The Lamoille news. (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1877-1881, 1878-05-01
Old Soup.

1Q6 IOllOWluA OuAAOuo dhNNAbNS 10 /
frcm book about elephants, written by |
a French gentleman, names Jacolliot,
and we will let the author tell his own |
story: In the autumn of 1876 was living |
in the interior of Bengal, and went to
spend Christmas with my friend, Major
DAILY. The majors bungalow was on
the banks of the Ganges near Cawnpore.
He had lived there good many years,
being chief Of the quartermaster's de-
partment at that station, and had great
many natives, elephants, bullock-carts,
and soldiers under his command.
On the morning after my arrival, after
cup of early tea (often taken before
daylight in India), sat smoking with
my friend in the veranda of his bunga-
low, looking out upon the windings of
the sacred river. And, directly, I asked
the major about his children "a boy and
girD, whom 1 had not yet seen, and
begged to know when should see them.
"Soupramany has taken them out
fishing" said their father.
"Why, isn't Soupramany your great
elephant |" l cried.
EXACTLY so. You cannot have for
gotten Soupramany"
"Of course not. l was here, you
know, when he had that fight with the
elephant who went mad while loading a
transport with bags of rice down yonder.
1 saw the mad elephant when he sudden
ly began to fling the rice into the river.
His 'mahout tried to stop him, and he
killed the mahout. The native sailors
ran away to hide themselves, and the
mad elephant, trumpeting, charged into
this inclosure. Old Soupramany was
here, and so were Jim and Bessy. When
he saw the mad animal, he threw him
self between him and the children. The
little ones and their nurses had ust time
to get into the house when the fight
commenced"
eyes," said the major. "Old Soup
was hundred years old. He had been
trained to war, and to fight with the
rhinoceros, but he was too old to hunt
then"
"And yet" said 7, becoming animat-
ed by the recollections of that day, "what
gallant fight that was Do you re-
member how we all stood on this porch
and watched it, not daring to fire shot
lest we should hit Old Soupramany ?
Do you remember, too, his look when
he drew off, after fighting an hour and
half, leaving his adversary dying in
the dust, and walked straight to the
corral, shaking his great ears which
had been badly torn, with his head
bruised, and great piece broken from
one of his tusks?"
eyes, indeed" said the major.
"Well, since then, he is more devoted
to my dear little ones than ever. He
takes them out whole days, and I am
perfectly content to have them under
his charge. 1 don't like trusting chill
dren to the care of natives but with
Old Soup l know they can come to no
harm"
Beside the children, on the banks of
the Ganges, stood Old Soup with bam-
boo rod in his trunk, with line, hook,
bait, and cork, like the children's. |
had not watched him long before he had
bite ; for, as the religion of the Hin.
docs forbids them to take life the river
swarms with fishes.
The old fellow did not stir his little
eyes watched his line eagerly he was
no novice in "the gentle craft" H,
was waiting till it was time to draw il
his prize.
At the end of the line, as he drew il
up, was dangling one of those colder
tench 80 abundant in the Ganges.
When Soupramany perceived what i,
fine fish he had caught, he uttered on,
of those long, low gurgling notes Of
satisfaction by which an elephant ex
presses Joy and he waited patiently
expecting Jim to take his prize off tn
hook and put on some more bait TO
him. But Jim, the little rascal, some
times liked to plague Old Soup. H
nodded to us, as much as to say: " Lool
out, and you'll see fun, nowp Thel
he took off the fish, which he threw int,
water-iar placed there for the purpose
and went back to his place without put
ting any bait on Old Soups hook. TIL
intelligent animal did not attempt t.
throw his line into the water. 81
tried to move Jim by low, pleadin
cries. 1t twas curious to note what tende
tones he seemed to try to give his voice
Seeing that Jim paid no attention t
his calls, but sat and laughed as
handled his own line, Old Soup wen
up to him, and with his trunk tried {
turn his head in the direction of til
bait-box. AT last, when he found thi
all he could do would not induce HI
willful friend to help him, he turne
round as if struck by sudden though
and, snatching up in his trunk the be
that held the bait, came and laid it dow
at the majors feet then picking up b
rod, he held it out to his master.
"What do You want me to do vii
this, Old Soup?" said the major.
The creature lifted one great TO
after the other. and again began
utter his plaintive cry. Out of misohit
1 took Jimmy's part, and picking I