Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1898-05-27
Mother Elephant,s Care.


I wonder II any Of our little people
have ever seen mother elephant put
her baby to bed9
/ saw II once, and II was such o
pretty sight should like to tell you
about il. II was sunset time In the
summer, and the gentler animals OF
the Zoo in one Of the great cities OF
the world were In wards and folds
outside the buildings. When Ireached
the enclosure belonging to Mother
Elephant there was large number Of
men, women and children standing
along the fence. They were very
quiet, rs II they were afraid Of dis
turbiDg some one. As I stopped by
the fence and looked into the yard, q
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 aud seemed
to be whispering and encouraging
him, as he rubbed his head against
her knee. He stood o moment, then
raised his head, tapped his little ears,
gave firt 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 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
II, and spread it around her child, who
had not stirred from the spot where
she had left him.
When the hay had been all spread
around the baby, tho mother stepped
into the centre and began to thread II
down with her feet, the little one
following her motion exactly till q
perfectly even space had been troddsn
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
trunk AMI tapped his ears, making at
tho same time soft, grunting sound,
az II he knew what was coming and
liked it. This time mamma stood out
side the baby's bed, and beginning
with the back OF his ears, blew small
cloud OF fine dust into the fold Of skin
behind them; then into those around
his legs. aud under them until he was
thoroughly powdered for the night.
This done she again put her trunk
around his body, the little fellow
dropped to his knees on the carefully
trodden bed, and after few soft pats,
q few soft grnnts from his mother, he
lay as a well.trained child Of the ele.
plant family should.
The mothers work, however, was
not yet done; she took up delicately
he hay from the edge Of the bed and
began tossing II lightly along his
tides and up toward his back till its
'idges no longer showed.
When all was done, tho small girl
Who had warned me not TO disturb the
proceedings heaved q great sigh, and
aid:
II would just like to know what
hey do il for?"
SO ! told her, explaining the habit
Wild animals have Of treading their
reds to make sure there Ia no snakes
n the grass; the necessity Of dust
'owdering the young, whose skin Is
ender in the folds, and who arc
roubled by insects; the piling up Of
he dry grass around them, TO conceal
rom the possible hunter.
my, don't they know a lot!
loren some folks, fancy" said the
title girl. ''And she never punched
r pushed him, neither, though he
'asn't very quick, she added, speak
ng to tired-looking woman who
TODD by smiling. af
mo, dear" said she, "she has but
ne child at time to put to bed