The adventures of Mollie, Waddy and Tony

Front matter

PAUL WAITT

JAe ADVENTURES ^

j M OLLIE,WADDYandION Y

Introduction

The Adventures of Mollie, Waddy, and Tony are true stories about three real elephants, which were purchased by seventy thousand children of New England and presented to the zoo at Franklin Park, in the city of Boston, Massachusetts.

As to their little talks in these stories, the big fellows must have really said such things to one another, because Mr. William Orford, their former owner, now living in England, says they did.

Contents

CHAPTER PAGE

I. Mollie, Waddy, and Tony at the

Court of the Prince of India . 3

Chapter I Mollie, Waddy, And Tony At The Court Of The Prince Of India

T HERE was great rejoicing at the court of the Prince of India. Gay colored flags were flapping everywhere in the warm breeze. Never before had the royal courtyard been so dressed up.

And it was all in honor of the little Prince and Princess — Sidhara and Elda — of Northern India. They had come to visit their uncle, who was the ruling prince of the south country. He loved his young nephew and niece very much indeed and had made great plans for their coming.

It was a very hot day, but Elda and Sidhara did not mind it in the least, for they were used to a warm climate. Already they were seated beside their uncle at the shady end of the palace balcony, which overlooked the great parade grounds. They were eagerly waiting for something to begin. Suddenly the music of a band reached their ears.

Sidhara and Elda sprang to their feet.

“The parade is coming !” shouted the children together.

The elder Prince nodded.

“Be sure to keep watch for Mollie, Waddy, and Tony,” he said, with a smile on his kind face.

“Who are Mollie, Waddy, and Tony?” asked Elda quickly.

“How in the world can we pick them out among so many soldiers?” put in Sidhara, his eyes wide open with excitement.

The good Prince laughed.

“Oh, you will be able to tell them,

AT THE COURT OF THE PRINCE 5 all right, and I think you will be surprised.

“Who can they be? I never heard of them,” whispered Sidhara to his sister.

“I can’t imagine,” replied the little Princess, with a puzzled look.

Just then came a flash of gay color through the royal gateway. Watching the marching columns of horses and soldiers that swept along the green carpet of the lawn toward them, Sidhara and Elda forgot all about Mollie, Waddy, and Tony. The stirring music of the bands made their blood tingle, as they leaned over the balcony to see better.

What a sight they saw! How the horses pranced about! They seemed full of springs! Great companies of soldiers, in bright red and yellow and light blue uniforms, passed by like a moving flower garden.

“Oh, see those soldiers in yellow coats!” cried Elda excitedly. “They look just like jonquils walking along.”

“And the ones with the red coats look like live poppies,” echoed Sidhara, claping his hands with delight.

For a whole hour that wonderful parade passed in full view of the royal balcony. As fast as the music of one band faded away, the strains of another would be heard from beyond the royal gateway.

Sidhara and Elda had never seen such a splendid parade before, and they were very much excited and very happy.

Presently the Prince of India leaned forward.

“Now watch closely,” he commanded. “Mollie, Waddy, and Tony are coming.”

The children stood on tiptoe as they gazed anxiously down the long line of marching men.

There came a sudden cry from Sidhara.

“ Elephants ! Elephants ! ”

“Oh, look at the baby one,” almost shrieked Elda, jumping up and down in her joy.

They saw the three elephants bowing politely before them

AT THE COURT OF THE PRINCE 7

The little folks had spied three elephants marching along, with a swinging stride, toward them. A little one was in the lead, while close behind followed two very large ones.

“Is Tony the small one?” asked Sidhara, as the big fellows drew nearer.

“Yes. You have guessed right,” answered the elder Prince, smiling. Then he pointed out Mollie, and, lastly, Waddy.

In front of the royal balcony the elephants were halted by their keeper. Elda and Sidhara gasped with astonishment when, all of a sudden, they saw the three elephants bowing politely before them. How grand they looked! Great gold and red blankets were upon their backs, and there were little gold caps upon the flat part of their broad heads.

“Why, Uncle, you never told us about Mollie, Waddy, and Tony in your letters,” cried Elda.

“I wanted to keep them for a surprise when you came to visit me,” said the Prince.

That grand parade before the little Prince and Princess happened several years ago. Since then, the adventures and travels of the three clever pets have been carefully watched.

Where, at that time, Mollie, Waddy, and Tony had two little child friends in Elda and Sidhara, to-day they have thousands of little boy and girl friends.

As you boys and girls read these stories, we feel sure that you will come to love them just as Elda and Sidhara did.

Chapter II The New Master

T HREE days after the big parade, which had been held for the benefit of the little visitors, Elda and Sidhara, Mollie, Waddy, and Tony were eating their evening meal down in the elephant yard by the river.

They were very fond of their home, in spite of the fact that Mollie and Waddy often wished that they might travel and see the world.

Little Tony, who was hardly more than a baby, was quite contented anywhere as long as he got his sugar. That little rascal loved his sugar above all else; and, during the few days that Elda and Sidhara were visiting the Prince, he had received more than his share.

The two children had come to see the elephants every day, and already they had become firm friends.

“ Just see how white the palace looks,” said Tony, as he swallowed a little bunch of hay and looked off through the trees.

Mollie and Waddy, who had eaten all they wanted, were throwing hay upon their high backs with their clever trunks.

“I'm so sorry,” cried Waddy, pausing a moment, “that Elda and Sidhara have to go back to Northern India to-morrow. I like that little boy and girl a whole lot.”

Tony cocked his head on one side. There was a sad little look in his eyes.

“Oh, dear me, are they really going home to-morrow? I didn’t know about that!”

“Yes, Tony. Waddy and I heard them talking it over with the Prince this morning, when they came down to bring us some sugar,” replied Mollie.

The three elephants silently gazed off

THE NEW MASTER toward the white palace, which was all the whiter because the shadows of night were coming fast.

11 It's a shame,” said Tony. “I like them so much! Is that little light shining out of that window in their bedroom?^

“Yes. They have gone to bed early to get ready for their long journey,” answered Waddy. “We shall all miss them very much.”

It was getting late. Already the tiny light in the palace window had gone out. Tony’s eyes were beginning to get heavy. In a few minutes the three elephants lay down on the warm straw and were soon fast asleep.

When they awoke, the bright sun was winking at them through the great trees. Johan, their keeper, had long since been up and had breakfast all ready and waiting.

During breakfast, the elephants could see that people were stirring at the palace. As soon as he had finished eating, Tony scampered out into the big elephant yard and stood close to the fence to watch for Elda and Sidhara, who had promised to come and say good-by. Presently Mollie and Waddy came out too.

“Oh, there they come!” shouted Tony, as his quick little eyes spied the children coming across the green lawn. And Sidhara had a big bag of sugar tucked under his arm! What a feast of dainties the big pets had that morning, though they felt very sorry when Elda and Sidhara patted them for the last time and started away toward the castle.

Although Mollie and Waddy felt very sad, they began to joke and play with little Tony to make him forget it. Soon they had the little fellow romping about, quite happy again. Tony ran squealing around one of the big trees, with Mollie chasing after him. How Waddy did laugh, till tears ran down her kind face.

THE NEW MASTER 13

Suddenly there came the sound of voices close to the elephant yard, and the elephants stopped from their play to look up. There stood the Prince of India, and with him was a strange man they had never seen before.

“Who can this new man be?” whispered Mollie to Waddy.

“I haven't the least idea,” murmured Waddy, “but he looks like a kind person.”

“Yes, he has a good face,” agreed little Tony. “Listen!”

The Prince was talking.

“I hate to sell the big, clever fellows,” he was 'saying. “I bought 'them some time ago from a native, so as to have them here to amuse my little nephew and niece, who have been visiting me from Northern India. But the children are going home to-day, so ”

The Prince dropped his voice so the elephants couldn't hear any more. But they had already heard enough to understand what it was all about.

Mollie and Waddy looked at each other with wide-open eyes.

“The Prince is going to sell us to this man/’ they cried, almost in the same breath.

Tony went on nibbling at some of the breakfast he had left.

After the men had gone, Mollie and Waddy ran back to tell Tony all that they had heard. The strange man had given the Prince thousands of dollars for them and was going to take them away across the sea to far-off England.

“Oh, isn’t that great!” shouted Tony, who was always ready for everything. “Now we won’t miss the children so much, will we?”

Chapter III The Runaway

B RIGHT and early the very next morning the strange man came down to see Mollie, Waddy, and Tony. He walked right up to the three elephants and patted them kindly.

“How are you, old fellows?” he said in his kind, firm voice. “You are my pets now, and we are going to be great friends. I have two little girls over in merry England, who will love you even more than the little Indian Prince and Princess. Come, Johan, we must hurry, or we won’t catch the train.”

“All ready, Mr. Orford,” answered the keeper.

Now Mollie, Waddy, and Tony had understood every word of this, and already they began to like their new master very much. They felt sure he would be very kind to them, but they also knew from the way he spoke that they would have to mind every word he said.

It was a lovely cool walk down to the railroad track, and the three elephants behaved themselves beautifully. They had a private car waiting for them; and, almost before they realized what was happening, they found themselves inside with Johan, who closed the big door, as the train began to move.

They were on their way! They weren't one bit afraid, except when the whistle blew, which made little Tony squeal out. But, as soon as he found that everything was all right, he began to enjoy himself with the others.

It was a long, long ride, for they were going down to a seaport, where they could take a ship for England. At first, it was lots of fun traveling; but, as the day went on, it became very hot and stuffy in the car. Tony took a little

THE RUNAWAY nap; when he woke up, he was very cross. The train stopped; and Johan opened the big door to take the animals over to a stable for the night.

They were all very much surprised to find that it was already time all good boys and girls and elephants were in bed, for thousands of star lanterns dotted the sky from one end to the other.

After giving them their supper, Johan lay down on a pile of straw in one corner of the barn, for he was very tired with the long ride. He left the door part way open, for the night was very warm.

From somewhere off in the distance came the slow striking of a clock, one — two — three — four — five — six — seven — eight — nine — ten — eleven!

It was just then that little Tony made a discovery. He noticed that the big chain around his foot had slipped off. In a second he knew that he was free. But he kept perfectly still, because he didn’t want Mollie and Waddy to know anything about it. That sly little rascal didn’t mean to be bad, but he meant to have some fun, and here was a fine chance!

Oh, he was very patient, standing there like a little elephant-statue. He listened and listened until he knew that Mollie and Waddy and Johan were all in dreamland.

Then he took just one step. Nobody moved. So he took another step, and stopped. Still not even Johan moved. Next he tried three steps, and then he walked ever so carefully straight out through the stable door and into the night.

How quiet everything was! Without stopping an instant, he started up the dark road. Once he looked back and listened, in a scared little way; but he heard nothing, so on he went. Not a soul was about.

All of a sudden, that keen smelling trunk of his caught a delightful odor

THE RUNAWAY coming from somewhere to the left of the road. Tony followed the sweet smell, and, wonder of wonders, he marched straight toward a richly laden mango tree! And Tony just loved mangoes!

The tree was in a little yard, close to a tiny house. Now Tony wasn’t a very big elephant, but he was so big that, when he started to march in through the little gate, he got stuck a bit and finally crashed through with an awful noise.

That started trouble. No sooner had he snatched the first juicy mango with his trunk and swallowed it as fast as he could, than a window flew up in the house, and some one shouted:

“Get away from my mangoes!”

But Tony kept right on eating, rustling the branches in his haste.

The man in the house yelled so loudly that a policeman, who was passing, ran up to see what was the matter. But the policeman wasn’t any quicker than

Johan. He had waked up suddenly and missed Tony. Hearing the shouting, he too had run as fast as he could to the orchard, where the feast was going on.

Back to the stable went Tony. But he smacked his lips over those delicious mangoes! He began to think he should just love traveling, in spite of the fact that Johan scolded him all the way home.

Chapter IV The Elephants Learn Some Tricks

F OR days Mollie, Waddy, and Tony had been peeking out of the big port-holes of a rolling ship, which was carrying them to England.

Riding in a ship was something new for our favorites, and on the first day they had been very much frightened as the great boat pitched and tossed about. But now they had become used to it. They even rather liked the gentle rocking back and forth.

Out through the port-holes they could see the great waves go rolling by. Once or twice they had seen other ships sailing, way off in the distance.

“Oh, I would like to ride in a boat always!” cried Tony, in his cheerful little way. “It makes me feel as if I were walking on air all the time.”

Mollie laughed.

“It is a lot of fun,” she said, edging away so as to let Tony look out of the port-hole again. “But, after all, I think I like the good old dry land best.”

“Me, too,” broke in Waddy. “I guess you would be pretty tired of it, Tony, if you had to stay on a boat always.”

“Yes, I guess I would,” agreed the little rascal, after a pause. “I forgot that we can’t chase each other around trees on a boat; and I just love to do that.”

Mollie and Waddy chuckled, and for a time all three stood looking out through the port-holes at the sea, which was glistening like gold in the sunshine.

The elephants were very much nearer England than they knew. If they had been looking out of the port-holes on the other side of the ship, they would

THEY LEARN SOME TRICKS 23 have seen land in the distance. England was already in sight.

Probably Mollie, Waddy, and Tony will never forget that landing on the British coast. Nor will they ever forget the thousands of people who stopped to look at them, as they walked along the streets to their new home.

After walking for a very long time, they finally came to a pretty driveway, with green hedges on each side. Up through that cozy driveway they marched and into the prettiest little courtyard you ever saw, with a fine stable over to one side and a beautiful, gay flower garden just in front.

“ Isn’t it lovely ?” whispered Tony, almost afraid to speak out loud.

“Very lovely,” whispered Mollie and Waddy in the same breath.

As they turned to go into the stable, they saw, nestled in among the trees on the right, a splendid stone house, with roses climbing all over it. It was their new master’s home. In that house lived two little girls, named Elsie and Elizabeth.

Tired from their long voyage on the ocean, Mollie, Waddy, and Tony went right to bed that night.

The next morning they were all up bright and early, waiting for the kind-faced man they had seen way back in India. They knew perfectly well that this was where he lived, for they had heard Johan talking it all over with the captain of the ship.

* “I guess he’s coming to see us now,” whispered Tony suddenly, as the sound of laughter came in through the stable door.

Just then, into the big barn bounded two pretty little girls, and close behind them was the kind-faced man.

Tony was so happy to see the little girls that he squealed with delight; and, in spite of the fact that they were older, Mollie and Waddy almost squealed too, they were so happy!

THEY LEARN SOME TRICKS 25

How delighted Elizabeth and Elsie were! They patted the big fellows on their trunks and gave them lots of sugar; while all the time the kind-faced man smiled at them and kept saying kind words of welcome to the elephants. Presently he spoke to Johan, who was close by, and told him to take the chains off the elephants’ feet.

You see, every night when they were put to bed, they were chained by one foot to the side of the barn, so that they could not go roaming around the stable instead of going to sleep.

“Pm going to take them out under the trees to teach them some tricks,” said the new master. “Run along, now, you children,” he went on kindly.

And away they dashed — Elsie and Elizabeth — shouting back over their shoulders as they ran:

“Good-by, Mollie! Good-by, Waddy! Good-by, little Tony!”

A moment later the elephants were out under the trees, alone with their new master. He spoke to them very pleasantly.

First he touched Mollie very gently with a stick, just in back of her big, right front foot. She raised it wonderingly and then quickly put it down again. She knew that he wanted her to do something, but she could not quite understand what it was.

But he was very patient, and so was Mollie. She soon found out that he wanted her to raise her foot, and hold it up in the air until he told her to take it down. How proud she was when she had learned to do that first little trick right!

Waddy and Tony also learned how to do it. And they all thought it was great fun.

In the weeks and months that followed, the elephants learned wonderful things. They loved to work with the man who was always so kind and patient.

THEY LEARN SOME TRICKS 27

As soon as they had learned a few tricks, Elsie and Elizabeth were allowed to come out under the big trees and watch them. You should have seen the extra lumps of sugar Mollie, Waddy, and Tony got when they did their tricks well!

Those were very happy days. And the happy days went on for a year and a half.

One night, just before bedtime, Mollie and Waddy had to laugh, for, upon looking over into one corner of the barn, they saw little Tony gravely standing on his head, with his hind feet up in the air!

“I would do anything for the kind master / 7 cried Tony, as he flopped down onto all four feet.

“So would we,” replied Waddy and Mollie.

“Say,” continued Tony, “I think we are the smartest elephants in the world, don't you?”

How Mollie and Waddy laughed!

Chapter V

THE FIRST PERFORMANCE AT THE LONDON THEATER l ONY was just about right when he said that he and Mollie and

Waddy were the smartest elephants in the world. If the little boys and girls of London could have seen the way our pets learned and practiced their tricks, they would have thought them very smart indeed.

Already Mr. Orford had bought a lot of things for the elephants to use while they were going through their tricks.

One night, when Elsie and Elizabeth came home from school, they fairly danced with joy to hear their father say that Mollie, Waddy, and Tony were at last all ready for their first performance in a big London theater.

THE FIRST PERFORMANCE 29

For over two months Mr. Orford had not allowed his little daughters to watch the elephants practice out in the shady yard, because he wanted to surprise them on the night of the first performance.

Mollie, Waddy, and Tony had missed Elsie and Elizabeth a great deal each day, but they did not fret about it.

Finally the great day of the first performance came. Elsie and Elizabeth were very much excited. Only that morning they had seen, down town in the shop windows, gaily colored pictures of Mollie, Waddy, and Tony, doing all manner of wonderful things.

But they were even more excited in the evening, when they arrived at the big theater, where an orchestra was playing lively music. All the while the crowd kept pouring in, until there wasn’t a single seat vacant. Suddenly the orchestra struck up a beautiful, soft melody; the theater grew very dark; and up rolled the curtain.

Elsie and Elizabeth leaned forward in their chairs, and what do you think they saw? There stood big, clever Mollie, fanning a lady with a large palm leaf. How the audience clapped!

Then the music became more lively. Mollie dropped the palm-leaf fan and began to dance with the lady. In a moment, Waddy and little Tony appeared on the stage, dancing just as nicely as could be. How the people laughed at clever little Tony!

From then on, things happened so quickly that Elsie and Elizabeth could scarcely follow them.

First, all three elephants stood on their hind legs. Next they stood on their heads.

You ought to have heard the clapping when big Waddy walked right up to a real telephone, and, taking the receiver off, held it up to her great big ear and began to make-believe talk. Such a noise as she made!

That little rascal Tony came out dressed up like a dear old Grandma

THE FIRST PERFORMANCE 31

Presently some men came out on the stage, bringing a table and two big, tublike things, which were rolled up close to it.

Without waiting for a word from their master, Mollie and Waddy walked over to those tubs and sat right down, just as real people would sit down.

The audience were just roaring with merriment, and the elephants were enjoying every minute of it.

However, in another minute, everybody shrieked with laughter when that little rascal Tony suddenly came out, dressed up like a dear old grandma, carrying a big tray on which was the supper for the elephants. Mollie and Waddy then began to eat, and Tony scampered off the stage.

“Oh, isn’t it too wonderful for anything?” whispered Elsie to her sister.

“Papa surely surprised us, didn’t he?” whispered back Elizabeth.

When the curtain went down on the last act, every one began talking about how clever the trained elephants were.

The next day the papers were full of long stories about them, with pictures of them going through their tricks.

In a single night, Mollie, Waddy, and little Tony had become the most famous elephants in the whole world; and they were very, very happy.

Chapter VI How Tony Robbed The Baker’s Shop

F OR a whole week that London theater was filled every afternoon with children. It would be impossible to count all the boy and girl friends Mollie, Waddy, and Tony made.

But when the first big week was over, plans were made at once to carry our pets to Germany.

You should have seen the crowd of youngsters who came to the station that Saturday night to say good-by! It made the elephants feel a little sorrowful; but, as the hours went by, they began to look forward to this new land whither they were bound.

“Oh, dear me!” sighed Tony. “I do wish this long journey would come to an end. I'm so tired!”

“I wish it would, too,” answered Mollie, who was leaning up against the side of the big private car. “ Where are we going, anyway?”

Waddy tossed a trunkful of hay on her back and thought for a moment.

“I think it's to Berlin,” said she slowly. “We ought to be there very soon now, after all this long trip on the boat and train.”

Waddy was perfectly right. The three elephants were on their way to the beautiful city of Berlin, where they were to show the German children their tricks for a whole week.

Yet, as the train rumbled along, little did Tony dream that an adventure was in store for him that very night! Why, how could he? He had never heard of Hans, the baker.

Now Hans, the baker, was a jolly, hard-working man, who owned one of the best bakeshops in the city.

All day long while Mollie, Waddy, and

ROBBING THE BAKER’S SHOP 35

Tony were on their way, Hans had toiled hard, baking all kinds of delicious dainties to put in his shop windows. He had just removed his baker’s apron and was standing in his doorway to enjoy a breath of cool air, when he saw something which made him gasp with amazement.

What do you think it was?

He saw three big elephants coming out of a large car door, just across the street in front of the railroad station! Mollie, Waddy, and Tony had at last arrived in Berlin and were on their way to the stable, which was next door to Hans’ bakeshop.

For a minute Hans was frightened to see the huge fellows coming toward him; but, when he realized that they were going into the stable, he had a good laugh. He watched big Mollie enter first. Waddy followed. But little Tony hung back and looked right into the baker’s window full of tempting goodies.

Then, with a sly little look, he marched on into the stable.

The elephants had eaten their supper on board the train; and, as they were very tired, they decided to go straight to bed. Already Mollie and Waddy had lain down, and were talking sleepily back and forth. But Tony still remained standing, for his little elephant head was busy with very important plans.

Presently Mollie and Waddy were asleep.

Ah, you should just have seen that little rascal then! Very quietly he began to run his clever trunk all around the wall. Every few moments he would stand perfectly still and listen. Then his trunk would get busy again. All at once the tip of it stopped at a little hole in the partition which was right next to the baker’s shop.

Tony evidently knew that the building was very old, and that the wood was almost falling to pieces, for he set to

ROBBING THE BAKER’S SHOP 37 work like a little major. He nibbled and nibbled with the little finger on the end of his trunk. All the while the hole was getting larger, until pretty soon it was large enough for him to get his trunk through.

Then he began feeling around on the inside. Suddenly, with a soft little “plop,” the tip of his trunk touched the cool surface of a delicious custard pie. An apple pie was beside it. There were also puffy cream-cakes and heaps of lady-fingers.

Now, of course, the little elephant was wise enough to know that he could not hope to get those dainties through such a tiny hole. Being very much excited because the sweets were so near, he began to forget about being discovered, and ripped and tore at the planking in a very noisy manner. “Rip! Tear! R-r-r-r-ip!” Off came a large piece of plank with an awful noise.