Doctor John Dolittle has an amazing ability. He
The Story of
Story of
is able to talk with animals and understand their
language. In this selection from The Story of Doctor
The Story of Doctor
Dolittle, Doctor Dolittle has traveled to Africa to
Doctor Dolittle
help sick animals in the monkey kingdom.
by Hugh Lofting
The Eighth Chapter: The Leader of the Lions
John Dolittle now became dreadfully,  I didn t ask you to eat them, he said
awfully busy. He found hundreds and quietly.  And besides, they re not dirty. They ve
thousands of monkeys sick gorillas, all had a bath this morning. YOUR coat looks
orangutans, chimpanzees, dog-faced baboons, as though it needed brushing badly. Now
marmosets, gray monkeys, red ones all kinds. listen, and I ll tell you something: the day may
And many had died. come when the lions get
sick. And if you don t help
The first thing he did
the other animals now, the
was to separate the sick
lions may find themselves
ones from the well ones.
left all alone when THEY
Then he got Chee-Chee and
are in trouble. That often
his cousin to build him a
happens to proud people.
little house of grass. The
next thing: he made all the  The lions are never IN
monkeys who were still well trouble they only MAKE
come and be vaccinated. trouble, said the Leader,
turning up his nose. And
And for three days and
he stalked away into the
three nights the monkeys
jungle, feeling he had been
kept coming from the
rather smart and clever.
jungles and the valleys and
the hills to the little house of grass, where the
Doctor sat all day and all night, vaccinating
What Happened?
and vaccinating.
What was the first thing Doctor Dolittle did?
But so many were sick, there were not
enough well ones to do the nursing. So he sent He separated the sick monkeys
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messages to the other animals, like the lions
and the leopards and the antelopes, to come from the well ones.
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and help with the nursing.
What did Doctor Dolittle want the lions to do?
But the Leader of the Lions was a very
proud creature. And when he came to the
He wanted them to help with
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Doctor s big house full of beds he seemed angry
and scornful.
nursing the monkeys
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 Do you dare to ask me, Sir? he said,
glaring at the Doctor.  Do you dare to ask
What does Doctor Dolittle say happens to
me ME, THE KING OF BEASTS, to wait on a
proud people?
lot of dirty monkeys? Why, I wouldn t even eat
them between meals!
They are often left all alone when
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Although the lion looked very terrible, the
Doctor tried hard not to seem afraid of him.
they are in trouble.
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