The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-11-15
A GRATEFULPATIENT

queer accident when I first hung out my
single.
81 had rich neighbor man 1 was
bound to propitiate, and the very first call
1 had after days of waiting for patients
who didn't come was to his barn to see
what was the matter with his sick mare
I cured the mare and took in my shingle,
for from that day to this I've never pre-
scribed for a human being. I had won a
reputation as a veterinary surgeon and had
to stick to it. But that is neither here nor
there. Only if you think animals can't
show gratitude and affection perhaps you'll
change your mind.
when I'd been in business a year or
two, l sent fog my brother Dick He was
a wonderful chap with all kinds of ami
mails, and I thought perhaps I could work
out of my part of it and leave that for him.
1 never did, for Dicks cotton broker in
New York now, and 1 should have to be-
gin all over again to make first rate
physician. But that's what meant to be
then.
1.-The very next day after Dick came I
got telegram from P. Z. Barnum. I'd
been down there once or twice to his own
stables, and he had good deal of faith in
me. The dispatch was:
g 'Hebe has hurt her foot Come at
once
'Hebe was favorite elephant-a splen-
did creature and worth small fortune.
Well, confess hesitated 1 distrust-
ed my own ability and dreaded the result.
But Dick was determined to go, and go
we did When got out of the cars, Bar
mum himself was there with a splendid
pair of matched grays. He eyed me very
obviously. I'd forgotten you were such a
little fellow, he said in discouraged
tone. I'm afraid you can't help her. His
diStrust put me on my mettle.
g Mr.. Barnum,' said I, getting into
the carriage, ii it comes to a hand TO hand
fight between Hebe and me, 1 don't be-
lieve an extra foot or two of height would
help me any
He laughed outright and began telling
me how the elephant was hurt. She had
stepped on n nail or bit of iron and it had
penetrated the tender part of her foot. She
WAS in intense agony and almost wild
with the pain.
Long before we reached the enclosure
in which she was we could hear her pite-
Gus trumpetiEg. and when we entered we
found her on three legs, swinging the hurt
foot slowly backward and forward and
uttering long cries of anguish. Such
dumb misery il her looks-poor thing!
NEven Dick quailed now. You can
never get near her he whispered. Shell
kill you sure
Her keeper OWNED what he said.
Don't you be afraid, sir, he called out to
me. 'Hebe's got sense
81 took my box of instruments from
Mr.. Barnum.
g L like your pluck, my boy, he said
heartily, but 1 own that felt rather queer
and shalsy as went up to the huge beast.
1.-The men employed about the show
came around US curiously, but at respect
full and eminently safe distance, as 1 bent
down to examine the foot
while was doing SO. gently as
could L felt, TO my horror a light touch
on my hair. 1t was as light as a woman S,
but as l turned and saw the great trunk
behind me it had an awful suggestiveness.
g She's only curling your hair, sang
out the keeper Don't mind her
shall have to cut and cut deep,
said 1 by way of reply.
He said few words in some lingo
which were evidently intended for the ele-
plants understanding only. Then he
shouted, with the utmost GOODNESS, Cut
awayl
The mans faith inspired me. There
he stood, absolutely unprotected, directly
in front of the great creature and quietly
jabbered away to her as if this were an ey-
eryday occurrence.
well, l made one cash with the knife.
felt the grasp on my hair tighten percep
spiration stood out all over me.
Shall cut again?' 1 managed to call
out
"'Cut away" came again the encour-
aging response.
This stroke did the work. A great
mass of fetid matter followed the passage
of the knife; the abscess was lanced. We
sprayed out the foot, packed it with oal1um
and bound it up. The relief must have
hanT1 INN a&o no, hair
relaxed, the elephant drew long, almost
human, sigh, and-well l don't know
what happened next, for l tainted dead
away. Dick must have finished the bust
ness and picked up me and my tools. 1
was as limp as rag.
1t must have been year and half
after this happened that was called to
western Massachusetts to see some fancy
horses. Barnum' S circus happened to be
there. You may be sure that l called to
inquire for my distinguished patient.
"'Hebe's well and hearty, sir, the keep
er answered me. Come in and see her;
she'll be glad to see you
A." Nonsensel said l, though 1 confess l
had a keen curiosity to see if she would
know me as 1 stepped into the tent.
There she stood, the beauty, well as
| ever. For moment she looked at me in
differently, then steadily and with inter
6St. one next T9tCHel Oub UeF ana
laid it caressingly first on my shoulder and
then on my hair-how wildly her touch
brought back to my mind the cold shivers
1 endured at my introduction to her-and
then she slowly lifted up her foot, now
whole and healthy, and showed it to me.
| That's the sober truth !'-Exchange.
Can Cats Count?
A friend has several cats which have
been taught to make their homes in a
barn. One of the workmen in the estab-
lishment has been for a number of years
in the habit of bringing food from his
| house, after dinner time, for these cats. A
remarkable fact is that they go from the
| barn to the entrance of the gate property
always about 10 or 20 minutes before the
workman makes his appearance. just
how they came to learn the exact time of
| day is not clear, although If goes to show
| that these animals have reason and iudQ-