Page:Jungle Joe, pride of the circus; the story of a trick elephant (IA junglejoeprideof00hawk).pdf/101

 go with Sahib to America. He be Ali's father."

The words were so simple and so trustful and the boy had such an assurance that the Sahib was speechless for several seconds. Then he drew the boy close to him and said kindly, "I would like to take you, Ali, if I could. You are a good boy and I like you much. But I can't. You see America is different from this country. You would be lonesome. You would not be happy."

"I not be lonesome where the Sahib is," said Ali. "I would be happy. I cannot be happy again where he is not. I have no father. You are my father."

Vainly the Sahib tried to think of some way out of the difficulty but there seemed to be none. At last he was obliged to tell Ali firmly that he could not go with him.