THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS
The next morning just as Mrs. Steiner and her guests had finished
breakfast the doorbell rang, and she went to the door, opened it but
drew back startled, when she saw a tall policeman.
"Why are you here?" she asked anxiously.
"It is a strange thing that people seem frightened as if fearing arrest
when we come to their doors," he said in a kindly tone. "They should
look upon us as protectors against thieves and other evil-doers, yet
they seem to look upon us as enemies."
"Yes," said Mrs. Steiner pleasantly, "one cannot deny that when a
policeman comes it seems to signify trouble."
"Well, I am not bringing trouble. I only came to enquire if there is a
boy here named Fritz."
"Yes, Fritz is here. He is my brother's son, and is visiting me."
The boys had heard all and made a rush for the door, where they stood
behind Mrs. Steiner, gazing with intense interest at the tall, dark man
who had such piercing black eyes and a moustache so large that Fritz
told his aunt afterward that it looked as if a blackbird had lighted
upon his upper lip and spread its wings under his nose.
"Now, which one of these boys is Fritz?" he asked.
"This one," said the aunt, turning to the boy, who was doing his best to
hide Pixy from the eyes of the law. But Pixy was not willing to be
obscured. He did not like the looks of the man, and gave one of his low
growls.
"Call your dog away, boy, I have no business with him, although he has
no tag. However that is no harm, so long as he stays in the house. Now,
Fritz, what is your other name?"
"Fritz Heil. My father is a clothing merchant, and his store--"
"I do not have need to know of him. Did you lose a pocketbook
yesterday?"
"No, it was stolen from me."
"Well, I came to take you to the police commissioner."
"Aunt, has the policeman arrested me?" asked the boy, clinging to his
aunt's arm.
"You are not under arrest, boy," laughed the man. "You are only wanted
as witness. We hope to catch the thief. Now forward, march."
"Yes, Fritz, go and do what you can to help. Do you think you can find
your way back?"
"I will see that he gets back all right, madam," and down the steps they
went, Franz and Paul looking after them until they disappeared from
view.
Fritz was received so kindly by the police commissioner that he felt
entirely at ease.
"So you were robbed, my little man. How did the churl look who picked
your pocket?"
"Oh, he was no churl, but a pleasant gentleman with a soft voice."
"Yes, we know this pleasant gentleman. How was he dressed the day you
saw him?"
"He wore a tall silk hat, a black broadcloth coat and vest, and although
it was a warm day, he had on a fine thin overcoat."
"Entirely right. You describe him well as to clothing. Now about his
face and form?"
"He was tall and slender, had a smooth face, black hair and black eyes
that looked quickly about him like a squirrel, and he had a scar over
his left eye."
"Exactly! Now tell me about your pocketbook."
"My mother gave it to me at Christmas, and--"
"There is no need to tell me that, my son."
"Yes, there is need, because in it is a tiny card on which is written
'To my loved Fritz, from his mother; Christmas.'"
"Oh, it is well to know this. Describe the pocketbook."
"It is of red leather, and has a bright clasp, and upon it I scratched
'Fritz' with my pocket knife."
"That is enough, my boy. Is this it?" and he held upon a red leather
pocketbook.
"No, mine is the same shape, but smaller."
"Is this it?" holding up another.
"Yes!" cried the boy joyously and reached for it.
"First tell me what is in it."
It was no trouble for Fritz to enumerate the coin; he had done it too
often to forget.
"The pocketbook is yours, my little man. Tell me, do you recognize this
photograph?"
"Yes, it is he; the very one, only his overcoat was not buttoned when he
robbed me."
"Exactly. We know our man and he is now behind iron bars. When your
aunt came here and gave the information, I sent one of my detectives to
a public house where these rascals congregate; and, sure enough, there
was your fine gentleman partaking of a good dinner washed down by a
bottle of good wine at your expense. Your gold-piece is safe and one of
the dollars. He used the other and the small change for his
refreshments. Here, take your pocketbook, and I wish to say that there
are not many grown people who could observe and describe so well the
thief who robbed them."
"I will not trust anybody again as I did that smooth-talking stranger.
I will be on the lookout all the time for thieves."
"Oh, my boy, do not let this affair make you suspicious of your
fellow-creatures, or you will never have a peaceful hour upon earth. Of
course, we should not trust entire strangers too much, and should carry
our money in a secure place. The safest is a pocket on the inside of
your vest, a thief could not well get his hand in there. And now let us
shake hands in farewell, and may you have a pleasant visit to
Frankfort!"
The boy left the office in splendid spirits, for he felt richer than
when he first owned the pocketbook and the gold-piece, for he had it
again, when he thought it was gone forever. The policeman took him in
sight of number 37, and he ran the rest of the way alone. He saw his
aunt on the porch waiting for him.
"Aunt Fanny, dear Aunt Fanny, I have my gold-piece and my pocketbook,"
and he held it up in glee.
"Oh, my boy, had we Pixy back, that would be a greater joy," said Mrs.
Steiner.
"My Pixy!" cried the boy. "Isn't he in the house?"
"No, my poor boy, and I have no idea where he is. After you left, the
affectionate creature was so lost without you that I could not quiet his
restlessness. Franz and Paul had gone out to walk around the square, and
left the door open a little way and while I was in the kitchen to see if
the bread was ready to put in the oven Pixy slipped out. I saw him
disappear, and ran after him as fast as my feet would carry me, but he
escaped."
Fritz broke into bitter weeping and his aunt wept with him for she had
no comfort to offer, and when Franz and Paul came they, too, were deeply
worried over the loss, for they blamed themselves that they did not see
that the door was latched.
"What can we do?" they asked Mrs. Steiner.
"The first thing is to run to the station-house and tell the police.
They have found the thief and may find the dog."
"Oh, Fritz, have you really got your gold-piece?" they asked in a breath.
"Yes, and my pocketbook, but they are no pleasure to me now that I have
lost Pixy, and I am the only one to blame. If I had left him at home,
instead of bringing him to Frankfort without papa's knowing it, this
would not have happened," and again he wept and the others could offer
no comfort.
"If I don't find Pixy, I will not go home," he sobbed; "Papa and mamma
and little sister love him so, and even our servant girl will grieve if
Pixy never comes back."
"Let us not lose time in grieving," said his aunt, putting her hand upon
his shoulder, "but let us do what we can to find him."
"Yes, we will go," said Fritz, "for the longer we wait, the further away
he will be," and he ran out, followed by his comrades.
The first person they met was a carpenter with his tools upon his
shoulder.
"Have you seen my dog, my Pixy?" asked Fritz as the three halted and
looked up in his face. "A beautiful, black dog with curly hair on his
neck and shoulders?"
"No, I have seen no black dog," and the boys ran along again, asking
every one they met.
"You are only asking me to plague me," said a cross old woman, not
heeding the tearful eyes of Fritz. "The street boys are getting more
tormenting all the time."
At length a kind-hearted woman told them that she had seen a black dog
on the next street, and they ran in breathless haste to see it, but
alas! it was not Pixy, for while resembling him, it did not recognize
the name of Pixy, nor the voice of Fritz calling it.
"This is my dog, boys! What do you mean by trying to toll him away?"
exclaimed a gentleman, coming to the door of a store; but when Fritz
explained that he had lost his dog, the gentleman believed him and
became a sympathizing friend.
"I will give you the advice to go to the animal asylum," he said. "Stray
dogs and other animals are taken there and good care given them until
the owners claim them."
"Oh, if my Pixy falls in good hands until I can find him," said Fritz.
"I must tell you, boys," continued the gentleman, "that in Frankfort, as
in other cities, there are people who will steal dogs in order to get a
reward. But your dog may only be lost, and the best way will be to put a
notice in the morning paper. Then if he is at the asylum, they will let
you know."
At that moment a well-known voice said, "Good day, doctor, what
important business have you with my young friends?"
It was Uncle Braun who spoke, and the boys were so delighted to see him
that half their trouble seemed to be gone.
"Don't be so distressed, Fritz," he said. "I will put a notice in the
paper saying that a black dog answering to the name of Pixy has strayed
away, and will promise a reward to anyone who will bring him to 37
Bornheimer street. Now run home, boys, and do not keep Mrs. Steiner
anxious about you."
He added to his kindness by going with them as far as number 37, and
when the triplets hurried up the steps, they found Mrs. Steiner on the
porch watching for them. She was sad to see that Pixy was not with them,
but cheered Fritz by saying that Uncle Braun generally succeeded in
what he undertook, and all ate dinner with hope in their hearts. But
when they arose from the table and Fritz saw Pixy's plate on the back
porch, he threw his arms about his aunt, and wept.
"Oh, Aunt Fanny," he said, "if I only knew that Pixy was in the asylum
or some other safe place, and not wandering the streets, hungry and
looking for me, I would not feel so badly! but I am afraid the street
boys will throw stones at him and he will run away and never come back."
"If your gold-piece that you gave up as lost was found, so Pixy may be.
Do not cry any more, my darling, or you will be sick. Perhaps your dog
may be on his way back to the Odenwald."
"If we had walked all the way he might track us, but we came in the cars
from Umstadt."
"In spite of that disadvantage he may find his way home, as he did the
time your neighbor gave him away."
"Where will we go to-morrow?" asked Paul with the kind intent of taking
Fritz's thoughts from his trouble.
"In search of Pixy."
"No," responded Mrs. Steiner, "that will be of no use. You might walk
the streets from morning until late at night every day, and it would be
of no advantage to you or the dog. Let us go this afternoon to the
zoological gardens and see the many animals from foreign countries. We
will have some dinner and then go, that we may have a long afternoon at
the gardens."
This was a happy thought. Nothing could have taken the boy's mind from
his loss of the dog so well as did the many varied interests which the
gardens offered.
Near the entrance was a large, fine building used by visitors as a
resting-place, and for refreshments. Mrs. Steiner did not pass it by,
but the four went in and she bought a supply of cake as a supplement to
their light dinner. Then they went to see the splendid crested pea-fowls
that were spreading their brilliantly tinted fans on the green lawn. As
they passed a company of gay-plumaged parrots they were crying, "Dora!
Dora!" and Mrs. Steiner told the boys of a lady who owned the large
green parrot and was so weary of hearing it scream, "Dora! Dora!" from
morning until night, that she gave it to the garden; and now all the
parrots screamed "Dora."
"Ask it what its name is," she said to Fritz.
"What is your name?" he asked, going close to it.
"Same as yours," was the reply, followed by croaking laughter.
This amused the boys greatly and they would have remained there longer,
but they heard low growls from a great cage not far away and going
nearer they saw upon a low rock in the centre of it a lioness lashing
her sides with her tail and uttering low growls. The floor of the cage
was of sand and stretched upon it was the king of beasts, his great head
upon his paws, and his savage eyes resting upon the bystanders. At
length he arose, and coming to the great iron rungs that surrounded it,
he yawned, and the boys started back in affright from the terrible mouth
and teeth, but he soon returned to the sand.
"Pixy's mane is prettier than the lion's," said Fritz. "Oh, my Pixy!"
"Yesterday it was your gold-piece, now it is Pixy," grumbled Franz
impatiently. "You should be glad that your dog is running in the open
air, instead of being fastened up in a cage."
"Yes, I am glad of that, but, oh, I cannot keep from crying when I think
of the street boys, and how they may chase him."
"Come to this cage, boys," called Mrs. Steiner, "I wish you to see a
lion that I once held in my arms and petted as if it were a kitten. He
is now a great, grown lion, but he was born in this garden, and crowds
came to see him and some people would give the keeper a fee to be
allowed to take it in their arms. No one would dare to touch him now."
"Except myself," said the keeper who came up that moment, put his hand
in the cage and combed the long mane with his fingers.
"Is he always so tame?" asked Paul.
"Yes, except at meal time; then they are hungry and show their native
ferocity; I would not dare to put my hand in his cage then. If you will
come here at five o'clock, you will see him fed."
They promised to come, then went to see the panther, the hyena, and the
wolves; and then Mrs. Steiner called them to go to the great pavilion
where the monkeys lived and played as merrily as if in their native
haunts; running over the branches of the tree in the centre and swinging
from the ropes, chattering, grinning, teasing each other, and making
themselves generally amusing to the many spectators who crowded about
their pavilion.
"I never imagined so many in one place," said Fritz, "and they are
flying past and around each other so fast that it makes one's head giddy
to watch them. I like that little fellow that is so playful and
good-natured. Now a lady has given him a lump of sugar; and oh, see that
bigger monkey has taken it from him and eaten it. That is a shame!"
Fritz was so interested in the cunning little creature that he was glad
when the lady gave him another lump of sugar which he put quickly in his
mouth, swelling out his jaw in a comical manner while his little, sharp
eyes were watching the other monkey. But alas! the old tyrant rushed
down upon him, took the sugar out of his mouth, and put it in his own,
and slapped the little one he had robbed right and left.
"Oh, it is certainly a shame," said Fritz, and he took off his hat, and
put it under his arm while he wiped his heated forehead; when in a flash
the little monkey he had so pitied rushed down, grasped his hat, drew it
through the rungs and was up on the branches almost before Fritz knew it
was gone.
"Oh, Aunt Fanny, he took my hat while I was looking at the big one
eating the sugar. Oh, see! he is tearing off the blue ribbon band, and
biting pieces out of the rim and dropping them down for the little
monkeys," and tears rolled down Fritz's cheeks.
The keeper, hearing the laughter, came at once, and with a pole knocked
the hat out of the monkey's hands, and although many little black
fingers clutched it as it lay a second on the floor, it was brought to
the rungs by the pole and Fritz secured it. But little remained of the
rim, and what there was of it was ragged; and when he put it on, peals
of laughter from the spectators sent him crying to his aunt. But alas!
she too was laughing, and the boy felt that his last friend had gone
over to the enemy.
"Oh, little Fritz!" she said, trying in vain to look sympathizing and
serious, "there is one kind of bird they can add to their collection
to-day and that is the _pechrogel,_ for surely you, poor child, are that
unlucky bird. But never mind; your luck will change; your Pixy will come
back, and I will buy you a new straw hat."
"Yes, but we must go away from here. It makes me sick to see the people
laughing at me."
"Yes, we will go and see the birds. That is my favorite place in all the
garden."
On their way, they passed the cage where serpents of every kind were
twisting and squirming about, among them the terrible boa-constrictor,
and the python; but Mrs. Steiner could not look at them, and asked the
boys to stay but a little while, but they could halt at the tanks of the
South American alligator, the rhinoceros, the great turtle, and the
hippopotamus; all animals which the boys had never seen except in
pictures and were of wonderful interest to them.
The bird enclosure was truly an attractive place. Among the branches
overhead were many kinds of small birds singing, chirping and
chattering, and Mrs. Steiner pointed out several which should have been
acquaintances of the Odenwald boys, but to her surprise they did not
appear to know their names.
"I am ashamed that I, a forester's son, and living in the country all my
life, do not know the names of our native song birds, but know the
foreign ones from seeing them in pictures," said Franz. They gazed long
at the wise looking owls who were blinking on a wall of masonry, which
represented an old tower; then turned their attention to the swan and
spoonbills, and other aquatic fowl sporting in the clear water of the
lake, while on the shore marched the stately flamingoes, resembling
red-coated soldiers.
On a rocky point rested an eagle, and upon another a Golden Condor
spread its great wings.
"Oh, see!" cried Fritz, "here comes a great elephant carrying an organ
in his trunk. See, he is setting it down; now he is turning the crank
and playing a beautiful waltz."
Of all the new and interesting things they had seen, this was the
greatest delight to the boys; and their delight was not dampened by
having the animal musician hold out his trunk for pay. Fritz gave him
one of his beloved nickels, which was immediately passed to the keeper,
and when Mrs. Steiner gave him a sweet bun which she had brought in her
pocket especially for him, he put it in his capacious mouth and
swallowed it with evident relish.
After the elephant organ-grinder had received all the pay he could
gather from the people congregated about the bird enclosure, he passed
on with his organ, and Mrs. Steiner took her guests to the bear pits,
and to their delight, they saw the great polar bear, the black bear and
many others of which they had seen illustrations, and after watching
them as much time as they could spare they passed on to see the
giraffe, and from thence to the pen of the zebra. They were earnestly
engaged in counting its beautiful stripes when from a great tent near
they heard the sound of some wild and warlike instrument which seemed to
serve as a summons, for people were hurrying to the tent. Mrs. Steiner
told the boys to come, and all went through the opening and found that a
company of Nubians were about to give a performance. They were in native
costume, their coal black hair stiffened with grease to make it stand
straight up, their brilliant white teeth in contrast with their black
faces.
They commenced the performance by a representation of a sham battle with
their spears; and our Grecian heroes were reminded of their weapons
which to their regret they were advised to leave in the Odenwald. It was
with intense interest they watched the many different exploits exhibited
in the one-hour's performance. When it was finished, Mrs. Steiner
suggested that they go to the pavilion on the terrace and have rolls and
chocolate while they rested.
This proposition was readily accepted, and just as they finished, Mrs.
Steiner upon glancing at her watch found that it wanted but five
minutes of five o'clock.
"And we were to see the lions fed," exclaimed Fritz.
"You can go," said his aunt, "I will stay here and rest," and she
pointed out the nearest way for them to go. They were just in time to
see the keeper walking to and fro before the cage of the great African
lion, holding upon the point of a long pole a piece of raw beef. The
lion sprang against the stout iron bars which made the cage tremble, and
reached out his terrible claws as if to grasp not only the meat but the
keeper who was watching a suitable moment to toss in the meat. At length
this was done, and the ferocious beast with low growls pounced upon it,
took it between his paws, while his eyes rolled about as if dreading an
enemy who would take it from him, then tore it to pieces and swallowed
it.
The panther was next fed. He took his meat slyly to a distant corner of
his cage to eat it. When the boys returned to Mrs. Steiner she said,
"Now we have not seen all that is to be seen in the garden. Would you
like to stay longer?"
"No, Aunt Fanny," replied Fritz, "I have seen and heard so much that
I don't think I could remember any more," and to this Franz and Paul
willingly agreed, and they set out cheerily for home.
They had enjoyed a charming afternoon and the refreshments that Aunt
Steiner had selected had been so abundant and good that new life seemed
to thrill them as they moved along.
"Look, Fritz," cried Paul excitedly, "there is Pixy."
"Where?" cried the boy, reddening with surprise and joy.
Paul's finger was pointing to a black dog, with head and tail depressed
from hunger and weariness, but Fritz knew his dog.
"Pixy! Pixy!" he cried joyously, and the three boys ran toward him and
the stout well-grown boy who was leading him. As if electrified Pixy
raised his head, and barked from joy as he struggled to break away from
the rough hand that held him. The three boys grasped the rope, but were
powerless to wrench it from the hand that held it.
"Let go!" cried Fritz, "Pixy is mine and you shall not have him."
"No, he is mine. I bought him to-day from a strange gentleman. Let go
the rope, or I will give you a blow upon the head that will keep you
from seeing and hearing for awhile."
A regular struggle now ensued. The big boy planted a blow on Fritz's
face which caused the blood to stream from his nose, but he held on to
the rope until knocked down; whereupon Franz and Paul ran behind the
boy, pulled him backward on the ground, the three jumped forward, and
two of them grasped his arms while the other sat upon his ankles; and
Pixy did his share by catching one leg of his pantaloons in his teeth
and holding fast.
Mrs. Steiner, in the meantime, was almost sick from fright; but summoned
strength to call "Help! Help!" and several men ran to separate the
combatants.
"Whose dog is it?" asked a gray-haired gentleman when he could
understand the fight enough to know that it was to obtain possession
of Pixy.
"It is mine!" sputtered the big boy, "and these three rascals are trying
to get it from me."
"It is mine!" cried Fritz; "we brought Pixy from the Odenwald. We came
to visit my Aunt Steiner. There she is."
"There comes a policeman," called a boy in the crowd that had gathered
around; and the big boy rushed away, disappearing around a corner, which
convinced all that he was not the owner of Pixy.
"I am glad that your boy got his dog. He fought a hard battle to recover
it," said one.
"Yes, and just see his face is all bruised and bleeding, and his nose
swollen, perhaps disfigured for life. And see his nice suit of clothes
all dusty, and a hole torn in his pants; and his stockings, even, have
blood upon them!"
And truly poor Fritz was a sorry looking object. His hat, thanks to the
monkey, did not add to his appearance. His aunt had intended stopping at
a store on their way home to get a new straw hat, but on account of his
battered appearance decided to wait until next day.
"But, Aunt Fanny!" said the logical Fritz, "I may look worse to-morrow
than I do to-day; and why should we care more for the people in the
store than on the street? Besides, the rim of the new straw hat will
hide the bruise on my forehead."
"That is true, Fritz, and I know of a fountain on our way home where you
can wash the blood from your face and hands and as much as we can off
your clothes, and with a new hat, you will look much better."
All this was done, and Fritz was really proud of his new hat, and glad
to leave the torn one at the store to be thrown away.
When they reached home, Mrs. Steiner's first care was to give the hungry
and tired Pixy a plate of good bread and milk, which he ate gratefully
and then lay down upon his piece of carpet by the window.
Oh, how good it was to them all to see him there! and how good the
supper which Aunt Steiner prepared, and how good the restful home to the
weary ones, and how welcome the comfortable beds to which they retired
as soon as supper was finished!