The Savannah tribune. [volume] (Savannah [Ga.]) 1876-1960, 1886-10-30
SAVANNAH, GA. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 80, 1886

gent face an air of paternal gentleness,
and which seemed to sadden his charm
ing smile, he appeared TO thank me for
the thoughtfullness that thus ministered
! to his tastes.
His keepers dwelling, pretty cottage
completely covered with honeysuckle,
opened on the enclosure where he was
usually exhibited. noticed at the win
dow a young woman who was generally
singing as she rocked the cradle of y
sturdy pink-and- white, chubby-faced IN
FAINT The delicate beauty of the mother
and the inviting appearance OF the neat
| little rustic home served tothrow around
the Colossus of the Jungle an atmosphere
OF peace and happiness. From time to
time Belisarius would APPROACH the win
dow, and, with his trunk thrown back in
the air, would seem to send kiss to the
baby asleep in its wicker nest.
1t occurred to mo that the family must
be very fond of this great kind brute,
whose manifestations of dumb affection
were evidently so sincere.
A voice disturbed my reflections. 1t
was the keeper who, while performing
his usual duties in his boarder's cage, had
spoken to me. He had understood how
much interest | took in his pet, and even
seemed to guess my thoughts.
"Ah, yes, Monsieur Every one adores
him, but no one more than /, / assure
you. Belisarius made my fortune and
made me happy
At the word 'fortuneo | had involun-
tarily summoned before my minds eye a
vision of the mines Of Golconda and Mo
gul fetes; but reflected that the modest
position held by the speaker was incon-
sistent with the extravaganza conceptions
of my imagination.
Constituting my silence into desire to
hear more, the man continued:
"a few years ago, Monsieur, did not
occupy the enviable position in which
you see me to-day Instead of being the
keeper of the elephant was only
common gardener, spading the beds,
raking over tue walks and watering flow
crs in this same garden. But / was in
love-madIy, rapturously in love!
VERY often was guilty of a serious
infrG Ion of the rules that regulated my
professional duties. The rarest and most
beautiful Of the flowers / was paid to
guard and care for found their way to
the little cottage you see there She who
lived there was the object of my afTec-
ton, and she loved me in return. But
when / made so bold as to ask for her
hand, her father, who then occupied the
position now hold, .brutaily showed nue.
to the door, He said that he wouldn't
have his daughter marry below her sta
ton, and that he designed her to be the
wife Of the man who took charge of the
bear pit, who was in time to be his (the
fathers successor. And / was only, as
have told you, a common gardener
But why, I aked myself, could not
make as good an elephant keeper as any
othcr9 Love made me ambitious.
From that time ! summoned all my
courage, and sureptitiously entering
the enclosure | set my wits TO work and
lavished upon the elephant all the atten-
tons Of real keeper. by future father
in-law, it must be added, had been
somewhat neglectful Of Belisarius's com
fort
'The worthy animal appreciated my
trouble. Ait what neutrality-suspicious.
a mind las clear as amber. After a
while he saw through my little scheme.
for when | was there his one eye would
turn roguishly towards the window
where, as if by accident, Lucie, the
daughter Of the real keeper, would ap-
pear, having chosen that very moment
for shaking her crumb-cloth over poor
Beliserius's head
"Well, my love was to receive great
assistance from this dumb beast, as you
win see.
''Fhe elephants disposition, hitherto
50 mild and peaceful, changed suddenly.
Bclisarius in spite Of his having
come to years Of discretion, began to
play tricks worthy of the veriest school