Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1889-07-09
uHr ArwArER,s ELEPH.ANT.

Rectangular Weminfscen co cot Old
New Haven, Clothed in a Fantastic
Garb OF Modern Poesy, by Tho Eve
ming world Poet. q.
1.-THE following appeals dir ectly to the
memory of many old citizens OF New Haven,
who still cherish the elephnnt episode In
THAR storehouses of amusing recollections of
their Younger days. To the younger genera
tion IL possesses interest from the intrinsic
merit of the story. The story wss told to
Mr.. Penney by one of our most noted men,
and Mr.. Penney has faithfully reproduced it
in the garb spoken of. The old Hooker mus
scum was In the present old Exchange bui lid
ing, and many of the treasures of that old
collection are still preserved with car Q by
old inhabitants:]
When we old fellows were young, OH hoi
The Jokes they cracked when was a boy
Had Kernels Of fun chap could enjoy
I've got laid away
For each cloudy day
At least full score
That lust makes me roar,
For q smile adds a mile 10 your row noio poio"s
Fessi 0SSl blue
Kicks half
A dollar out of the DOCTORS path
And every doctor you meet on the way
Viii tell you that laughter for them don't pay.
II.
I'll tS,l you Just one that made the town roar
Some forty odd years ago. II not more,
When man named Hooker got left In In. the ,s iurSh
With his museum corner OF Chapel ana Church.
He sold out the lot
Right there on the spot
For what 1t would bring.
There was everything
In that line opine bird and beast and not least
To state
sad esy 1eda.'
Much tried
Stuffed elephant that had lost all Its pride.
Whose tail, as the saying goes, went with its
Which fact was by Hooker proclaimed with such
That Jolly Hen Atwater bid It In.
III.
The bidding IL In was easy enough,
nas 30
Hen came to carry his purchase ch ,Ss away Away
And he had to take out
A cord Just about
OF old wood, ere he could pass the door, but Hen
That he
Would see
That sad
Old lad
Safely stored In the barn Of his dad
IL it cost him every dollar he had
Had T put up it's It's shutters the deed was done
W.
The next day was Sunday, and when it began,
Hens father, dignihed, truly good man,
with himself and his Maker completely at ease,
With no fear Of Old Nick
To make him feel sick,
He passed on to the barn,
Not dreaming OF harm;
Opened the door as Of yore, walked in where with
stare
Quite grim,
Stood that
Great bal
OF an old stuffed elephant black as your hat,
"Wheei', 'Scati,
Then firmly convinced that he'd met with Old Nick,
Lit out for the house at good double quick.
v.
That settled the elephant business with Hen.
The sad-syed creature must move on" and then
Came the question where under the laughing skies
Could he find a resting place for his prizes
just promised to lend
His front yard while
For his poor anamile.
So one day stuffed with hay and old wood there 1t
stood.
And quite
sight
Was he
To see.
So thought the horse of Farmer Hawgee,
As he sighted the creature and whirled to flee.
Distributing garden sass and green truck
Both sides Of the road till the home base he struck
vi.
The runaway cost Hen pretty round sum.
Though as to the figures he always kept mum.
The pachyderm had to move on once more;
Hen cartedit down to the sad seashore
And left 1t by the tide,
A ton of hay inside,
A look OF mild surprise
Within its widowed eyes,
As II he couldn't see what he'd done men should
shun
Him thus
And cuss
His hide
Beside.
And strange weird stories somehow got afioat,
How many a heretofore trusty old boat
Caught sight Of Hens pachyderm prize on the
And wildly plunged down to be heard of more.
VII
The boys soon found out to simply inquire
The price OF an elephant kindled Hens ire;
But Hen always swore by his grandtatdh .f hat
For its tiisks at Sloopville,
Quite enough to repay
For all his outlay.
IL alas! came to pass one fine day, so they say,
When he
With glee,
Would tell
It we'll.
The boys were shopping in Hens store arou1d
when. shade of Ananias they found
The tusks he claimed TO have sold at Sloopvilie
Meath his desk in a box they'd just nicely I'LL.
VIII.
AT flrst not a word DER their iiud did they say,
But started 10 talk in general way
or prevArication; but Hen he kept still
Vile.
The boys almost died
With laughter inside,
When Hen gravely said,
As his features grew red,
That lust now he somehow couldn't tell very well.
You see,
Said he.
1--WE sold
All told
But Just that one pair" The boys grew more bold
And bury the tusks out OF sight.in horn
WILLIAM EDWARD PENNY