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A Lion Story.

     A story is told of a lion which was brought from India, and who on the passage grew very fond of a sailor who had charge of him. His name was “Nero.” On being shut up in a cage in London, he grew sulky, and was very fiece when any one came near him, so that it was dangerous even for the keeper to approach him.

     One day, a few weeks after Nero had been shut up in his new prison, a party of sailors visited the menagerie, and were warned by the keeper not to go near the lion, who every now and then growled savagely at those who were looking at him. All at once one of these sailors ran up to the cage, and thrusting in his hand cried out, “What! old shipmate! don’t you know me? What cheer, old Nero, my lad!”

     The lion instantly left off feeding and growling, sprang up to the bars of the cage, and put out his nose between them. Jack patted him on the head, and the lion rubbed his hand with his whiskers like a cat, showing evident signs of pleasure.

     “Ah!” said Jack, turning to the keeper and spectators, who stood frightened and in astonishment, “Nero and I were once shipmates, and you see he isn’t like some folks; he don’t forget an old friend.”

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