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by Stanley Holloway (1978),
re-written from Stanley Lupino's version of 1940
Illustration by Bill Tidy
We shouldn't be surprised Wallace (the lion) ate Albert (the boy).
The lion is carnivorous, with an instinct to hunt and kill for its sustenance. Lionesses usually hunt in groups (the male just sits back and watches from a distance, very much like men watching the game on TV while the missus makes the dinner.)
The preferred prey is large mammals such as buffalo, deer and impala, warthog (ugly but tasty), wildebeest (popular choice) and zebra. Giraffe and elephant are also on the menu, but like the other animals, subject to availability.
And when their favourite dish is not available, young boys from Yorkshire are an obvious substitute and more than adequate for the lion's nutritional needs.
In the case of Wallace and Albert however (see The Lion and Albert), Wallace wasn't particularly hungry. In fact, he was taking nap after lunch when Albert poked his stick with an 'orse's 'ead 'andle in Wallace's ear. In effect, eating Albert was Wallace's firm way of indicating to the lad that he should stop poking. No real malice intended.
Similarly, Albert had no hard feeling toward the lion. In fact, the whole episode turned out to be nothing more than bonding.
You've heard of Albert Ramsbottom, Now after the Lion disgorged him, The Keepers could nowt do with Lion He looked at his food and ignored it, And at Mr and Mrs Ramsbottom's | |
Now Mr Ramsbottom got fed up Now instead of the lad getting frightened His Father thought he had gone potty, Now Mr and Mrs Ramsbottom The moment the Lion saw Albert, And before anybody could stop him, The crowd by this time were dumbfounded, |
Stood up and let out a roar |
Then all of a sudden the Lion The crowd by this time were all cheering, The Lion grew so fond of Albert "We regret to say Lion is worried And if you call round any evening, |