ELMER ELEPHANT (3)

ELMER ELEPHANT (3)

The monkey child flapped his hands beside his head to imitate Elmer's big ears.

The lion child wadded along Elmer's swinging walk.

The hippopotamus child dangled a long stem from the end of his nose like Elmer's swaying trunk.

And all of the other animals chanted, funny-face Elmer, Big nose Elmer. Hiya, Elmer ? "

Poor Elmer.
He tried to take it as a joke, but soon the hippopotamus child pulled his trunk while the monkey ran between his legs to trip him.

 Elmer went rolling down the hill and went out the gate.

He did not stop until he landed Plonk ! against a coconut palm tree.

When he pulled himself together, Elmer walked off through the forest, feeling very sorry for himself.

He tried to roll his trunk up in the ball.

He tried to tuck it under his blouse.
He even tried a knot it.

But nothing helped.

It was always still there.
Tears trickled down his cheeks as he realized at last there was nothing he could do.

" My, my ! " said a voice far above Elmer's bowed head.
" Whatever is going on here ? It looks mighty bad."

Elmer wiped his eyes with the back of his paw and looked upーway up to the very tiptop of the trees, where old Mr.Giraffe's
smiling face came poking through the leaves.

" G-good morning, Mr.Giraffe, " said Elmer politely, but his voice shook as he said it.

" Having nose trouble, Elmer ? " asked Mr.Giraffe with a wise, kind look.

(つづく　3/6)