who was present, then called out with a loud voice, and ordered Androcles to explain to them this unintelligible mystery, and how a savage of the fiercest and most unpitying nature should thus in a moment have forgotten his innate disposition, and be converted into a harmless and inoffensive animal.  Androcles then related to the assembly every circumstance of his adventures, and concluded by saying, that the very lion which now stood before them, had been his friend and entertainer in the woods.  All present were astonished and delighted with the story, to find that even the fiercest beasts are capable of being softened by gratitude; and, being moved by humanity, they unanimously joined to entreat for the pardon of the unhappy man, from the governor of the place.  This was immediately granted to him, and he was also presented with the lion, which had twice saved the life of Androcles.”

“Oh, what a delightful story, Uncle Thomas!  What a pity it is that it is not true.”

“I can tell you one which is true, John which is hardly, if at all, inferior in interest:—­

“Sir George Davis, who was English consul at Naples about the middle of the seventeenth century, happening on one ocassion to be in Florence, visited the Menagerie of the Grand Duke.  At the farther end of one of the dens he saw a lion which lay in sullen majesty, and which the keepers informed him they had been unable to tame, although every effort had been used for upwards of three years.  Sir George had no sooner reached the gate of the den, than the lion ran to it, and evinced every demonstration of joy and transport.  The animal reared himself up, purred like a cat when pleased, and licked the hand of Sir George, which he had put through the bars.  The keeper was astonished and frightened for the safety of his visitor, entreated him not to trust an apparent fit of frenzy, with which the animal seemed to be seized; for he was, without exception, the most fierce and sullen of his tribe which he had ever seen.  This, however, had no effect on Sir George, who, notwithstanding every entreaty on the part of the keeper, insisted on entering the lion’s den.  The moment he got in, the delighted lion threw his paws upon his shoulders, licked his face, and ran about him, rubbing his head on Sir George, purring and fawning like a cat when expressing its affection for its master.  This occurrence became the talk of Florence, and reached the ears of the Grand Duke, who sent for Sir George, and requested an interview at the menagerie, that he might witness so extraordinary a circumstance, when Sir George gave the following explanation; ’A captain of a ship from Barbary gave me this lion, when quite a whelp.  I brought him up tame; but when I thought him too large to be suffered to run about the house, I built a den for him in my court-yard.  From that time he was never permitted to be loose, except when brought to the house to be exhibited to my friends.  When he was five years old, he did