Page:Dumbo (1939).pdf/4

FOUR—POLTENSON—5488

play with them. Many times he won races against them,

Oh, Dumbo had never dreamed life could be so wonderful!

One night, when he and Red were flying to- gether, an airplane whizzed out of the clouds, close by them. Dumbo shouted to Red, “Come on, let’s race it.”

It was a passenger plane, filled with people. One man, who was napping in his seat, hap- pened to open his eyes, and glanced out of the window. Just then Dumbo was flying along- side the plane. The man gave a loud shout.

The other people in the plane ran up to him. “What’s the matter?” they all asked. :

“JT j-j-just s-a-a-aw a f-f-f-flying ele- pha-a-ant,” gasped the man.

The other people looked outside. They couldn’t see anything because a huge cloud had drifted along and hidden Dumbo. They all thought that the man must have had a bad dream. They just winked to each other. One of them laughed and exclaimed, “Whoever heard of an elephant flying. IT’S A GOOD THONG THEY DONT!’

Not long after, Wise One said to Dumbo, “My bo-o-oy, you've learned all there is to know about flying. I am pro-o-oud of you.”

“Thank you, sir. You've been very kind and patient,” replied Dumbo gratefully.

“You must make me one promise, Dum- bo-o-o0,”” Wise One continued.

“What is it, sir?” asked Dumbo anxiously.

“You must not fly away from the circus, as you once said you would,” cautioned Wise One. “You were a very unhappy elephant when you came to me.”

“T certainly was,” sighed Dumbo, remem- bering the old days, “very unhappy.”

“Now that you are happy,’ Wise One went on, “you have no-o-o reason to fly away. Stay with yo-o-our Mother Ella, as a go-o-od son should, and help her.”

“T shall never think about flying away any more,” Dumbo promised.

Dumbo had really given up the idea of fly- ing away fromthecircus, even before Wise One had spoken to him. For, he had thought of a wonderful plan that would make Mother Ella very happy, and show all those meanies at the circus a thing or two, besides.

As Red and he were flying home that night, Dumbo said, “I owe much of my happiness to you, Red. I hope you will stay with me al- ways.” Red clapped his wings for joy. He had always wanted to live in a circus.

“Red,” Dumbo went on, ‘I have a wonder- ful plan! You're the only one I’m going to tell about it. So, you must promise to keep it a secret.”

Red promised. After Dumbo had finished telling about his plan, Red agreed that it was truly marvelous.

Just as the two friends were falling asleep that night, Red asked, ‘‘Dumbo, may I have a special box all to myself at the circus?”

“Of course, Red,” answered Dumbo. “And if my wonderful plan works out, you'll have peanuts, and popcorn, and pink lemonade,

too!” PART THREE THE BIG SURPRISE

~ The circus had come to New York. And all the performers were so excited. You see, they were getting ready for the Opening Day at

_Madison Square Garden.

The elephants practiced their act all, day long. Mother Ella practiced, too. She wasn’t as young as she used to be. Goodness, she was so tired. It was hard for her to keep up with the other elephants.

One day, she said to Big Boy, “I wish Dumbo could take my place.”

Big Boy laughed rudely. “That's a funny one,” he voiced. “Do you want him to spoil our act again?”

Mother Ella walked away. She was very unhappy.

When Dumbo saw how sad his mother looked, he became sad, too. “Mother Ella,” he said, “T know I haven't been a very good son.”

“Don’t say that, Dumbo dear,’ answered Mother Ella. “It isn’t your fault that they won't use you in the elephant act. You tried your best.”” Then tears came to Mother Ella’s eyes.

“Please don’t worry, Mother Ella,” Dumbo coaxed, trying to cheer her up. “I'll show them a thing or two. They’ll all be sorry they ever treated us so mean. I have a wonder- ful |?

Dumbo stopped! He had almost given away his wonderful secret. He wanted to share it with Mother Ella. But he just couldn’t—not yet!

Nobody knew he could fly except Red and Wise One. And nobody must know until— (you'll find out soon enough. )

Red had come up North, too, with his friend Dumbo. At night, while everyone slept, Dumbo and Red flew around and around Madison Square Garden. It was important for Dumbo to keep practicing, you know.

Finally, OPENING DAY arrived. Thou- sands of children and grown-ups poured into Madison Square Garden. It was the biggest crowd ever. :

All the people were so happy! It was Spring again! And the world’s greatest circus had come to town!

On the way into the Big Arena, the children saw the animals. They all shouted, “Gosh! Look at the lions!” “Jiminy! See the skinny giraffes!” “Wow! Aren’t the elephants big!”

Then one little boy noticed Dumbo. He laughed so loudly, that everyone looked. ‘Ha, ha,” he pointed at Dumbo. “Isn't that midget elephant with the big pink ears funny?” And everybody laughed.