Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1891-09-04
ELEPHANT AND FAIRY.

Centerpole Tom professed to know every
thing about all the distinguished people of
she profession" in all parts of Christen-
dom, and likely he did know a great deal;
for, in his humble capacity, he had served
many of them in divers countries and
though boastful man, he bad never been
detected in an inability to give trust
worthy information. So, when it was an
znounced, with great show of large type,
that christopher and the Fairy" had just
landed at San Francisco from an Austria
Ian steamer, under contract for the re-
nainder of the season, there was much ex-
element and curiosity among the people
of the circus, and Centerpole Tom was at
once exploited for knowledge concerning
them.
"Hain't you ever heard of Christopher
and the Fairy" he asked, pityingly; "well,
that gets me. The Fairy's the purtiest
little trick on wheels, an the way she kin
do the flying trapeze is something 'stonish-
ing No, | hain't never seen her. but |
know all about her. A fellow worked for
me last season that seen her at Melbourne,
and he told me whole string of stuff
about her. Every man jack under the can
vass went dead gone on her, but she never
took no notice of any of 'em, and didn't
seem to care for nobody's society but the
women's and that ornery, measly old
Christopher"
"Is Christopher her husbun'" asked
long legged young groom.
Nor Numbered Tom, with so great We
hemence that the young man quailed, and
dared not ask any more questions.
'Brotherf" inquired one of the ring
"snpers."
Nor yelled the veteran master of the
4enterpole hoist; "he amt her husbun, nor
her brother, nor her uncle, nor her grand
L her, nor her cousin"
The head hostler, as much a veteran as
q 'rnterpole Tom, and more modest and less
I .eatrical than he, quietly said
Nc use making fool of yourself and
Uniting on airs before these here boys.
SUu't know who Christopher is, all | amt
ashamed to say so. Now, who is Christie
phert"
This was the supreme moment for which
.Centerpole Tom had waited He squared
himself around. aud, looking steadily at
The head hostler, said impressively and
with the utr'ost deliberations
christopher is an elephant"
1t was small speech, but it was some
~,inle after this before the two men became
GOOD friends again.
There was a commotion all through the
mall army of circus people when Christie
pher and the Fairy arrived. They did not
come to the tents for two or three days af-
TER landing, As it was rumored that Chris
topher had been seasick on the voyage
across the Pacific and needed a little rest.
When they did appear, however, they were
cordially welcomed. The women of the
circus found the Fairy (who, in private life,
was known as Miss Camilla Armijo) to be
a delightful girl, more substantial than a
genuine fairy, to be sure, but hardly more
s., for, although she was full grown, she
Tas so small and fragile that her profess
Sional name sat well upon her. There was
Il light touch of sadness in all her conduct,
and Centerpole Tom explained this by say
ing that she had recently lost both her par
ants. How he discovered this, nobody
ever could learn. But it was clear at
least. that she was very sweet and gentle
little body very young, and with no friend
in San Francisco except old Christopher.
4 say ''old Christopher" because it is i'm
possible to associate anything but great
5ge with his enormous proportions and
overwhelming dignity. He was an East
indian elephant of prodigious size.
more solemn and self satisfied elephant il
Uouid have been impossible to find.
After the Fairy had been introduced tC
the people with whom she was to be asso
ec!abed the remainder of the season, ant
lad ,cLatted apd quietly laughed will
EN- a little, she turned to the menageri,
man and said
Nov we will show Christopher hi
quarters" And by the dignified tiappn!
az his great ears Christopher seemed t,
a4dd, Yes, we are prepared now to SCI
what you can do for old Christopher"
In fact, while they were about it, anC
all feeling certain interest in the littl
stranger and her big companion, the who'll
company-the two clowns, the man wh
turned the double back somersault, tn
strong man, the woman who wore yellow
wig when she rode bareback the two mel
who did the great act on the horizontal
bar, and some others, including Centerpol
Tom and the surly head man of the hos
tiers-went to see how Christopher was T.
be disposed of. That was a simple affair
The great pachyderm was conducted to hi
allotted place in the menagere tent, wher
an iron pin was driven into the groun
and a chain, which was riveted to it, wa
locked around one of his legs. The pi
and the chain were part of his belongings
and he was accustomed to be chained u
thus and made no objection. Evidentl
he suffered no loss of dignity by this opera
ton, for he appeared to say to himself
This is perfectly proper, am sure; for
is the rule of all circuses to keep the an
mails in some sort of confinement, and
although it accomplishes no useful purpos
In my case, believe in discipline and cheer
fully submit to the rules"
1t was very pretty to see how solicitor
was the Fairy of her immense charge. Sh
saw that he had sufficient allowance c
fresh, sweet hay, and from a bag whic
sahe carried she fed him some dantie
which she had for that purpose and whic
he took in his 1.-THE trunk with NANTES