Evening journal., 1896-11-13
HEBE'S GRATITUDE.
HOW SHE REMEMBERED THE MAN
WHO CURED HER FOOT.

The Story Told by n Veterinary Surgeon
who Early In His Career Had One Of
Barrum's Elephants For a PatIent-A
A Trying ordeal.
was full fiedged M. d. once and
never should have thought of adopting
my present profession if it hadn't been
for queer accident which occurred
when | first hung out my shingle
I had a rich neighbor, man was
bound 10 propitiate. and the very first
call had, after days of waiting for pa
tients who didn't come, was to his barn
to see what was the matter with his sick
mare. 1 cured the mare and took In my
shingle, for from that day to this I've
never prescribed for human being. /
had won a reputation as veterinary
surgeon and had to stick to it. But.
that's neither, here nor there, only if
you think animals can't show gratitude
and affection perhaps you'll change
your mind.
When had been in practice year or
two, / sent for my brother Dick. He was
a wonderful chap with all kinds Of ami
mails, and thought perhaps I could
work out of my part of it and leave that
for him. never did, for Dicks q cot
ton broker in New York now, and /
should have to begin all over again to
make a first rate physician. But that's
what l meant to be then
The next day after Dick came got q
telegram from p T. Barnum. I'd been
down there once or twice to his own
stable, and he had a good deal of faith
in me. The dispatch was:
Hebe has hurt her foot. Come at
once
Hebe was favorite elephant
splendid creature, and worth a small
fortune.
Well, 1 confess 1 hesitated. l dis
trusted my own ability and dreaded the
result. But Dick was determined to go,
and 60 we did. When we got out of tho
cars, Barnum 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 a hand to
hand fight between Hebe andme dom
believe an extra foot or two of heigta
would help me any"
He laughed outright, and began tell
ing how the elephant was hurt. She
had stepped ON a small bit Of iron and
it had penetrated the tender part Of the
foot. She was in intense agony andSal-
most wild with pain.
Long before we reached the inclosure
in which she was we could hear hei
piteous trumpeting, and when we en-
tered we found her on three logs, swing
ing the hurt foot slowly backward ant
forward and uttering long cries Of an
guish. Such dumb misery in her look
poor thingl
Even Dick quailed now.
You can never get near her" h'
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.
took my instruments from Mr.. BaD
mum.
81 like your pluck, my boy, he said
heartily, but 1 own that l felt rather
queer and shaky as / went mp to the
huge beast
The men employed about the show
came around us curiously, but at a re-
spectful and eminently safe distance, al
bent down TO examine the foot
While was doing so as gently as
could felt, to my horror, light touch
ON my hair. It was as light as a WON
ans, but as turned and saw the great
trunk behind me it had an awful sug
gestiveness.
"She's only curling your hair, f" sang
out the keeper Don't mind her
II shall have to cut, and cut deep D
said by way of reply.
He said few words in some lingo
which were evidently intended for the
elephants understanding only. Ther
be shouted with the utmost GOODNESS:
''Cut awayl"
The mans faith inspired me. Their,
he stood, quite unprotected, directly il
front Of the great creature, and quietly
jabbered away to her as if this were al
everyday occurrence.
Well, madeone cash with the knife
felt tho grasp ON my hair tighten per
ceptibly. yet not urgently. Cold drop
of perspiration. came out all over me.
'Shall cut again?" l managed t
call out.
"Cut away" came again the encour
aging response.
This stroke did the work. The absces
was lancedl We sprayed out the foot
packed it with oakum and bound
up. The relief must have been immedi
ate, for the grasp on my hair relaxed
the elephant drew long, almost human
sigh, ard--well, / don't know wha
happened next, for tainted dead away
Dick must have finished the busines
and picked up me and my tools. wa
as limp as a rag.
1t must have been year and a hal
after this happened that was called 4
weste IN Massachusetts, to see some fanc.
horses Barnum scircus happened to b
theria. You may be sure that called t
inqix.re for my distinguished patient
'"Hebe's we'll and hearty, sir, " tn
] Il q -. i 60