,^ T. Feeding a Bear.

Otago Witness, Issue 1918, 24 August 1888, Page 37

,^ T. Feeding a Bear.

X™ a Jne autumn after-oon in London and the Zoological Gardens at Regent's Park were P rettr fuU of visitors considering the ? -w attractions had qUlfce drawn away the CrOwd frOm the bear ifc and the bears—naturally offended at findiDff no One there to take notice of them "^7 bulking in the darkest cornerof their den> greafcly to the disappointment of an old gentleman in a fur coat, who had poked his T? T 1*? that guarded the mouth oE the pit in his eagerness to get a good" look at them. All at once something fell plump upon the brim of his far cap, making hL st^as if hQ-had Hafs^me one thrown a stone at him? He was lifting his eyes t0 look for his unknown assailant when a second missile alighted full on his nose; and as it fell at his leet he saw with amazement that it: was a huge morsel of a currant bun 1 The next moment a third piece rebounded from his f^^^S^^t^S^^^ fco make a supper for a schoolboy—hit him in the eye; and then three or four pieces in

uccession fell upon him as thick and fast as. f the sky wer^» snowing buns. Growing angry (as well he might) at this continuous bombardment, the old gentleman looked savagely round him, and espied just on the other side of the bear pit a young; mali taking deliberate aim at him with another" piece of bread. "I say, young fellow!" cried he, angrily. "just have done with that nonsense, will " you?" Af the sound of his voice the young man started, stared, rubbed his eyes with an air of utter bewilderment, and then came running- round the circular railing to where the • old gentleman stood. " I'm sure, sir," said be, hurriedly and confusedly, "I beg a thousand pardons fcr my riideness ; but; to tell the trntb, I'm very short-sighted; and when I saw yon thrbtigH . the railings in your fur coat and cap I. really mistook you for one of the bears I"—From " Little Folks' Magazine " for June.