The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-05-28
Mother EleDllant's Care.

"AS~ l
Mother Elephants Care.
wonder if any of our little people
have ever seen mother elephant put
her baby to bed?
saw it once, and it was such a
pretty sight should like to tell you
about it. It was sunset time in the
summer, and the gent!er animals Of
the Zoo in one of the great cities of
the world were in wards and folds
outside the buildings. When REACHED
the enclosure belonging to Mother
Elephant there was large number OF
men, women and children standing
along the fence. They were very
quiet, as if they were afraid Of dis
turbing some one. AS stopped by
the fence and looked into the yard, a
small girl touched my skirt, pursed
up her mouth and giving me solemn
look of warning, pointed to the ele-
plants.
Mamma Elephant had her trunk
around her baby's neck and seemed
to be whispering and encouraging
him, as he rubbed his head against
her knee. He stood q moment, then
raised his head, tapped his little ears,
gave Airt of his little cord of tail,
and trotted off by his mothers side to
the centre of the yard; there she left
him and went to a pile of hay that
stood in corner; this she took up,
bunch by bunch, with her trunk, so
nicely that she did not drop wisp Of
it, and spread it around her child, who
had not stirred from the spot where
she had left him.
When the hay had been oil spread
around the baby, the mother stepped
into the centre and began to thread it
down with her feet, the little one
. following her motion exactly till a
perfectly even space had been trodden
down: then Mamma Elephant stepped
out again, went to the further side OF
the yard and fumbled about the
ground with her trunk. AS she came
\ back her baby fourished his small
Il trunk AMI tapped his ears, making at
g the same time a soft, granting sound.
Il as if he knew what was coming and
t liked it, This time mamma stood out
9 side the baby's bed, and beginning
Il with the back of his ears, blew small
II cloud of fine dust into the fold Of Skin
}. behind them: then into those aroun(
o his legs and under them until he wa
> thoroughly powdered for the night
u This done she again put her trun]
1t around his body, the little fellov
p dropped to his knees OH the CAREFUL
~ trodden bed, and after a few soft pats
p few soft grunts from his mother, u
t. Law as a well-trained child of the ele
y plant family should.
The mothers work, however, wa
not yet done; she took up delicatel
IS. the hay from the edge Of the bed an
a began tossing it lightly along hi
d, sides and up toward his back till ii
ng ridges no longer showed.
ed When all was done, the small 81
llS | WHO nau Wnrueu ule NV W. VA'o'.A -
list proceedings heaved great sigh, an
l said:
ag 81 would just like to know VIII
We they do it for?" /,
e. So told her, explaining the hat
of wild animals have of treading the
beds to make sure there is no snak
en- in the grass; the necessity OF aus
ne powdering the young, whose SKIN
Ip- tender in the folds, and who a
9p. troubled by insects; the piling up
nd the dry grass around them, to conct
eft from the possible hunter: !,
Ill. "My, don't they know a 4
the More'n some folks, l fancy" said
ed, little girl. "And she never punch
ain or pushed him, neither, though
to wasn't very quick she added, spe'
Nv. ing to tired-looking woman W
ing stood by smiling.
for "No, dear," said she, "she has
My one child ut q time to put TO bed'
my The Outlook.