Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 March 1881 — My Monkey. [ARTICLE]

My Monkey.

There never was such luck. I’ve always thought that I’d rather have a monkey than be a millionaire. There is nothing that could* be half so splendid as a real live monkey, but of course I knew that I never could have one until I should grow up and go to sea and bring home monkeys and parrote and shawls to mother just as sailors always do. But I’ve actually got a monkey. It was Mr. Travers that got the monkey for me. One day there came a woman with an organ and a monkey into our yard. She was an Italian, but she could speak* sort of English, and she said that the “murderin’ spalpeen of a monkey was just wearing the life of her out.” So says Mr. Travers, “What will you take for him?” and says she, “It’s $5 I’d be after selling him for, and may good luck go wid yel”. What did Mr. Travers do but give her the money and hand the monkey to me, saying: “Here, Jimmy! take hitnand be happy.” Wasn’t I just happy though. Jocko—that’s the monkey’s name—is the loveliest monkey that ever lived. Toby Tyler may talk about his “Mr. Stubbs,” and tell how he understands everything said to him. and begs for crullers, and all that; but I tell you “Mr. Stubb” was just an ordinary illiterate monkey alongside of my Jocko. I hadn’t had him an hour when he got out of my arms, and was on the upper table before I could get him. The table was all set, and Bridget was Just going to ring the bell, but the mor-key didn’t wait for her. To see him eating the chicken salad was Just wonderful. He firfished the whole dish in about two minutes, and was washing it down with the oil out of the salad bottle when I caught him. Mother was awfully good about it and only said, “Poor little beast, he must be half-starved. Susan, how much he reminds me of your brother.” A good mother is as good a thing as a boy deserves, no matter how good he to.

The salad somehow d(d not seem to agree with Jocko, for he was dreadlully sick that night. You should have seen how limp he was, just like a-girl that has fainted away and her roung man is trying to lift her up. if other doctored him. She gave him castor oil as if he was her own son, wrapped him up in a blanket and put a mustard plaster on his stomach and soaked the end of his tail In warm water. He was all right the next day, and was real grateful. I know he was f grateful, because he showed it by try>ig to do good to others, at any rate to the cat. Ourlcat wouldn’t speak to him at first, bdt he coaxed her with milk, just as he had seen me do, and finally caught her. It must have been very aggravating to the cat, for, instead of letting her nave the milk, he insisted that she was sick and must have medicine. Bo he took Bridget’s bottle of hair oil and a big spoon, and gave the cat such a dose. When I caught him and made him let the oat go there were about six table-spoonfuls of the oil missing. Mr, Travers said it was a good thing, for It would improve the cat’s voice and make her yowl smoother, and that he had felt for a long time that she ought to be oiled. Mother said that the monkey was cruel and it was a shame, but I know that he meant to be kind. He knew that the oil mother gave him had done hhn good, and he wanted to do the cat good. I know just how he felt, for I’ve been blamed many a time for trying to do good, and I can tell you it always hurt my feelings. The monkey was in the kitchen while Bridget was getting dinner yesterday, and he watched her broil the steak as if ne was meaning to learn to cook and help her in her work, he’s that kind and thoughtful. The cat wks out doors, but two of her kittens were In the kiteken. and they were not old enough to be afraid of the monkqy. When dinner was served Bridget went up stairs, and by-and-by mother says: “What’s that dreadful smell? sure as you’er alive, Susan, the baby has fallen iqto the fire.” Eveiybody Jumped np apd ran up stairs, all bqt me, for * knew Jocko was in the kitchen and I was afraid it was be that WN® burning. When I got into the kitchen there was that lovely monkey broiling one of the kittens on the gridiron just as he had seen Bridget broil the steak. The kitten’s far was singeing and she was mewing, and the other kitten was sitting up on the floor licking her chops and enjoying it, and Jocko was on his hipd-legs as solemn and busy as an owl. I snatched the gridiron away from him and took the kitten off before she was burned any except her fur, and when mother and Susan came down stairs they couldn’t understand what It was that had been burning, and guessed the cook must haye put This to all she monkey has done siqce I got him day before yesterday. Father hM beep away for a Week bpt |s coming back In a few days, apfl WW’the be delighted when heflnds a monkey in the house?— Harpert Young PeopU.