Bikey the Skicycle and Other Tales of JimmieboyBangs, John Kendrick
General
Bikey the Skicycle and Other Tales of Jimmieboy
Bangs, John Kendrick
Boys -- Juvenile fiction; Children's stories, American; Fantasy literature; Short stories, American
Jimmieboy watched all this with interest, little thinking that the
invitation was for no less a person than himself. He soon discovered the
fact, however, for the porter came to him instantly and handed him the
envelope. It was addressed simply to:
MASTER JIMMIEBOY,
Care of the Porter,
Express Train, No. 6098.
Kindness of
Thomas Baby Elephant.
"For me?" cried Jimmieboy.
"Yassir," said the porter. "Hit's for you."
Hurriedly tearing the envelope open, Jimmieboy took from it a delicately
scented card on which was engraved:
The Wild Animals
Request your presence at their
wonderful Exhibition of
Trained Hagenbecks,
This Afternoon at Two
Absolute Safety Guaranteed.
R. S. V. P.
"Dear me!" cried Jimmieboy, excitedly, "I couldn't think of going. I
should be afraid."
"Oh, you needn't be afraid," said the porter. "Dey'se promised you
absolute safety, and I'll tell yo' just one thing. Animals soldom makes
promises, but when dey does, dey keeps 'em. Dey's sort ob different from
people in dat. Hit's twice as hard to get 'em to make promises but dey
seems to be able to keep 'em twice as easy as people. I'd go if I were
you. De conductor'll keep de train waitin' fo' you. Dere's on'y one man
aboard dat's in a hurry an' he's travellin' on a free pass, so de road
ain't liable fo' any delays to him. I'll go wid you."
"But how do you know it'll be safe," added Jimmieboy. "I want to go very
much, but----"
"Howdiknow?" said the porter. "Ain't I took little folks to see de show
befo? Oh co'se I has an' dey've had de best time in de worl', an' come
back cryin' cause dey couldn't stay a week."
"Very well, then," said Jimmieboy, "you can tell the baboon that I'll be
very glad to go."
The porter informed the baboon who in turn acquainted the baby elephant
with the fact, whereupon the baby elephant took off his hat and bowing
politely to Jimmieboy hastened back to the mayor's office with the
little boy's reply.
Shortly after the porter returned and said that he had fixed it with the
conductor and that the train would wait, and so Jimmieboy and his
chestnut colored friend started off. On the way he was gazed at
curiously by more wild animals than he had ever seen before, but they
were all very respectful to him, many of them bowing politely. Indeed
the only incivility he encountered at all was from a rude little boy who
was being led around by a handsome St. Bernard dog. The little boy
snapped at him as he passed, but he was promptly muzzled by his master,
and deprived of the bone he was eating for his luncheon.
After walking along for about five minutes they came to a great circular
building, upon the outside of which was a huge sign.
THE TRAINED HAGENBECKS.
Matinee To-Day.
Admission:
Grown Animals 50 cents.
Cubs, Puppies, etc. 4 dollars.
Jimmieboy laughed. "That's funny. They charge less for grown animals
than they do for baby animals."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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