby. He was so excited about talking to the newcomers that he had forgotten it was hi« dinner time, too. So, bidding his new friend* good-bye, Bobby ran borne. '