The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-06-24
Our Sons ano Girls.
Tim and the Elephant.
Anybody looking, Sam?"

borhood of the herd of elephants in the
geological garden.
"Then l will just touch him up. I'VE
got pin, Sam"
The big elephant, thrusting his trunk
toward Tim Seelye, was expecting to
receive some little titbit, like a pulpy
apple; instead the elephant felt sharp
prick.
He abruptly withdrew his trunk,
angrily tapped his mammoth ears, and
stormily kicked with one of his huge
feet. This kicking was like the lifting
and shaking of hogshead.
"He didn't like it; ha, hal' said
Sam. But he don't care. Animals
don't mind things"
"Oh, it doesn't make any difference
to them. If they are hungry, don't
imagine they are particular what they
get, Sam, and have-is anybody look
ing?"
-".Oh, no.''
- l have got an apple and lot of
.,epper inside-quick, anybody looking?
Here is a chap holding out his trunk.
There, eat that"
Tim gave to this second elephant his
pepper-apple, fruit growing neither in
a temperate nor tropical climate, but
speedily produced when an apple,
spoonful of pepper, and mischievous
boys jack-knife come together.
This recipient of Tins generosity
was very angry. The creature showed
his dislike to this peculiar production
in very foolish and eXtravagant way.
as the boys thought. He made such
fuss that it attracted the attention of
the keeper of the elephants.
"What is goin' on here2" was the
angry shout of the keeper, as he storm
lily rushed forward.
crowd of visitors to the leafy
rounds began to gather, for a man
Tho is mad is about as interesting as
ny animal that can be found in a
biological garden.
"Who's been a-meddlin'?" roared
he keeper.
"Time to be making ourselves scarce,
SAM" muttered the mischievous Tim,
and the boys quickly elbowed their
way through the gathering crowd.
" Let's get away from these grounds"
suggested Sam.
They went off in hurry, pretending
to be fearless, and cracking their Jokes,
but at the same time, in a sly way,
cowardly glancing back to see if any
body were chasing them. They reached
Tins home. " Lets tell Obed, comew
said Tim. He will enjoy it. He likes
joke"
Obed was the hired man on the
Seelye place. He was very fond of a
joke; so much in love with one that the
boys supposed he would promptly laugh
and "haw-haw."
Why, he will just split" averred
Tim. But Obed did not "split " at all.
He did smile when the boys began,
but, as they went on, he looked sober.
You see, just stuck pin into the
trunk of one, Obed," said Tim.
Obed scowled.
"Then just gave him an
mot him. said Sam. "Not the
same one, Tim"
"Oh, no, but another-all in the
family-an apple chock-full of pepper,
and he did caper round, and the keeper
was mad, and people ran up. Oh, it
was funl"
But not sign of any recognition of
fun did the boys see in Obed's face.
Wasn't it great?" asked Sam, de-
sirous of seeing in Obed's face some
appreciation VI d ROUu luluR.
Obed's face, though, was not without
expression of some kind. What the
kind was he quickly showed in this
exclamation:
g don't believe in that sort of fun"
Why-why not?" said the aston
ished Tim.
Well, you will see the point at once
when | suggest that you try it on your
selves. Tim, you let Sam jab you with
a pin, and Sam, you also poke pepper
apple down Tins throat.'
"Oh," said Sam, I'VE tried it on ami
mails"
Cant help that Animals don't
like The sharp point of pin or a mouth
full of pepper any better than you"
Didn't seem to fancy it,.dd they,
Sam?" asked Tim, laughing.
Sam, though, after Obed's rebuke,
was not disposed to laugh
Come here, boys" said Obed. He
led them to the stall of Jack, the horse.
" Jackie, Jackie, good Jackie" said
bed, stroking the horse kindly.
There, when I came here to work
Jus know what kind of horse he was.
The man before me said he had to lick
him every day. What was the result?
The horse got into a surly, ugly mood
that lasted all the time. He was either
just taking whipping or expecting tc
catch one. l stopped that thing.
began to be kind to him. He did not
know how to take it, and at first | die
not make much Roadway, but by anG
by he understood me, and now l car
do almost anything with him. Good
Jackie good Jackie
The horse rubbed his long heaC
affectionately against Obed's jacket.
1t shows" said Obed, "that al
animal has feelings. Yes, boys, yor
try on yourselves what you try on ar
animal and see how you like it,"
The conversation was continued {
while longer. Then Tim and San
silently withdrew from the barn, Tin
saying: "Obed need not take it s,
seriously"
Sam remarked: Didn't come here
to get sermon. ! am going home"
This hater of sermons on kindness I,
OfT -, II.