Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-01-13
AGRATEFULl.

who didn't come was to .a.. ug..
what was the matter with si.. aA.a
/ cured the mare and took ngi.
for from that day to this .rr-
scribed for human being I- s.ya
reputation as veterinary s -H. ha
to stick to it. But that is a.
there. Only If you think animals can
show gratitude and affection perhaps you'll
change your mind.
when I'd been in business year or
two sent for my brother Dick. He was
wonderful chap with all kinds Of ami
mails, and thought perhaps could work
out of my part of it and leave that for him.
I never did for Dicks cotton broker in
New York now, and should have to be-
gin all over again to make a first rate
physician But that's what meant to be
then.
''The very next day after Dick came I
got telegram from P. L. 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:
"'Hebe has hurt her foot. Come at
once
"Hebe was favorite elephant-a splen-
did creature and worth a small fortune.
"Well, confess hesitated. distrust-
ed my own ability and dreaded the result
But Dick was determined to go, and go
we did. When We got out of the oars, Bar
mum himself was there with a splendid
pair of matched grays. He eyed me very
obviously. I'D forgotten you were such
little fellow he said in discouraged
tone. 'I'm afraid you can't help her. His
distrust put me on my mettle.
Mr.. Barnum,' said l. getting into
the carriage, if it comes to hand to hand
fight between Hebe and me- 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 OH 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 trumpeting, 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 in her looks-poor thing!
Gwen Dick quailed now. You can
never get near her, he whispered. She'll
kill you sure
''Her keeper OWNED what he said
Don't you be afraid, sir he called out to
me- 'Hebe's got sense.
II took my box of instruments from
Mr.. Barnum.
I like your pluck, my boy, he said
heartily, but own that felt rather queer
and shaky as l went up to the huge beast.
1.-THE men employed about the show
came around us curiously, but at a respect
full and eminently safe distance, as 1 bent
down to examine the foot
"While was doing SO, as gently as 1
could, felt to my horror, light touch
on my hair. 1t was as light as woman's,
but as turned and saw the great trunk
&C She's only curling your hair, sang
out the keeper. Don't mind her.
g 1 shall have to cut, and cut deep,
said 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
awayp
"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 ev-
eryday occurrence.
"Well, made one cash with the knife.
felt the grasp on my hair tighten percep
tibly, yet not urgently. Cold drops Of per-
spiration stood out all over me.
"'Shall cut again.? 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 1t with oakum
and bound 1t up. The relief must have
been immediate, for the grasp on my hair
relaxed, the elephant drew long, almost
human, sigh, and-well, don't know
what happened next, for tainted dead
away. Dick must have finished the bust
ness and picked up me and my tools. I
was as limp US a rag.
1T must have been year and half
after this happened that was called to
western Massachusetts to see some fancy
horses. Barnuin's circus happened to DO
there. You may be sure that l called to
inquire for my distinguished patient
"'Hebes we'll and hearty, sir, the keep
or answered me. Come In and see her;
she'll be glad to see YOU
NONSENSE said T. though confess l
had keen curiosity to see If she would
know me as stepped into the tent
"There she stood, the beauty, as we'll as
ever. For moment she looked at me in
differently, then steadily and with inter-
est She next reached out her trunk and
laid it caressingly first on my shoulder and
then on my hair-how wildly her touch |
brought back to my mind the cold shivers
I endured at my Introduction to her land
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 I
barn. One Of the workmen in the estab-
lishment has been for number Of years