New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1896-08-19
HEBE'S GRATITUDE.
HOW SHE REMEMBERED THE MAN
WHO CURED HER FOOT.

HOW SHE REMEMBERED THE MAN
WHO CURED HER FOOT.
The Story Told by Veterinary Surgeon
Who Early In His Career Had One Of
Barnum's Elephants For Patient-A
A Trying Ordeal.
was full fedged 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 single.
had rich neighbor, man I was
bound to 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. cured the mare and took in my
single, for from that day to this I've
never prescribed for human being. I
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 a year or
two, I sent for my brother Dick. He was
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. I never did, for Dick a COT
ton broker in New York now, and I
should have to begin all over again to
make first rate physician. But that 8
what meant to be then.
The next day after Dick came got a
telegram from P. T. Barnum. I'd been
down there once or twice to his own
stable, and he had good deal Of faith
in me. The dispatch was:
''Hebe has hurt her foot Come at
once"
Hebe was a favorite elephant-a
splendid creature, and worth a small
fortune.
Well, I confess I hesitated. l dis
trusted my own ability and dreaded the
result. But Dick was determined to go,
and go we did. When we got out of the
cars, Barnum 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.
Mr.: Barnum," said I, getting into
the carriage IF it comes to hand to
hand fight between Hebe and me I don t
believe an extra foot or two of height
would help me any"
He laughed outright, and began tell
ing how the elephant was hurt She
had stepped on small bit of iron and
it had penetrated the tender part of the
foot She was in intense agony and al
most wild with pain:
Long before we reached the Enclosure
in which she was we could hear her
piteous trumpeting, and when we en-
tered we found her on three legs, swing
ing the hurt foot slowly backward and
forward and uttering long cries of an
guish. Such dumb misery in her looks
poor thing!
Even 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
took my instruments from Mr.. Bar
mum.
II like your pluck, my boy he said
heartily, but I own that I felt rather
queer and shaky as / went up to the
huge beast.
The men employed about the show
came around US curiQusly, but at re-
spectful and eminently safe distance, as
| bent down to examine the foot.
While L was doing SO as gently as I
could I felt, to my horror, light touch
on my hair. It was as light as a WON:
ans, but as I turned and saw the great
trunk behind me it had an awful sug-
gestiveness
"She's only curling your hair" sang
out the keeper. Don't mind her. -
II 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
elephants understanding only. Then
he shouted with the utmost GOODNESS:
''Cut away!"
The mans faith inspired me. There
he. stood, quite unprotected, directly in
front of, the great creature, and quietly
jabbered away to her as if this were an
everyday occurrence.
Well, I made one cash with the knife.
l felt the grasp On my hair tighten per-
ceptibly, yet not urgently. Cold drops
Of perspiration came out all over me.
'Shall cut again." I managed to
call out.
"Cut away" came again the encour-
aging response.
This stroke did the work. The abscess
was lanced. We sprayed out the foot,
packed it with oakum and bound it
up. The relief must have been immedi-
ate, 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 business
and picked up me and my tools. was
as limp as rag.
It must have been year and half
after this happened that was called to