The Elephant and His School.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLI, Issue 16, 14 October 1908, Page 60

The Elephant and His School.

The great white elephant left the show—• He said he was too refined; The ways of a circus did not suit lh» most superior mind.

“A creature, as big and wise as I ■Should be teaching school,” eaid he; ‘ And all the animal little folk My scholars they shall be.”

So into an empty schoolhouse near He marshalled them all one day; ('Twas in vacation time, and so The children were all away.)

The kittens and puppies, the pigs ami geese. Were put to work with a will; But the squirrel- and fox to the platform went.

Because -they would not keep etill.

And then he began to teach his school The various things he knew; “There's much e.. it down tn the books,” said he, “That you Ought to know how to lo.”

And first he showed how to flap the ears, But their ears were far too small; And then he showed how to wave tha

trunk, But they had r.o trunk at all.

The ■ niy thine that he taught his school Th.-tt tire scholars accomplished weii, Wits when ne Called to the peanut hhb, And taught them the nuts to shell.

The elephant soon dismissed the school, And packed up his trunk to go; ‘‘For, after all, my talents,” said he, "Are beet displayed in a show.”