He was not one of the largest kind , but I was quite satisfied , and left him to his dinner of rabbits , which I had n't the heart to stay and see him devour alive . I was walking toward the camel 's pagoda , when , all of a sudden , a long , dark , curling thing came over my shoulder , and I felt warm breath in my face . ` It 's the boa ; ' I thought , and gave a skip which carried me into the hedge , where I stuck , much to the amusement of some children riding on the elephant whose trunk had frightened me . He had politely tried to tell me to clear the way , which I certainly had done with all speed . Picking myself out of the hedge I walked beside him , examining his clumsy feet and peering up at his small , intelligent eye . I 'm very sure he winked at me , as if enjoying the joke , and kept poking his trunk into my pocket , hoping to find something eatable . I felt as if I had got into a foreign country as I looked about me and saw elephants and camels walking among the trees ; flocks of snow-white cranes stalking over the grass , on their long scarlet legs ; striped Zebras racing in their paddock ; queer kangaroos hopping about , with little ones in their pouches ; pretty antelopes chasing one another ; and , in an immense wire-covered aviary , all sorts of brilliant birds were flying about as gaily as if at home . One of the curiosities was a sea-cow , who lived in a tank of salt water , and came at the keeper 's call to kiss him , and flounder on its flippers along the margin of the tank after a fish . It was very like a seal , only much larger , and had four fins instead of two . Its eyes were lovely , so dark and soft and liquid ; but its mouth was not pretty , and I declined one of the damp kisses which it was ready to dispense at word of command . The great polar bear lived next door , and spent his time splashing in and out of a pool of water , or sitting on a block of ice , panting , as if the mild spring day was blazing midsummer . He looked very unhappy , and I thought it a pity that they did n't invent a big refrigerator for him . These are not half of the wonderful creatures I saw , but I have not room to tell more ; only I advise all who can to pay a visit to the Zoological Gardens when they go to London , for it is one of the most interesting sights in that fine old city . OUR LITTLE NEWSBOY . Hurrying to catch a certain car at a certain corner late one stormy night , I was suddenly arrested by the sight of a queer-looking bundle lying in a door-way . ` Bless my heart , it 's a child ! O John ! I 'm afraid he 's frozen ! ' I exclaimed to my brother , as we both bent over the bundle . Such a little fellow as he was , in the big , ragged coat ; such a tired , baby face , under the fuzzy cap ; such a purple , little hand , still holding fast a few papers ; such a pathetic sight altogether was the boy , lying on the stone step , with the snow drifting over him , that it was impossible to go by .
` He is asleep ; but he 'll freeze , if XXXXX so long .
John London Zebras antelopes curiosities day kangaroos left night sea-cow