"Yes, Mother," said Frank; "but an elephant could not do that, I'm sure."

"Historians of Rome, supposed to give true accounts, say that the elephants were taught to walk along a rope forward and then backward. One elephant is described as walking up a slanting rope to the roof of the theatre with a man on his back."

"I should not have liked to be the man on his back," said Harry.

"It is as astonishing, perhaps more so, that a horse has been taught to do similar things. When I was in Paris, I saw some horses dance a quadrille very respectably, and keep excellent time. One of the Roman historians relates, "An elephant, having been punished for

stupidity in executing some feat which he was required to learn, was observed, at night, endeavoring to practise what he had failed to perform in the daytime." It is mentioned that elephants have been observed practising their lessons by moonlight, without any directions from the keepers. Think what a good example elephants are for school boys. I have only told you a very little about this wonderful animal; yet enough, I hope, to make you want to read some of the many books about him. You have, I think, read of the story of the elephant who was wounded in his proboscis or trunk, and, in his anger, unintentionally killed his keeper, and of what the keeper's wife did."

66

No, Mother," said Frank; read it. What did she do?".

66 we have never

"In her despair, not knowing what she did,

she held out her son, and said to the raging animal, "Take him too." The angry elephant became quiet. He seemed to understand the agony of the poor woman. He gently lifted

and placed upon his back the little child, and ever after obeyed him for a master."

"You know the story in Evenings at Home, Mother, of the Elephant and the Cobbler, how the fellow pricked the elephant's trunk, and how the elephant punished him by squirting, muddy water all over him."

"Yes. The elephant's trunk is so susceptible that nothing enrages him so much as any wound on it. He cannot bear patiently the slightest scratch.

Now I will tell you a story of a lion. An English gentleman, who was living in India, had a fancy to see what effect extreme gentleness, and kindness, and very simple diet would have upon the character of the lion. The gentleman had the good fortune to get a baby lion for the experiHe made a real pet of him. He fed him

ment.

with bread and milk and rice, and such things, and took care always to satisfy him with food. The young lion loved his master, who was always very kind to him, and who was really very fond of his lionship. This man lived, as in India a gentleman often does, in a house by himself, and could easily have his friend lion with him, without annoying any one. The baby grew bigger and bigger, and became a good-sized, fullgrown lion. He was gentle and happy, full of play, and rather a pleasant companion to his two-legged friend. Whether the lion ever

roared for his master's amusement, the friend who told me this story did not say.

At last, this gentleman wished to return to England to see his old mother. He was too much attached to his lion to leave him, and so took him in the place of a dog. The lion was