0.]

CAMBRIDGE.

A Dane, a friend of Johan's, who had come to America to write a book on
American institutions, asked the consul to find him a quiet
boarding-house in a quiet street. The consul knew of exactly such a
retreat, and directed the Professor to the place. It was not far from
the Revere House. He arrived there in the evening, unpacked his
treasures, congratulating himself on his cozy quarters and his nice
landlady, who asked such a modest price that he jumped at it.

The next morning, at four o'clock, he was awakened by a strange noise,
the like of which he had never heard outside a zoological garden. At
first he thought he was still dreaming, and turned over to sleep again,
but the noise repeated itself. This time it seemed to come from under
his bed, and sounded like a lion's roar. Probably a circus had passed
and a lion had got loose and was prowling about, seeking what he could
devour! He thought of ringing up the house, but demurred, reflecting
that whoever answered the bell would probably be the first victim.
Again the roar! Fear overcame his humane impulses; he rang, hoping that
if the lion's appetite was appeased by the first victim, he might be
spared.

The landlady appeared in the flesh, calmly and quietly. "Did you ring,
sir?" she asked, placidly.

"I did indeed," he answered. "Will you kindly tell me whether I am
awake or asleep? It seems to me that I heard the roar of a lion. Did no
one else hear it?"

The landlady hesitated, embarrassed, and answered, "I did, sir--you and
I are the only persons in the house."

"Then the lion is waiting for us?" he said, quaking in his slippers.

"I beg your pardon, sir," the woman answered. "I had hoped that you had
not noticed anything--"

"Good gracious!" he said, "do you think I can be in the house with a
roaring lion and not notice anything?"

"He happens to be hungry this morning, and nothing will keep him
quiet," said the kind lady, as if she were talking of her kitten.

"Madam," screamed the infuriated Dane, "one of us is certainly going
mad! When I tell you that there is a lion roaming over your house you
stand there quietly and tell me that he is hungry?"

"If you will wait a moment, sir, I will explain."

"No explanation is needed, madam. If I can get out of this house alive
I will meet you in some other un-lion-visited part of Boston and pay
you." And he added, with great sarcasm, "He is probably a pet of yours,
and your ex-boarders