The Elephant in the Dark

Set in rural Massachusetts early 1800's. A Boy living a hard life with his terminally ill mother happens to come to care for an Indian elephant named Toong Talong while its owner is away over the winter. The boy and the elephant develop an attachment and when the elephant is sold and the new owner collects her the boy, longing to be with the elephant, chases after them. It more or less works out for him.