Nothing To Be Afraid Of

Some years ago I was standing before the cage of a wildcat in the zoo of one of our large cities.  As I stood there wondering just what good purpose a wildcat might serve, an attendant entered the cage through a door on the opposite side.  He had nothing in his hands but a broom.  Carefully closing the door, he proceeded to sweep the floor of the cage.

The shivers went down my spine as I saw him in there alone with that wildcat.  So far as I could tell he had no weapon with which to protect himself in case of attack.  But he seemed not to be afraid in the least and went about his work.

In spite of his composure, I supposed that when he got to where the cat lay he would treat him with the utmost respect, but nothing of the kind.  When he got near the beast, he gave him a shove with the broom to make him get out of the way.  The wildcat made no response except a disapproving hiss, after which he lay down in another corner of the cage.

"You certainly are a brave man," I said to the attendant.

"No, I ain't brave," the man answered, continuing to sweep.

"Well then," said I, "that cat must be tame."

"No," he answered again, "he ain't tame."

"Well," I said again, "if you are not brave and that cat in not tame then I cannot understand why he does not attack you."

The man chuckled.  "Mister," he said, "he's old--and he ain't got no teeth."

- Carl Armerding, quoted in The Speaker's Quote Book (Christian Literature Crusade, 1997)