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ow dont think that our famous Organization, having shown its worth on so many occasions, sat down without thinking of doing anything again. No, sir! Not this bunch! If a boy or girl thought of any addition to Branton Hills popularity it was brought to Mayor Gadsby for consultation. And so, as Lucy Donaldson on a trip through a patch of woods, saw a big stag looking out from a clump of shrubs, nothing would do but to rush to His Honor to pour what thoughts that charming sight had brought up in this bright young mind. So, as Gadsby stood at City Halls front door, this palpitating, gushing young girl ran towards him, panting and blowing from a long run I want a zoo! A WHAT? A ZOO!! You know! A park with stags and all kinds of wild animals; and a duck pond, and, and, and Whoa! Slow down a bit! Do you want an actual zoo, or an outfit of toys that wind up and growl ? I want a truly, out-and-out, big zoo. Why cant you build walls around a part of City Park, and... Gadsby saw that this was an addition which nobody had thought of, until now; so, grasping his young visitors hand, joyfully, said:- Its a fact, Lucy!! And, as you thought of it, Ill call it, now wait; what shall I call it? Aha! Thats it! Ill call it Lucy Zoo. Hows that for quick thinking? My! Thats just grand; but what will Papa say? Now Gadsby had known Lucys family from boyhood, so said:You inform your dad that at any sign of balking by him, Ill put HIM in Lucy Zoo, and pay a boy to prod him with a sharp stick, until his approval is in my hands. This brought such a rollicking laugh that a man mowing City Hall lawn had to laugh, too. Now, (Ah! But I cant avoid saying it!) our Organization was out again; but, now having grown a bit from such childish youths as had, at first stood in its ranks, a boy, now approaching manhood, and a girl, now a young woman, could solicit funds with an ability to talk knowingly in favor of any factor that a hanging-back contributor could bring up in running down such a proposition. You can always count on finding that class in any city or town upon any occasion for public works; but I can proudly say that many saw good in our Organizations plan; and Lucy soon found that out, in Old Lady Flanagan. Whoops! A zoo, is it? And pray, phwat cant thot crazy Gadsby think up? If our big Mayor had four sich bys as I brought into this woild; worra, worra! his parlor, halls, dinin room an back yardd furnish him wid a zoo, all right! Wid two always a-scrappin about a ball bat or a sling shot; a brat continually a-bawlin about nuthin; an a baby wid whoopin cough, I know phwat a zoo is, widout goin to City Park to gawk at a indigo baboon, or a pink tom cat. But, said Lucy, trying hard not to laugh; Mayor Gadsby isnt thinking of putting in pink tom cats, nor any kind of tom cats in this zoo. It is for only wild animals. WILD!! Say, if you could look into my back door as Old Man Flanagan quits work, an brings back a load o grog, youd find thot you had wild animals roight in this town, all roight, all roight. But, as on so many occasions, this charming girl got a contribution, with Old Lady Flanagan calling out from a front window:- Good luck, Lucy darlin! Im sorry I was so dom cranky! But though popular opinion was in favor of having a zoo, popular opinion didnt hand in donations to within four thousand dollars of what it would cost to install; and Gadsby and his gang had to do a bit of brain racking, so as not to disappoint lots of good folks who had paid in. Finally, Sarah Young thought of a rich woman living just across from City Park. This woman, Lady Standish, was of that kind, loving disposition which would bring in a cold, hungry, lost pup, or cat, and fill it up with hot food and milk. Branton Hills kids could bring any kind of a hurt or sick animal or bird; and Sarah had long known that that back yard was, actually, a small zoo, anyway; with dogs, cats, poultry, two robins too young to fly, four sparrows and a canary, almost bald. Sarah thought that any woman, loving animals as Lady Standish did, might just thrill at having a big zoo-ful right at hand. So, saying, Ill go and find out, right now, was off as an arrow from a bow. As soon as this kindly woman found out what was on Sarahs mind, our young solicitor got a loving kiss, with: A zoo! Oh! how truly charming! What grand things Mayor Gadsby can think up without half trying ! And Sarah had to grin, thinking of Lucy, and Old Lady Flanagans opinion of His Honor! You may not know it, Sarah, said Lady Standish, but John Gadsby and I had a big flirtation, way back in our school days. And HOW downcast poor Johnny was at my finding a husband out of town! But that was long, long ago, darling. So, just to sort of pacify my old pal, John, Ill gladly put up your missing four thousand; and you go to His Honor and say that I wish him all sorts of good luck with this plan. Now, Olympic champions must train continuously, but, customarily, in gymnasiums. But today, folks in Branton Hills shopping district had to turn and gasp; for a young woman was sprinting wildly toward City Hall; for Sarah was in a hurry. Gadsby was just coming out, as this girl, as badly blown as Lucy was in asking for a zoo, ran up, calling out:- I GOT IT!! I GOT IT!! Got what? A fit? No! I got that final four thousand dollars! Its from Lady Standish, who says that way back in school days, you and Whoa!! That was back in history? but Gadsby was blushing, and Sarah was winking, coyly. Now Gadsby was as fond of his Organization boys and girls as of his own; and Sarah was so radiantly happy that all His Honor could say was: My, now, Sarah! Thats mighty good work! And as I told Lucy Id call our zoo Lucy Zoo for thinking of it, Ill find a way to honor you, too. Aha! Ill put up a big arch, through which all visitors must pass, and call it Sarah Youngs Rainbow Arch. Hows that? Now Sarah had a bit of natural wit; so quickly said:- Thats just grand if youll bury that famous pot of gold at its foot, so I can dig it up! >1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 . 6 . 7 . 8 . 9 . 10 11 . 12 . 13 . 14 . 15 . 16 . 17 . 18 . 19 . 20 21 . 22 . 23 . 24 . 25 . 26 . 27 . 28 . 29 . 30 |