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CONCLUSION.

UT just at that moment the clock struck a quarter to twelve.

"We promised to meet Eric at the refreshment rooms at twelve," said Eva to Jeff.

"We must all be there," said the Elephant; "the banquet begins at twelve."

"And I'm not a bit sleepy," said Eva. “I believe I could sit up late every night, like a grown-up person."

The Elephant made no answer, but marched along through what seemed to Eva a forest of fire, so brilliant were the gas devices; and as for fireworks, the Catherine-wheels never came to an end, and rockets and blue lights went off of their own accord, shooting up to the sky, "to try to touch the moon and stars," said Eva.

As for anything being like itself to-night, that was out of the question. The refreshment rooms in which Jeff and Eva had been with their grandfather in the day-time had undergone as great a transformation as the waterfowls' lawn. As Eva looked round, she felt it would be impossible to describe it. It was a glitter of all the colours of the rainbow mixed up with gold and silver.

The keepers, in scarlet jackets and white aprons, were flying about everywhere. Indeed, Jeff had not thought there were so many of them, which opinion he expressed to the Elephant.

"All the supernumeraries are pressed into the service to-night, as so many waiters are wanted," replied the Elephant. "Keeper," he added, "where are the places that are reserved for these young people?"

"Not any reserved, sir; company not expected, sir. More animals to-night than usual. Very sorry, but don't think it possible to find a place, sir."

"Oh, never mind," said Jeff; "we shall like it much better if you will let us have a little corner somewhere where we can see it all."

So Jeff, and Eva, and Eric (who kept the midnight appointment, unaccompanied just then by the lady who had been with him), and the pony and dogs, were stationed a little in the background, where they could observe all that was going on. And the first thing they noticed was a table, a little apart from the principal one, at which were seated all the animals and birds who had told their stories.

"Why are they sitting there?" asked Jeff of the keeper whom the Elephant had appointed to wait upon Eva and himself.

"They are going to sing a song that has been composed for the occasion," replied the keeper.

"Hush!" said Eva; "the lion is going to say something."

The lion had taken the head of the great table, some distance from where the children were, and the elephant was at his right.

He rose, and the whole of the animals rose also, and for a moment Jeff, Eva, and Eric thought they must all be going mad, for there was a combination of roars, yells, screams, howls, cries, stamping of paws, and lashing of tails, that made the children draw close together.

"No cause for alarm," said the keeper; "they're cheering the president. The lion is the president, you know; he is always recognised as quite the head of the gardens."

"Oh!" responded Jeff.

After the cheering had subsided, the Lion, in a capital little speech, welcomed the guests. "He was," he said, "glad to see such a noble assembly, and to feel that animal rights were making their way in the world;" and then he made many other remarks appropriate to the occasion.

At this moment a keeper touched the Elephant on the shoulder, and gave him a folded paper.

The Lion looked inquiringly, and the Elephant uttered a cry of delight.

"It's a cable message from Jumbo!" said he. Then the cheering rose again louder than ever, and when it had subsided the Elephant read as follows :

"From Jumbo, U.S.A., to his brother elephants, The Zoo, London. - Thinking of you to-night. Send greetings to all friends at Zoo. Am in capital health and spirits, and making quite a royal progress. Wonder my head is not turned; but it isn't, and my heart is steady as ever. Best love to Alice, and a health to all the animals assembled at the Zoo."

"I am so glad Jumbo thought of them!" said Jeff to Eva.

"Elephants never forget," said Eva, more energetically than she intended, so that the Elephant heard, and turned and made a bow to her. Then supper began.

Eva thought that all the confectioners' shops in London must have been emptied. Such pies! such piles of tarts and cheesecakes! such cakes, with sugar devices of every imaginable kind! And such bunches of grapes and all kinds of fruit! The Elephant sent plate after plate to the children ; and the pony and dogs came in for a share. The omnibus horses had been brought by the zebra, and were enjoying themselves farther down the table. Jeff and Eva could only say, "How wonderful!" and feel that the sight was worth coming hundreds and thousands of miles to see.

At length the dishes were removed, and preparations made for proceeding with the toasts.

Then the Lion, with a majestic air, proposed the health of his royal mistress, the friend of animals, the recogniser of the rights of her dumb subjects; "for we are now her naturalised subjects," said he, "living under her dominion and laws. Fill up your glasses to the brim, and drink- The Queen ! Long live the Queen!'"

Up again arose the tumult of voices, and the health of Her Majesty was drunk enthusiastically. Then followed other toasts, which were duly honoured, amidst much fun and excitement; and Jumbo was not forgotten, for the lion cabled back to him to say that at that moment they were wishing him success in his Transatlantic career.

"Only one more toast," said the keeper to Jeff: "the grand toast of the evening. It is kept till the last, and will be drunk with musical honours."

"What does that mean?" asked Eva. "The Amateur Choir-the birds and animals who told you the stories-will sing a song composed for the occasion. See, they are getting ready."

I.

"But the Bear did not tell us a story, and he is there as well-the only one who is still eating; but I suppose he is very greedy."

"Yes; they asked him to join in the chorus because he has such a fine bass voice. There was rather a preponderance of tenors, and they wanted some deeper notes."

At that moment the Lion stood up again

"Our gala-night," said he, " is coming to an end; but before we part let us join in wishing each other health and happiness until we meet again upon a similar festive occasion. I will give the last toast : 'Health and happiness to all the Animals assembled at the Zoo.' Touch glasses."

Ah, what a clinking of glass! what a roar of applause! what cheering! Eva was afraid they would be too hoarse to sing, and Rover evidently shared this opinion, for he slipped out, and re-appeared as a waiter carrying a tray. The Elephant had now drawn near, and taken his place at the table with those who had told the stories to the children -evidently intending to add to the effect of the song with his trombone-like voice.

At length the cheers died away; and the Pelican, holding a sheet of music, rose and commenced to sing, the rest of the company joining in the chorus,

THE ANIMALS' SONG.

We are a goodly colony all settled at the Zoo -
The Elephant and Camel, the Bear and Kangaroo;
The Lion, Wolf, and Tiger, behind the iron rails,

The mischief-loving Monkeys all swinging by their tails.
Ah! little dreams gay London, when the season's at its
height,

That birds and beasts of fashion here their revels hold by night.

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CHORUS.

Then up and fill your glasses all with water from the spring,

And through the flower-wreathed rafters now loud let your voices ring;

And through the flower-crowned rafters now loud let your voices ring;

"A health to all that love us, to trusty friends and true, And three cheers for the Animals assembled at the Zoo."

11.

From many a foreign land we come for folk at us to look,
Young people say, "'Tis better than learning from a book;"
And grave professors gaze on us with rapturous amaze,
And write long learned papers upon our wondrous ways.
But of the strange proceedings upon our gala night,
The wise professors hitherto have given the world no light.

CHORUS.

"A health to those who care for us, to trusty friends and true,

And three cheers for the Animals assembled at the Zoo."

IV.

The Elephant and Lion now quite English are in thought, The Ostrich prides himself that he in feather is at Court; In fact, we're so well fed and lodged in this our nice new home,

That it would grieve us deeply from our dear Zoo to roam, We love our British public, our patrons great and small, But, truth to tell, we love ourselves far better than them all.

CHORUS,

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1. We are a good-ly col-o-ny, all set-tled at the Zoo -The El-e-phant and Camel, the Bear and Kanga-roo;

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The

Li-on, Wolf, and Ti ger, behind the iron rails; The mis-chief-lov-ing Mon- keys, all swinging by their tails. Ah!

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The thunder of applause that followed the last verse seemed to shake the building, and Eric said he thought it would tumble down.

Added to this, a gong went off, making as much noise as if all the bells in London were clashing together, and there was a cry that the lights were going out.

Rattle rattle! rattle! At what a rate the horses were going! The omnibus shook, and reeled and banged against the lamp-posts, and at lastcrash-crash-crash! What had happened?

Eva and Jeff shut their eyes, and when they opened them they found themselves on the sofa in

Immediately there was a rush of beasts to the grandpapa's drawing-room. Grandmamma was

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smiling as she looked at them.

"How did it all happen? and who carried us in ?" asked Jeff.

"I did not know we were so near home," said Eva. Grandmamma smiled again, and looked very mysterious. It was evident she was not going to tell them anything.

"I wonder if the omnibus horses were hurt? We must look at the accidents in grandpapa's paper tomorrow," said Jeff.

"You

"I am so sleepy," murmured Eva. "You are tired out," said grandmamma. have been up much too late, and you have done too much to-day."

"But how quickly the time passed," whispered Jeff to Eva. "I am sure I shall dream all night of 'OUR HAPPY FAMILY' at the Zoo."

"And so shall I," answered Eva, "but most especially of the dear good elephant and patient old Rover. Why-where-oh, Jeff! we must go over and get Rover from the Dogs' Home to-morrow."

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