50 Tom Seven Years Old.

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leopards. They wore beautiful yellow and
black skins, much grander than the lion’s.

“ They are not kings,” cried Tom. “ Any
one can see that, in spite of their fine dress.
But they look like princes. Our cats have
the same faces, only not so fierce. I am afraid
they’re angry also with the English for keep-
ing them shut up. Oh dear me! I wish I
could go round and let them all out!”

He could not settle whether he admired the
tiger’s striped skin or the leopard’s spotted
one most. His own stockings were generally
striped, but he had a white neck-tie spotted
with purple. |

The white bear was a great soft creature,
who seemed very fond of bathing, for he was
splashing in and out of the water the whole
time they stood there, and did not notice
them at all. His fur was as white as the ice
and snow of the land he came from, but his
face looked rather stupid, as though he never
thought of anything. Tom was glad to know
what he was like, but did not care to stay and
talk to him.