PET LIONS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 19, 7 May 1892, Page 485

PET LIONS.

An amusing sketch of two lion whelps which were adopted as pets during the writer’s residence in South Africa, is given by a contributor to Forest and Stream. The lioness appeared to amuse herself by playing pranks on human strangers of her own sex, lying in ambush for them under the dining room table. Fearing that something serious might occur if I allowed my pets their liberty any longer, I had a large cage constructed, and for the first week or two was obliged to spend much time in it with them. The lioness fretted a great deal, and the only way I had of quieting her was to go in and lie down, using the lion as a pillow, while she stretched herself beside me with her head on my chest.

One day the sheriff informed me that he had a summons in his office for me to serve as a juryman. I begged off, but he was in exorable. A few days afterward he rode up to my gate, and I called my servant to open it for him while I hurried to the lion’s cage. Presently I heard him calling me, and on my answering he gradually found his way to the den, in which I was seated on the lion’s recumbent body, while the lioness sat behind me with her chin resting on my shoulder. As soon as he saw me he sprang back, and cried : * Come out of there !’

‘ Hand that summons in here, and I will do so.’ ‘ Do you want my arm torn off’?’ ‘ No, but I want you to make a legal service of that paper by handing it tome.’ ‘ I shall not take any such risk, but I will tear up the paper if you will only come out and save me from seeing you torn into pieces.’ ‘ All right, do so, and I will try tn get out alive.’ The paper was torn up, and I stepped out of the cage, much to my friend’s relief. A short time after I met the judge in the street, who wished to know if my mode oj dodging jury duty was the one commonly practised in my own country.