The Bemidji pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Beltrami County, Minn.) 1896-1917, 1896-04-30
THE pocn.oR,s STORY.

~ was d full-fedged NJ. p, once and
never should have thought OF adopting
Inv present profession II It hadn't beens
FOR a queer accident when ! tifst hans
out my single. ~
~ had a rich neighbour, man was
bound to propitiate, and the flrst can
Il had, after days of waiting Tor pa
tents who didn't come, was 90 his pafh
to see what was the matter Win ms
sick mare. I cured the mare and took
in nv single, for from that day 70
this 1 have never prescribed for 9 hu-
man being. L had won a reputa tion as
veterinary surgeon and had 70 s,lch
r. If. But that is neither mere nor
there. Only if You think animals can =
show gratitude and affection, periliaps
YOU will change your mind.
5.sWhen L had been in business q year
Or Two I sent for my brother Dick he
was u wonderful chap with all KINGS
Of animals, and thought perhaps
could work out my part of it and leave
that for him. 1 never did, for DICK e
4 cotton broker in New York now ana
| should have to begin all over again
to make a first-rate physician. But
that is what meant to be then
ssThe very next day after Dick came
i got q telegram from z. g. Barnlllh.
+ had been down there once or twice
II his own stables and he had GOOD
deal Of faith in me- The dispatch was:
a.Hebe has hurt her foot. Come at
once
B "Hebe was favorite elephant
splendid creature and worth small
fortune.
'.sWelL. i confess / hesitated. ] dis
trusted my own ability and dreaded
the result. But Dick was determined
to go, and 60 he did. When we GOV OUT
of the cars Barnum himself was there.
with a splendid pair Of matched grays.
He eyed me very obviously. I'd Tor.
GOTTEN YOU were such little fellow
he said in a discouraged tone. In
afraid you can't help her. Ills dis
trust put me on my mettle.
s"Mr. Barnum,' said I, getting into
the carriage, If it comes to a hand-to-
hand fight between Hebe and me,
don't believe an extra foot or two Oh
height would help me any.
"IIe laughed outright, and began tell
inc me how the elephant was hurt
She had stepped on a nail or bit OF
iron and it had penetrated the tender
mart of her foot She was in intense
agony and almost wild with pain.
"Lonal before we reached the in
closure lin which she was we could
hear her piteous trumpeting, and when
we entered we found her on three legs
swingiSg the hurt foot slowly back
ward snd uttering long cries Of an
guish. Such dumb misery in her looks
poorl thing!
.sEydn Dick quailed now. gu can
never set rear her. he whispered. She
will kill you, sure!
"Her keeper OWNED what he said.
Don't be afraid, sir, he called out to
me. .Hebe's got sense.
II took my box Of instruments from
Mr.. Barnum.
81 like your pluck, my boy, he said,
heartily; but ] own that ! felt rather
queer and shaky as went up 70 the
huge beast.
ssThe men employed about the show
came around us curiously. but at q re-
spectful and eminently safe distance,
assI bent down to examine the foot.
while was doing so. as gently as
I could, i felt to my horror a light
touch on my hair. 1t was as light as
wonlan's; but rs turned and saw the
great trunk behind me it had an awful
snggestiveness.
she's only curling your hair sang
out the keeper. Don't mind her.
81 shall have to cut, and cut deep
said I by way Of reply. He said few
words in some lingo which We're evil
IDENTITY intended for the elephants I'M
tderstanding only. Then he shouted
with the utmost GOODNESS. Cut away!
1.-THE mans faith inspired me. There
he stood, absolutely unprotected. di-
rectly 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. I felt the grasp on my hair
tighten perceptibiy, yet not urgently.
Cold drops of perspiration stood 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. A great
mass Of fetid matter followed the pass
age of the knife; the abscess was
lanced. We sprayed out the foot.
packed it with oakum and bound it
up. The relief must have been imme-
date, for the grasp on my hair relaxed,
the elephant drew a long, almost hui
man sigh, and-well. don't know
what happened next, for tainted dead
away. Dick must have finished the
business and picked me up and my
tools; | was as limp as rag El1
1T must have been a year and a half
after this happened that was called
to Western Massachusetts, to see some
fancy horses. Barnuln's circus hep
pened to be there. You may be sure
that I called to inquire for my dis
tinsuished patient.
"tHebe's well and hearty, sir, the
keeper answered me. Come in and see
her, she'll be glad to see you.'
NONSENSE said /, though con-
fess I had a keen curiosity b see if
she would know me, as I STEPPED into
the tent.
HeThere she stood, the beauty, as well
as ever. For moment she looked at
me indifferently then steadily and
with interest. She next reached out
her trunk and laid it caressingly first
on NV shoulder and then on nv hair