The Big Guest (2)

The Big Guest (2)

In the corner of compound was a grove, where trees, shrubs, and creepers grew wild.
Jackals, mongooses, wild-cats, and owls lived in the grove.

Raja's grandfather owned many cows, bulls, and bullocks.

Little calves played and ran about in the garden.

Raja liked to play with the calves.

He liked to watch the birds in the garden.
He looked for jackals coming out of the grove.
He ran after mongooses.
He caught butterfries and raptiles.

Once Raja's grandparents had a big guest at home.
It was Lakshmi, a young cow eleohant.

She belonged to a rich relative.
The relative wanted Raja's grandparents to keep the elephant for some days. 

Grandfather did not like the idea very much.
It was costly to feed an elephant even a young elephant.

But Grandfather could not refuse the request of a relative.

Raja was excited when he heard Lakshmi wascoming.
Raja asked people how he should welcome the elephant.

Grandfather told him that elephants loved suger cane and that he should keep some for Lakshmi.

One evenig Lakshmi arrived with her mauout, kittu.

※
mauout：
an elephant trainer in india, who teaches elephants to obey commands

Everybody in the house came out to wlcome her.

She was a beautiful young elephant.

Kittu said, " She is young. She is hardly eight years old. She is intelligent and learn quickly. Sheis very loving and likes to play with people."

(つづく　2/5)