The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-03-28
A Grateful Patient.

never should have thought Of adopting my
present profession if it hadn't been for a
queer accident when I first hung out my
shingle.
had rich neighbor, a man l was
bound to propitiate; and the very first call
| 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.
| cured the mare and took in my shingle,
for from that day to this I've never pre-
scribed for human being. l had won a
reputation as a veterinary surgeon and had
to stick to it. But that neither here nor
there, only if you think the animals can't
show gratitude and affection, perhaps you'll
change your mind.
When had been in practice for year
or two sent for my brother Dick. He
was wonderful chap with all kinds OF
animals, and thought perhaps could
work out of my part of it and leave that
for him. never did, for Dick S cotton
broker in New York now, and / should
have to begin all over again TO make
frst-rate physician. But that's what
meant to be then.
The next day after Dick came got
telegram from P. 7, 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 favorite elephant splen-
did creature and worth small fortune.
Well, confess, hesitated, Idistrusted
my own ability and dreaded the result.
But Dick was determined to 60, and 90
we did, When we got out of the cars
Barnum himself was there, with splen-
did pair of matched grays He eyed me
very obviously.
''I d forgotten you were such a little
fellow, he said in discouraged tone.
''Tm 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 | don't be-
lieve an extra foot or two Of height would
help me any.
He laughed outright aud began telling
me how the elephant was hurt. She had
stepped on nail or bit Of iron and it had
penetrated the tender part of her foot
She was in intense agony and almost wild
with pain
Long before we reached the inclosu1e in
which she was we could hear her piteous
tFumpeting, and when we entered we
found her on three legs. swinging the hurt
foot slowly backward and forward, and
uttering long cries Of anger such dumb
misery in her looks-poor thing
Even Dick quailed now.
"You car. never get near her, he whis-
pered, She will 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 box of instruments from Mr.
Barnum.
II like your pluck, my boy, he said,
heartily, but own that felt rather queer
and shaky as went up to the huge beast.
The men employed about the show came
around us curiously, but at a respectful and
eminently safe distance, as bent down to
examine the foot
While | was doing so, as gently as ]
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
behind me it had an awful suggestiveness.
shes only curling your hair, sung
out the keeper. ''Don't mind her.
81 shall have to cut, and cut deep,"
said l, 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 coolness
''Cut away r.
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, made one cash with the knife.
felt the grasp on my hair tighten percep-
tibly, yet not urgently Cold drops of
perspiration came out all over me-
"Shall | cut again p managed to call
out,
''Cut away p came again the encourag-
ing response.
This s.roke 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 immediate, for
the grasp on my hair relaxed, the elephant
drew a long, almost human sign, and
well, I don't know what happened next,
for I tainted dead away. Dick must have
finished the business and picked up me
and my tools, was as limp as a rag.
It must have been year and half
after this happened that was called to
Western Massachusetts to see some fancy
horses. Barnums circus happened to be
there You may be sure that | called to
inquire for my distinguished patient
"Hebe's well and hearty, sir, the
keeper answered me. tCome in and see
her; she Il be glad to see you.
Nonsense = said I, though | confess
had keen curiosity to see if she would
know me, as stepped into the tent.
There she stood, the beauty, as well 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 aud
then on my hais-how yiyidIy her touch
brought back to my mind the cold shivers
l endured at my introduction to her-and
then she slowly lifted up her foot, now
whole and healthy, and showed it to me-.
That the sober truth
Trea+noeT,t for. Burns.