Madeline Leslie

“ I don’t think even Minnie loved her pet monkey as well as she did her other pets. She could not take him in her arms as she did Fidelle and Tiney, nor play with him as she did with Nannie and her lamb, and he could not carry her on his back, as Star did.
“Well,” she said, one day, after discussing the merits of her animals with her mamma, “Poll talks to me, and Jacko [27] makes me laugh; but if I should have to give up one of my pets, I had rather it would be the monkey.” ”

“ Finding they could not succeed in this, they went into the stable [52] to visit Star, when, with a quick motion, Jacko twitched the chain from Minnie’s hand, and running up the rack above the manger, began to laugh and chatter in great glee.
His tail, which had now fully healed, was of great use to him on this occasion, when, to Minnie’s great surprise, he clung with it to the bar of the rack, and began to swing himself about. ”

“ The audience, witnessing this apparent competition between the good man and his monkey, could no longer retain the least appearance of composure, and burst into roars of laughter, in the midst of which one of the congregation kindly relieved the horror of the pastor at the irreverence and impiety of his flock, by pointing out the cause of the merriment.
“Casting his eyes upward, the [92] minister could just discern the animal standing on the end of the sounding-board, and gesturing with all his might, when he found it difficult to control himself, though highly exasperated at the occurrence. ”

“ When they reached New York, at the end of their voyage, Captain Lee took Jacko out of the hen-coop, and put him in a bag, which was carried into the depot while he was purchasing his ticket. The monkey, who must needs see every thing [16] that was going on, suddenly poked his head out of the bag, and gave a malicious grin at the ticket-master.
The man was much frightened, but presently recovered himself, and returned the insult by saying,—
“Sir, that’s a dog! It’s the rule that no dog can go in the cars without being paid for.” ”

“ Sprite was exceedingly fond of a bath. Occasionally a bowl of water was given him, when he would cunningly try the temperature by putting in his finger, after which he gradually stepped in, first one foot, then the other, till he was comfortably seated. Then he took the soap and rubbed himself all over. Having made a dreadful splashing all around, he jumped out and ran to the fire, shivering. If any [118] body laughed at him during this performance, he made threatening gestures, chattering with all his might to show his displeasure, and sometimes he splashed water all over them. ”

“ Mr. Lee, at the suggestion of his brother, the captain, had a [19] nice house or cage made for Minnie’s new pet, into which he could be put if he became troublesome, and where he always went to sleep. The rest of the time he was allowed his liberty, as far as his chain would reach.
Jacko came from a very warm climate, and therefore often suffered from the cold in the northern latitude to which he had been brought.
Mrs. Lee could not endure to [20] see a monkey dressed like a man, as they sometimes are in shows. ”

“ The firmness of the grasp which it makes is very surprising; for if it winds a single coil around a branch, it is quite sufficient, not only to support its weight, but to enable it to swing in such a manner as to gain a fresh hold with its feet.”
“I’m sure, father,” eagerly cried Minnie, “that Jacko has a [103] prehensile tail, for I have often seen him swing from the ladder which goes up the hay mow.”
“I dare say, child. He seems to be up to every thing. But here is an account of an Indian monkey, of a light grayish yellow color, with black hands and feet. ”

“ The merriment of the young, as they jump over each other’s heads, and wrestle in sport, is most ludicrously contrasted with the gravity of their seniors, who are secretly delighted with the fun, but far too dignified to let it appear.
“But when any foolish little [38] one behaves ill, the mamma will be seen to jump into the throng, seize the juvenile by the tail, take it over her knee, and give it a good whipping.” ”

“ One morning, cook went to her mistress with loud complaints of Jacko’s tricks.
“What has he been doing now?” inquired the lady, with some anxiety.
“All kinds of mischief, ma’am. If I didn’t like you, and the master, and Miss Minnie so well, I wouldn’t be living in the [29] same house with a monkey, no ways.”
Here the woman, having relieved her mind, began to relate Jacko’s new offence, and soon was joining heartily in the laugh her story caused her mistress.
“Since the trickish fellow found the way to undo his chain, ma’am, he watches every thing that is done in the kitchen. ”

“ He seems to learn quite fast enough by himself. Indeed, he is so full of tricks, and so troublesome to cook in hiding her kitchen utensils, I am afraid we shall have to put him in close confinement.”
“I had rather uncle Frank would carry him back to Africa, [77] ” sighed the child. “He would be so unhappy.”
“Well, dear, I wouldn’t grieve about it now. We must manage somehow till uncle Frank comes, and then perhaps he can tell us what to do. Now I’ll read you another story.”
“A monkey living with a gentleman in the country became so troublesome that the servants were constantly complaining.” ”

“ Minnie laughed. “I should suppose,” she said, “that if cook thinks so much of monkeys, she [35] would be pleased to live with them. Do you know any more about monkeys, mamma?”
“I confess, my dear, that monkeys have never been among my favorites. There are a great many kinds, but all are mischievous, troublesome, and thievish. The dispositions of some of them are extremely bad, while others are so mild and tractable as to be readily tamed and taught a great variety of [36] tricks. They live together in large groups, leaping with surprising agility from tree to tree. ”

“ Monkey was chained up, and soon died.”
Minnie looked very grave after hearing this story, and presently said, “I wonder how old that monkey was.”
“The book does not mention his age, my dear. Why?”
[82] “I was thinking that perhaps, as Jacko grows older, he may learn better; and then I said to myself, ‘That one must have been young.’”
“If a monkey is really inclined to be vicious, he is almost unbearable,” remarked the lady. “His company does not begin to compensate for the trouble he makes. Sometimes he is only cunning, but otherwise mild and tractable.” ”

“ Lee found in his library a book which gave a short account of the animal, which he read to her.
“The baboon is of the monkey tribe, notwithstanding its long, dog-like head, flat, compressed cheeks, and strong and projecting teeth. The form and position of the eyes, combined with the similarity of the arms and hands, give to these creatures a resemblance to human [130] ity as striking as it is disgusting.” ”

“ After a few drops of lavender, however, she said she felt better, and that if Frank would tell her a story she should be quite well.
“That I will,” exclaimed the [60] boy, eagerly. “I know a real funny one; you like funny stories—don’t you?”
“Yes, when they’re true,” answered Minnie.
“Well, this is really true. A man was hunting, and he happened to kill a monkey that had a little baby on her back. The little one clung so close to her dead mother, that they could scarcely get it away. When they reached the gentlema [61] n’s house, the poor creature began to cry at finding itself alone. ”

“ JACKO RUNNING AWAY. Page 52.
[53] “I heard of a monkey once,” exclaimed Frank, laughing merrily, “who made great use of his tail. If a nut or apple were thrown to him which fell beyond his reach, he would run to the full length of his chain, turn his back, then stretch out his tail, and draw toward him the coveted delicacy.”
“Let’s see whether Jacko would do so,” shouted Minnie, greatly excited with the project.
[54] “When we can catch him. But see how funny he looks. There he goes up the hay mow, the chain dangling after him.” ”

“ In these excursions, they move on a concerted plan, placing sentinels on commanding spots, to give notice of the approach of an enemy. As soon as he perceives danger, the sentinel gives a loud yell, and then the whole troop rush away with the greatest speed, cramming the fruit which they have gathered into their cheek pouches. ”

“ He knew well enough he was doing wrong; for, without her speaking to him, he made off quickly and ran home, where he hid himself in the case of the large kitchen clock.
“The servants at once knew [80] he had been in mischief, as this was his place of refuge when he was in disgrace.
“One day he watched the cook while she was preparing some partridges for dinner, and concluded that all birds ought to be so treated. He soon managed to get into the yard, where his mistress kept a few pet bantam fowls, and, after eating their eggs, he secured one of the hens, and began plucking it. ”

“ If one of these monkeys is killed, the murderer is instantly put to death; and, thus protected, they become a great nuisance, and destroy great quantities of fruit. But in South America, monkeys are killed by the natives as game, for the sake of the flesh. ”

“ An officer who was visiting Le Vaillant, wishing to try the affection of the baboon for his master, pretended to strike him. Kees flew into a violent rage, and from that time could never endure the sight of the officer. If he only saw him at a distance, he ground his teeth, and used every endeavor to fly at him; and had he not been chained, [151] he would speedily have revenged the insult.”
“Nature is man’s best teacher. ”

“ Giving him a cuff across his head with a shoe, “Go back to your cage, where you belong.”
“Jacko is really getting to be very troublesome,” remarked the lady to her husband. “I can’t tell how much longer my patience with him will last.”
“Would Minnie mourn very much if she were to lose him?” asked Mr. Lee.
“I suppose she would for a [70] time; but then she has so many pets to take up her attention.” ”

“ They are raised a foot from the ground, and bent into a sitting position, in which they greatly resemble a child, and are roasted in that manner. A hand and arm of a monkey, roasted in this way, are exhibited in a museum in Paris. ”

“ At any rate, it proves that beauty is by no means always to be depended upon.”
Mrs. Lee then took her sewing, but Minnie plead so earnestly for one more story, a [112] good long one, that her mother, who loved to gratify her, complied, and read the account which I shall give you in closing this chapter on Minnie’s pet monkey.
“A gentleman, returning from India, brought a monkey, which he presented to his wife. She called it Sprite, and soon became very fond of it. ”