English
IntheHighandFar-OffTimestheElephant,OBestBeloved,hadnotrunk.
Hehadonlyablackish,bulgynose,asbigasaboot,thathecouldwriggleaboutfromsidetoside;buthecouldn’tpickupthingswithit.
ButtherewasoneElephant—anewElephant—anElephant’sChild—whowasfullof‘satiablecurtiosity,andthatmeansheaskedeversomanyquestions.
AndhelivedinAfrica,andhefilledallAfricawithhis‘satiablecurtiosities.
Heaskedhistallaunt,theOstrich,whyhertail-feathersgrewjustso,andhistallaunttheOstrichspankedhimwithherhard,hardclaw.
Heaskedhistalluncle,theGiraffe,whatmadehisskinspotty,andhistalluncle,theGiraffe,spankedhimwithhishard,hardhoof.
Andstillhewasfullof‘satiablecurtiosity!
Heaskedhisbroadaunt,theHippopotamus,whyhereyeswerered,andhisbroadaunt,theHippopotamus,spankedhimwithherbroad,broadhoof;andheaskedhishairyuncle,theBaboon,whymelonstastedjustso,andhishairyuncle,theBaboon,spankedhimwithhishairy,hairypaw.
Andstillhewasfullof‘satiablecurtiosity!
Heaskedquestionsabouteverythingthathesaw,orheard,orfelt,orsmelt,ortouched,andallhisunclesandhisauntsspankedhim.
Andstillhewasfullof‘satiablecurtiosity!
OnefinemorninginthemiddleofthePrecessionoftheEquinoxesthis‘satiableElephant’sChildaskedanewfinequestionthathehadneveraskedbefore.
Heasked,‘WhatdoestheCrocodilehavefordinner?’Theneverybodysaid,‘Hush!’
inaloudanddretfultone,andtheyspankedhimimmediatelyanddirectly,withoutstopping,foralongtime.
Byandby,whenthatwasfinished,hecameuponKolokoloBirdsittinginthemiddleofawait-a-bitthorn-bush,andhesaid,‘Myfatherhasspankedme,andmymotherhasspankedme;allmyauntsanduncleshavespankedmeformy‘satiablecurtiosity;andstillIwanttoknowwhattheCrocodilehasfordinner!’
ThenKolokoloBirdsaid,withamournfulcry,‘Gotothebanksofthegreatgrey-green,greasyLimpopoRiver,allsetaboutwithfever-trees,andfindout.’
Thatverynextmorning,whentherewasnothingleftoftheEquinoxes,becausethePrecessionhadprecededaccordingtoprecedent,this‘satiableElephant’sChildtookahundredpoundsofbananas(thelittleshortredkind),andahundredpoundsofsugar-cane(thelongpurplekind),andseventeenmelons(thegreeny-cracklykind),andsaidtoallhisdearfamilies,‘Goodbye.
Iamgoingtothegreatgrey-green,greasyLimpopoRiver,allsetaboutwithfever-trees,tofindoutwhattheCrocodilehasfordinner.’
Andtheyallspankedhimoncemoreforluck,thoughheaskedthemmostpolitelytostop.
Thenhewentaway,alittlewarm,butnotatallastonished,eatingmelons,andthrowingtherindabout,becausehecouldnotpickitup.
HewentfromGraham’sTowntoKimberley,andfromKimberleytoKhama’sCountry,andfromKhama’sCountryhewenteastbynorth,eatingmelonsallthetime,tillatlasthecametothebanksofthegreatgrey-green,greasyLimpopoRiver,allsetaboutwithfever-trees,preciselyasKolokoloBirdhadsaid.
Nowyoumustknowandunderstand,OBestBeloved,thattillthatveryweek,andday,andhour,andminute,this‘satiableElephant’sChildhadneverseenaCrocodile,anddidnotknowwhatonewaslike.Itwasallhis‘satiablecurtiosity.
ThefirstthingthathefoundwasaBi-Coloured-Python-Rock-Snakecurledroundarock.
‘’Scuseme,’saidtheElephant’sChildmostpolitely,‘buthaveyouseensuchathingasaCrocodileinthesepromiscuousparts?’
‘HaveIseenaCrocodile?’saidtheBi-Coloured-Python-Rock-Snake,inavoiceofdretfulscorn.‘Whatwillyouaskmenext?’
‘’Scuseme,’saidtheElephant’sChild,‘butcouldyoukindlytellmewhathehasfordinner?’
ThentheBi-Coloured-Python-Rock-Snakeuncoiledhimselfveryquicklyfromtherock,andspankedtheElephant’sChildwithhisscalesome,flailsometail.
‘Thatisodd,’saidtheElephant’sChild,‘becausemyfatherandmymother,andmyuncleandmyaunt,nottomentionmyotheraunt,theHippopotamus,andmyotheruncle,theBaboon,haveallspankedmeformy‘satiablecurtiosity—andIsupposethisisthesamething.
Sohesaidgood-byeverypolitelytotheBi-Coloured-Python-Rock-Snake,andhelpedtocoilhimupontherockagain,andwenton,alittlewarm,butnotatallastonished,eatingmelons,andthrowingtherindabout,becausehecouldnotpickitup,tillhetrodonwhathethoughtwasalogofwoodattheveryedgeofthegreatgrey-green,greasyLimpopoRiver,allsetaboutwithfever-trees.
ButitwasreallytheCrocodile,OBestBeloved,andtheCrocodilewinkedoneeye—likethis!
‘’Scuseme,’saidtheElephant’sChildmostpolitely,‘butdoyouhappentohaveseenaCrocodileinthesepromiscuousparts?’
ThentheCrocodilewinkedtheothereye,andliftedhalfhistailoutofthemud;andtheElephant’sChildsteppedbackmostpolitely,becausehedidnotwishtobespankedagain.
‘Comehither,LittleOne,’saidtheCrocodile.‘Whydoyouasksuchthings?’
‘’Scuseme,’saidtheElephant’sChildmostpolitely,‘butmyfatherhasspankedme,mymotherhasspankedme,nottomentionmytallaunt,theOstrich,andmytalluncle,theGiraffe,whocankickeversohard,aswellasmybroadaunt,theHippopotamus,andmyhairyuncle,theBaboon,andincludingtheBi-Coloured-Python-Rock-Snake,withthescalesome,flailsometail,justupthebank,whospanksharderthananyofthem;andso,ifit’squiteallthesametoyou,Idon’twanttobespankedanymore.’
‘Comehither,LittleOne,’saidtheCrocodile,‘forIamtheCrocodile,’andheweptcrocodile-tearstoshowitwasquitetrue.
ThentheElephant’sChildgrewallbreathless,andpanted,andkneeleddownonthebankandsaid,‘YouaretheverypersonIhavebeenlookingforalltheselongdays.
Willyoupleasetellmewhatyouhavefordinner?’
‘Comehither,LittleOne,’saidtheCrocodile,‘andI’llwhisper.’
ThentheElephant’sChildputhisheaddownclosetotheCrocodile’smusky,tuskymouth,andtheCrocodilecaughthimbyhislittlenose,whichuptothatveryweek,day,hour,andminute,hadbeennobiggerthanaboot,thoughmuchmoreuseful.
‘Ithink,saidtheCrocodile—andhesaiditbetweenhisteeth,likethis—’Ithinkto-dayIwillbeginwithElephant’sChild!’
Atthis,OBestBeloved,theElephant’sChildwasmuchannoyed,andhesaid,speakingthroughhisnose,likethis,‘Ledgo!Youarehurtigbe!’
ThentheBi-Coloured-Python-Rock-Snakescuffleddownfromthebankandsaid,‘Myyoungfriend,ifyoudonotnow,immediatelyandinstantly,pullashardaseveryoucan,itismyopinionthatyouracquaintanceinthelarge-patternleatherulster’(andbythishemeanttheCrocodile)‘willjerkyouintoyonderlimpidstreambeforeyoucansayJackRobinson.’
ThisisthewayBi-Coloured-Python-Rock-Snakesalwaystalk.
ThentheElephant’sChildsatbackonhislittlehaunches,andpulled,andpulled,andpulled,andhisnosebegantostretch.
AndtheCrocodileflounderedintothewater,makingitallcreamywithgreatsweepsofhistail,andhepulled,andpulled,andpulled.
AndtheElephant’sChild’snosekeptonstretching;andtheElephant’sChildspreadallhislittlefourlegsandpulled,andpulled,andpulled,andhisnosekeptonstretching;andtheCrocodilethreshedhistaillikeanoar,andhepulled,andpulled,andpulled,andateachpulltheElephant’sChild’snosegrewlongerandlonger—andithurthimhijjus!
ThentheElephant’sChildfelthislegsslipping,andhesaidthroughhisnose,whichwasnownearlyfivefeetlong,‘Thisistoobutchforbe!’
ThentheBi-Coloured-Python-Rock-Snakecamedownfromthebank,andknottedhimselfinadouble-clove-hitchroundtheElephant’sChild’shindlegs,andsaid,‘Rashandinexperiencedtraveller,wewillnowseriouslydevoteourselvestoalittlehightension,becauseifwedonot,itismyimpressionthatyonderself-propellingman-of-warwiththearmour-platedupperdeck’(andbythis,OBestBeloved,hemeanttheCrocodile),‘willpermanentlyvitiateyourfuturecareer.
ThatisthewayallBi-Coloured-Python-Rock-Snakesalwaystalk.
Sohepulled,andtheElephant’sChildpulled,andtheCrocodilepulled;buttheElephant’sChildandtheBi-Coloured-Python-Rock-Snakepulledhardest;andatlasttheCrocodileletgooftheElephant’sChild’snosewithaplopthatyoucouldhearallupanddowntheLimpopo.
ThentheElephant’sChildsatdownmosthardandsudden;butfirsthewascarefultosay‘Thankyou’totheBi-Coloured-Python-Rock-Snake;andnexthewaskindtohispoorpullednose,andwrappeditallupincoolbananaleaves,andhungitinthegreatgrey-green,greasyLimpopotocool.
‘Whatareyoudoingthatfor?’saidtheBi-Coloured-Python-Rock-Snake.
‘’Scuseme,’saidtheElephant’sChild,‘butmynoseisbadlyoutofshape,andIamwaitingforittoshrink.
‘Thenyouwillhavetowaitalongtime,saidtheBi-Coloured-Python-Rock-Snake.‘Somepeopledonotknowwhatisgoodforthem.’
TheElephant’sChildsatthereforthreedayswaitingforhisnosetoshrink.
Butitnevergrewanyshorter,and,besides,itmadehimsquint.
For,OBestBeloved,youwillseeandunderstandthattheCrocodilehadpulleditoutintoareallytrulytrunksameasallElephantshaveto-day.
Attheendofthethirddayaflycameandstunghimontheshoulder,andbeforeheknewwhathewasdoinghelifteduphistrunkandhitthatflydeadwiththeendofit.
‘’Vantagenumberone!’saidtheBi-Coloured-Python-Rock-Snake.‘Youcouldn’thavedonethatwithamere-smearnose.Tryandeatalittlenow.’
BeforehethoughtwhathewasdoingtheElephant’sChildputouthistrunkandpluckedalargebundleofgrass,dusteditcleanagainsthisfore-legs,andstuffeditintohisownmouth.
‘’Vantagenumbertwo!’saidtheBi-Coloured-Python-Rock-Snake.‘Youcouldn’thavedonethatwithamear-smearnose.Don’tyouthinkthesunisveryhothere?’
‘Itis,’saidtheElephant’sChild,andbeforehethoughtwhathewasdoingheschloopedupaschloopofmudfromthebanksofthegreatgrey-green,greasyLimpopo,andslappeditonhishead,whereitmadeacoolschloopy-sloshymud-capalltricklybehindhisears.
‘’Vantagenumberthree!’saidtheBi-Coloured-Python-Rock-Snake.‘Youcouldn’thavedonethatwithamere-smearnose.Nowhowdoyoufeelaboutbeingspankedagain?’
‘’Scuseme,’saidtheElephant’sChild,‘butIshouldnotlikeitatall.’
‘Howwouldyouliketospanksomebody?’saidtheBi-Coloured-Python-Rock-Snake.
‘Ishouldlikeitverymuchindeed,’saidtheElephant’sChild.
‘Well,’saidtheBi-Coloured-Python-Rock-Snake,‘youwillfindthatnewnoseofyoursveryusefultospankpeoplewith.’
‘Thankyou,’saidtheElephant’sChild,‘I’llrememberthat;andnowIthinkI’llgohometoallmydearfamiliesandtry.’
SotheElephant’sChildwenthomeacrossAfricafriskingandwhiskinghistrunk.
Whenhewantedfruittoeathepulledfruitdownfromatree,insteadofwaitingforittofallasheusedtodo.
Whenhewantedgrasshepluckedgrassupfromtheground,insteadofgoingonhiskneesasheusedtodo.
Whenthefliesbithimhebrokeoffthebranchofatreeanduseditasfly-whisk;andhemadehimselfanew,cool,slushy-squshymud-capwheneverthesunwashot.
WhenhefeltlonelywalkingthroughAfricahesangtohimselfdownhistrunk,andthenoisewaslouderthanseveralbrassbands.
HewentespeciallyoutofhiswaytofindabroadHippopotamus(shewasnorelationofhis),andhespankedherveryhard,tomakesurethattheBi-Coloured-Python-Rock-Snakehadspokenthetruthabouthisnewtrunk.
TherestofthetimehepickedupthemelonrindsthathehaddroppedonhiswaytotheLimpopo—forhewasaTidyPachyderm.
Onedarkeveninghecamebacktoallhisdearfamilies,andhecoileduphistrunkandsaid,‘Howdoyoudo?’
Theywereverygladtoseehim,andimmediatelysaid,‘Comehereandbespankedforyour‘satiablecurtiosity.’
‘Pooh,’saidtheElephant’sChild.‘Idon’tthinkyoupeoplesknowanythingaboutspanking;butIdo,andI’llshowyou.’
Thenheuncurledhistrunkandknockedtwoofhisdearbrothersheadoverheels.
‘OBananas!’saidthey,‘wheredidyoulearnthattrick,andwhathaveyoudonetoyournose?’
‘IgotanewonefromtheCrocodileonthebanksofthegreatgrey-green,greasyLimpopoRiver,’saidtheElephant’sChild.‘Iaskedhimwhathehadfordinner,andhegavemethistokeep.’
‘Itlooksveryugly,’saidhishairyuncle,theBaboon.
‘Itdoes,’saidtheElephant’sChild.‘Butit’sveryuseful,’andhepickeduphishairyuncle,theBaboon,byonehairyleg,andhovehimintoahornet’snest.
ThenthatbadElephant’sChildspankedallhisdearfamiliesforalongtime,tilltheywereverywarmandgreatlyastonished.
HepulledouthistallOstrichaunt’stail-feathers;andhecaughthistalluncle,theGiraffe,bythehind-leg,anddraggedhimthroughathorn-bush;andheshoutedathisbroadaunt,theHippopotamus,andblewbubblesintoherearwhenshewassleepinginthewateraftermeals;butheneverletanyonetouchKolokoloBird.
Atlastthingsgrewsoexcitingthathisdearfamilieswentoffonebyoneinahurrytothebanksofthegreatgrey-green,greasyLimpopoRiver,allsetaboutwithfever-trees,toborrownewnosesfromtheCrocodile.
Whentheycamebacknobodyspankedanybodyanymore;andeversincethatday,OBestBeloved,alltheElephantsyouwilleversee,besidesallthosethatyouwon’t,havetrunkspreciselylikethetrunkofthe‘satiableElephant’sChild.
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