“Is that all!” he exclaimed, when Mrs. Merrill pointed out what the ostrich had done, “we’ll have that bag in no time—I was afraid he’d hurt the little girl though I did think he was too tame for doing harm.”
He unlocked the gate and hurried over to where the big bird stood. As soon as the ostrich saw his keeper coming he dropped the bag and raced off with his long funny stride just as though he knew he had done wrong and wanted to get away. Mary Jane couldn’t help but laugh at him he looked so afraid and so very comical. She got her pocket book back undamaged and as the man handed it to her he said, “Too bad, Missy, too bad. But you come again and I’ll make him behave. Wouldn’t you like a little ’gator for a present, ’count of your scare?”
“Oh,” replied Mary Jane, her eyes shining with delight, “I don’t need one myself ’cause I’m here to see ’em. But I want one for my little chum—she’s home.”
“All right, Missy,” said the man, “I’d like to send her one if your mother will allow me to.” And he pulled out his book and took down the address.
So that’s how it happened that a week later the expressman delivered a box containing two live alligators to the amazed Dana family.
“THE BOAT’S A-FIRE!”
FORTUNATELY they got back to the hotel a while before lunch time and could take a walk through the beautiful little park. Alice in particular was anxious to see every sort of flower and plant and to learn its name. But dear me! with all the lovely flowers there it would have taken a day to study them every one and she had to be content with seeing only a small part of the grounds.
“Never mind,” said Mrs. Merrill, as they sat down to lunch, “the same flowers will be all through Florida and you’ll have plenty of time to see them all you wish.”
“Oh!” exclaimed a lady who sat at the same table with them, “your little daughter doesn’t think these flowers are the sights she is to see, does she? Just wait till you get further south, this early in the season every ten miles makes a difference and you’ll find lovelier gardens the further you go.”