Democratic Sentinel, Volume 22, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 October 1898 — The Lion’s Petition. [ARTICLE]

The Lion’s Petition.

Sultan Muley Abderrahman, of Morocco, was very fond of wild animals, and had coolness. of nerve in dealing with them. He was one day passing through the court of the palace, mounted on a magnificent white charger, when a lion which he had been in the habit of caressing sprang up the side of the horse, and placed his paws upon the sultan’s knee. The horse, wild with fear, snorted and reared, and the sultan held him In with a firm hand. Those who saw him, say that he was not in the least disturbed. He put his hand on the lion’s head and stroked it. Then he turned to the chief officer of the court and asked: “How many pounds of meat are given to this lion daily?” The officer told him the quantity. “Let the lion have ten more pounds,” said his majesty, and the beast, as if an actual petition had been granted, withdrew from the horse’s side and lay down again, quite pacified. “These animals,” said the master of the horse, “understand what is spoken, although they have not the power of speech to tell what they want.” “Mashallah!” gravely responded another.—Youth’s Companion.