Here, then, is an instance of doing what is required, and doing it pleasantly. And in this way Uncle William wishes all his young friends to act. They will sometimes be interrupted in what they are doing, to attend to those whom it becomes them to obey; but whenever they are, they should show no disturbance of temper, but do what is required with hearty good will. Another elephant, of which I have read, gave proof that he could But first, another fact or two in reference to these creatures.

do so.

When a party of elephants have gathered in a neighbouring forest the branches of trees they require, and have returned to the tree where they are accustomed to find a shade, they amuse themselves with their repast, eating all the leaves and tender shoots, and rejecting the rest. When one of them has eaten enough, he usually chooses a long bough, and pulling off all the side branches, leaves a bush at the end, forming a sort of whisk, to keep off the flies and musquitoes, which get into the cracks and crannies of an elephant's thick hide. Sometimes he will put the end of his trunk down in the dust, draw up as much of it as he can, and turning

his trunk over his head, pour it out over his skin, powdering and filling up these places. This being done, he will take the long branch already described, and amuse himself by flapping it right and left, and in all directions about his body, wherever the insects may settle.

In this way an elephant was one day employed, when the keeper brought a little black child, and laid it down before the animal, saying, in Hindostanee, "Watch it," and then walked away into the town. The elephant did not object to this interruption, but immediately broke off the larger part of the bough, so as to make a smaller and more convenient whisk, and directed his whole attention to the child. Gently did he fan the little creature, driving off every musquito that approached, for upwards of two hours, until the keeper returned. And how, it may be asked, could he have done better?

An ape on board a vessel, of which I have read, was of a very different disposition. At sunset, when he was desirous of retiring to rest, he would approach his friends, uttering his peculiar chirping note, a beseeching sound, begging to be taken into their arms; and his

request once acceded to, he clung closely to the person who took him, and any attempt to remove him was followed by violent screams. When refused or disappointed at anything, he would lie on the deck, roll about, throw his arms and legs in various directions, and dash everything aside that might be within his reach. Correction reduced him in a short time to obedience, and the violence of his temper by such means became, at length, in some degree checked.

Of all the stories I have ever read of elephants, I only remember one of ill temper. It is the following:-An army in India was ordered to march, and the elephants were called forth to carry the tents. One of them submitted for a time, and, at length, he uttered his complaints, but they were not regarded, and another tent was put upon him. He now became sulky, and when ordered to go on, he did so; but in what way? He threw his trunk in the air, shrieked his indignation, and set off at a trot, which was about equal in speed to a horse's gallop, knocking down all that came in his way, and producing the greatest confusion.

I have often thought of this elephant or