WHY HE WANTED THE TIGER.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 10, 3 May 1876, Page 2

WHY HE WANTED THE TIGER.

Those who attended the salo of animals from Bavnnni's Hippodrome in Bridgeport-' tlic other day report eke following occur-, repco : —A tiger was being offered. Tl>«* bid rim up io 4,500d01. This was niad<>; by a man who was a stranger, and to. hini.t it was knocked down. Earnmii, v/ho liaiV, boon eyeing the •• stranger nnc-asity duriw* tho bidding, now went up to him ami said. •' Pardon mo for asking tho question, but, will you tell mc where yon are from !" "Down South a bit,"'' replied the man.' "Are yon connected with sny show?" "No." And are you buying this nni-* ui-tl for yourself •" " STes." Barnum shifted^A aboui tmcasi'y f«.r a moment, looked aVe 'naiely a': the ?j;an and tho ti'-'or, aniV' evidently trying his best to reconcile tho ■ t.vo tog*ei]i-r. " 2>7ow, young man," he ■ finally said, "yon need not take this animal uulcps yon want to, for there those hero who will take it off your hands." " I . don't want to 11." was tb.' 1 quiet reply. What on earth are you going to do with rracli, an ugly beast if you have no show of your own. and are not buying for some one who is a snowman 1"' "Weil, I'll tell you," said the purchaser. "My wife cliecl about three weeks ago. We had lived together for ten years, and—and I miss her." He paused to wipe Lis eyes and steady his voice, and then added, " So J'?e bought this tiger." "I understand Ttou," said the great showman in a husky voroe.—"Danbuiy Kevvs."