e little monkey, who could see out of the top of the tent said:

"Tum Tum, we are going to have a big thunder shower. I can see the
lightning and the black clouds."

"Well, it will not hurt us," said Tum Tum. "We often used to have
thunder storms in the jungle, and here we are under a tent."

Then, suddenly the storm came. It grew very black, and the thunder and
lightning frightened the big crowds in the circus tent. It rained very
hard, too, so that some of the tent ropes were made loose and slipped.

"Run out, quick!" suddenly called a man. "The tent is going to fall on
us! Run, everybody!"

"No! Sit still! Keep your seats!" the circus men cried, but the crowd
was frightened and ran.

Just then, one of the big poles of the tent began to fall.

"That pole must not fall!" cried Tum Tum's keeper. "But how can I hold
it up? I am not strong enough."

Then he looked at Tum Tum, the big elephant.

"Ha! Tum Tum will hold up the pole, until all the people get out of the
tent!" cried the circus man. "Here, Tum Tum," he called. "Hold up this
pole."

Tum Tum knew what was wanted of him. He pushed his strong head against
the pole, and it did not fall over. Tum Tum held it up, and the tent did
not come down.

"Tum Tum, you are a fine elephant!" cried his master. "I love you!"

The rain was soon over, and that night, after the evening performance,
the circus went on to another town.

That brings me to the end of Tum Tum's adventures. But I have some
stories about other animals, and in the next book I'll tell you about
"Don, a Runaway Dog; His Many Adventures."

As for Tum Tum, he lived in the circus for many, many years, growing
older and stronger and wiser every day, and everybody thought he was the
jolliest elephant in all the world.

THE END

STORIES FOR CHILDREN
(From four to nine years old)

THE KNEETIME ANIMAL STORIES

BY RICHARD BARNUM

[Illustration]

In all nursery literature animals have played a conspicuous part; and
the reason is obvious for nothing entertains a child more than the
antics of an animal. These stories abound in amusing incidents such as
children adore and the characters are so full of life, so appealing to a
child's imagination, that none will be satisfied until they have met all
of their favorites--Squinty, Slicko, Mappo, Tum Tum, etc.

1 SQUINTY, THE COMICAL PIG.
2 SLICKO, THE JUMPING SQUIRREL.
3 MAPPO, THE MERRY MONKEY.
4 TUM TUM, THE JOLLY ELEP