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THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF 'TOM,'
A BEAR IN PARIS[1]
Part I
Décamps and his brother Alexandre were entertaining a number of their artistic and literary friends one evening in the well-known studio, on the fifth floor of No. 109 Rue du Faubourg St.-Denis, in Paris. Thierry had just finished reading a scientific paper on the peculiarities of frogs, of the same species as Mademoiselle Camargo, when the door opened, and the master of a neighbouring cafe entered, bearing a large tray covered with cups, saucers, teapot, &c, and followed by two of his waiters who carried a huge hamper, in winch were a loaf, some buns, a salad, and an enormous number of little cakes of every possible size, shape, and flavour.
The loaf was for Tom, the bear; the buns for Jacko, the monkey; the salad for the tortoise, Gazelle, and the tea and cakes for the guests.
The beasts were very properly served first, and the guests were then told to help themselves.
A few moments of confusion followed, during which each made himself comfortable after his own fashion. Tom carried off his loaf to his hutch, growling as he went; Jacko fled behind some busts to munch his buns, and Gazelle slowly dragged the salad to be enjoyed
- ↑ For the various allusions to artists, authors, and animals in this story, the reader is referred to the Blue Animal Story Book.
