Ben Pepper

  XIX

  JOCKO

  "Yes," said Polly, gleefully, "you can't think, Jasper; it's such abeautiful monkey."

  "That's a fact," declared Ben, "or rather, I should say, the veryugliest beast you can think of, Jasper."

  "Ben!" exclaimed Polly, reproachfully.

  "When did it come? Did Mr. Cabot really give it to you?" cried Jasper,all in one breath, and deserting his pillows at once.

  "Oh, he didn't give it to me," said Polly. "It's a present to all of us;it's yours, Jasper, just as much as any one's."

  "Dear me!" cried Jasper, quite overwhelmed at being part owner in theChristmas gift of a monkey. "Well, when did it come, Polly?"

  "Just two days ago," said Polly, trying to remember all the fun they hadenjoyed with their new acquisition, "though it seems--oh, ages; and he'sbeen so cunning."

  "How I do want to see him!" cried Jasper, eagerly. "Where is he? Ishould think Joel would worry the life out of him."

  "Well, for once I guess Joe has got his match," said Ben, bursting intoa laugh. "I asked him to come along with us and show Jocko off thismorning, and he said, 'No,' and showed a lively pair of heels."

  "Jocko? Is that his name?" asked Jasper, with the liveliest interest.

  "Yes," said Polly.

  "That's what the sailors named him, Mr. Cabot said," added Ben,--"so youtold me, Polly," turning to her.

  "Yes, I did," said Polly. "You see, Jasper, Mr. Cabot was having somethings brought out from India, and he thought he'd send for a monkey fora surprise to us. And the sailors petted him all the way over, and--"

  "Who, Mr. Cabot?" interrupted Ben, mischievously.

  "No; aren't you ashamed of yourself," cried Jasper, in a pretended rage."Go on, Polly. If I weren't tied to this old chair I'd pommel this chapfor you. Well, where is the monkey now?"

  "Oh, Thomas has him in a little room in the stable," said Polly. "He'schained up, you know. But by and by we're going to have him in thehouse, when he's tame and nice."

  "O dear me! How I should like to see him," said Jasper, with a longbreath, and sinking back against the pillows.

  "Dear me! Well, I wish you could," breathed Polly, wistfully, and aregretful look swept over her face. Why had she told Jasper about themonkey? Better to have waited for the surprise to come out to-morrow.And her head drooped sorrowfully.

  "Never mind, Polly," said Ben, who never could bear to have Polly looksorry over anything. "Jasper would rather have the fun of hearing aboutthe monkey to-day than to wait to see him."

  "But why should I wait before I see him?" said Jasper. "There's noreason he can't come up here to see me." He looked first at Polly, thenat Ben.

  "What?" cried Polly, coming out of her sorry little fit to stare at him.

  "Whew!" whistled Ben, and he stuck his hands in his pockets and staredtoo.

  "Yes, there isn't any earthly reason why the monkey couldn't come uphere," said Jasper, persistently, "and I really need him. He'd cheer meup," he added.

  "Yes, there's no doubt of that," said Ben, with a chuckle.

  "Well, then bring him. Do, there's a good chap," said Jasper, leaningforward to bestow a resounding clap on Ben's shoulder.

  "Goodness me," said Ben, backing away, "if Doctor Fisher could only feelyou he'd let you downstairs fast enough. There'd be no need of bringingmonkeys or anything else up to you."

  "Well, Doctor Fisher isn't here," said Jasper, laughing, "and I am madeto stay up here. And just think how dull it is," he added artfully.

  "That's a compliment, now," said Ben, "when we've tried to entertain youas hard as we can."

  "Well, I didn't mean that; you know I didn't," said Jasper, coming outof his laugh to look very much distressed. "You know I didn't, Polly,don't you?" he begged, appealing to her.

  "Yes, I do," said Polly, "know you didn't mean it at all, Jasper."

  "All right, now tease away," said Ben.

  "But I do want to see that monkey dreadfully," said Jasper, returning tothe charge with renewed effort when he saw that his last unfortunateremark was perfectly understood; "it would be just the way to make meentirely well."

  "I do believe it would, Ben," said Polly, whirling around to him, "bethe very best thing, as Jasper says. Oh, do let's bring him up." Sheflew off from her hassock to rush to the door.

  "Well, I can fetch him, as far as that goes," said Ben, getting upslowly from his hassock. "If that monkey has got to come, why, I'llbring him."

  "Good for you!" shouted Jasper, in huge delight, and clapping his handstogether.

  "But I warn you, he's a perfect--tempest," said Ben, moving off to joinPolly. "You don't need to go, Polly," he said; "I'll bring him."

  "But I can do it much better," said Polly, "because he knows me, Ben,and you've only seen him once."

  "And that was quite enough for both the monkey and me," said Ben, with alittle laugh. "Well, prepare yourself to receive Jocko," he tossed backover his shoulder to Jasper; "and don't blame me if he's too much foryou."

  "I won't blame you," promised Jasper, in huge delight; then he doubledup one of his pillows and tossed it across the room, to give vent to hisfeelings, as Polly and Ben ran off downstairs to do his bidding.

  It was all he could do to wait with even a show of patience, yet theydid it very quickly, considering the distance that had to be run over,and the little formality to be gone through with of detaching Jocko froma plate of cake bits that one of the maids had just left with him.

  "Oh, he oughtn't to have that anyway," said Polly, twitching his chain."Come away from it, Jocko, it's bad for you to have so many sweets."

  But Jocko, not thinking so, chattered and scolded, wrinkling up hiseyelids and showing all his teeth at her.

  "Polly, the beggar will bite you," said Ben, laying a hand on the chain.

  "Oh, no, he won't," said Polly. "Now, Jocko, you are _not_ going to haveall that plate of cake. Come away," for Jocko had scrabbled all hepossibly could of the sweet bits into both cheeks, spreading his pawsover the remainder in the dish to protect it. And Polly gave such a jerkthat Jocko was twitched clear away from the tempting morsels.

  "Polly, Polly," remonstrated Ben in alarm, "he surely will bite you;give me the chain."

  "Oh, no, he can't," said Polly. "See, his mouth is full," which wasquite true, Jocko's cheeks being puffed out to that degree that hecouldn't very well use his teeth to attack with.

  "Well, he will as soon as he has swallowed that mouthful, the greedything," said Ben. "Here, you," and Ben picked up a stick from thecorner. Jocko viewed it with the air of acquaintance, as if Thomas hadshowed it to him before, and immediately spit out all the cake, rolledup his eyes beseechingly, and folded his paws.

  "Oh, you cunning thing!" exclaimed Polly, throwing her arms around him,while Jocko seized her gown and huddled and snivelled into it, gettingaway from Ben as far as possible.

  "Polly, how can you?" cried Ben, in disgust.

  "Well, he's just as sweet as can be," said Polly. "O dear, do put downthat stick, he's so afraid of it."

  "Indeed, I shan't," declared Ben, brandishing it wildly, whereat Jockodanced a perfect waltz around Polly, clinging to her brown gown andgibbering at every step.

  "I do hope Thomas doesn't whip him with it," said Polly, whirling arounduncertainly with the monkey's antics. "Oh, you don't suppose he does,Ben, do you?"

  "Nonsense; you know Thomas wouldn't hurt a fly," said Ben. "But Jockohas probably tasted a stick on board ship, Polly, or a rope-end, orsomething worse. And it's just as well to show him something now that hewill respect." It was a long speech for Ben.

  "Well, we ought to hurry," said Polly, "for it's so hard for Jasper towait." So away they ran, Jocko getting between their feet at everychance he could find. And then, "Well, here we are!" announced Ben, asthey all three dashed, or rather tumbled, into Jasper's room together.For Jocko, seeing here a grand opportunity, plunged in suddenly,dragging the chain before them so that Polly promptly fell over it. Andin trying to save her, Ben lost
his balance.

  "Well, I should think so!" exclaimed Jasper, starting forward. "Mygoodness! What an entree."

  "Well, you ought to be thankful that we've got here at all," retortedBen, extricating himself and helping Polly up; "and if you don't getenough of this beast, I miss my guess."

  "Oh, isn't he perfectly lovely!" cried Polly, racing up and pullingJocko along to Jasper's chair. "Did you ever see--" she couldn't finish,for Jocko, not considering it necessary to wait for any furtherintroduction, leaped up to Jasper's shoulder and laid his little black,cold, slippery nose against the nearest cheek.

  "I told you you'd get enough of him," cried Ben, bursting into a laugh."Oh, your face, Jasper!" as Polly twitched the chain so that the monkeysprawled at once on the floor.

  "Oh, well, that's all right," said Jasper, recovering himself and wipinghis face dry with his handkerchief.

  "Is it?" laughed Ben. "I'm glad you like it."

  "There, Polly, bring him a little nearer. I don't want him on myshoulder, you know," Jasper was saying.

  "Oh, don't you?" said Ben. "I thought he was all right up there."

  "Let me take the chain," said Jasper, paying no attention to Ben.

  "Oh, Jasper, I'm afraid you're not strong enough," said Polly,fearfully. "Hadn't I better hold it?"

  "Oh, I'm strong enough," said Jasper.

  So Polly, although with many misgivings, handed the chain to Jasper, whopretty soon had the monkey on his knee, examining all his fine points,and becoming acquainted with his exceedingly expressive countenance.

  "Now, isn't he a dear?" cried Polly, dancing in front of Jasper's chair,and regarding the new pet with affection.

  "He certainly is," said Jasper, making Jocko give him his paw, thenteaching him to feel in his pockets.

  "Oh, Polly, get me a lump of sugar, do; there on the tray." So Polly ranto the little silver bowl and came back with two sweet blocks in herhand.

  At sight of them Jocko gave a greedy little cry and tried to spring offfrom Jasper's lap.

  "Oh, no you don't, sir," said Jasper, holding him fast by the collar;"you must hunt for them. Give them to me, Polly."

  So Polly put the sugar lumps into Jasper's hands, and he dropped oneinto each pocket. "There now, hunt, sir," which Jocko, wrinkling up hisflat nose, was glad to do.

  "Did you ever see such sweet little fingers?" said Polly, dropping toher knees by the side of the big chair, as Jocko, finding one sweetlump, dragged it forth triumphantly, to set sharp little teeth in it.

  "DID YOU EVER SEE SUCH SWEET LITTLE FINGERS?" SAIDPOLLY.]

  "Fingers! Oh, Polly!" exclaimed Ben, coming up, stick in hand.

  Jocko grunted and chattered, one eye on the stick, while he nibbledaway.

  "Oh, Ben, do put it down," begged Polly.

  "All right," said Ben, depositing the stick on the table. "Lie there,but see that you behave, Mr. Jocko."

  "He says he will," said Polly, with a laugh, as Jocko gave a littlescream, his sugar being all gone. Then he began to hunt for more,puckering up his forehead in the search. He was quite sure there weretwo pieces, and he must hurry and get the last one. So he pulled andpawed and scratched and scrabbled over Jasper in his efforts to reachall his pockets that might be possible, Ben laughing as much as theother two in the process.

  At last Polly looked up, "Oh, you are getting tired, Jasper," sheexclaimed in dismay.

  "I believe I am," confessed Jasper; "my sides fairly ache with thelaughing. But don't take Jocko away," he said, clinging to him.

  "Well, we ought to," said Ben, "for you are tired, and my sides ache,too."

  "We might tie Jocko up for a while," suggested Polly, who hadn't theheart to go against Jasper's wish.

  "That's it, tie him up till I'm a bit rested," said Jasper, eagerly."Here, Jocko, go with your mistress," and he put the chain in Polly'shand.

  "Well, where is a good place?" asked Polly, twitching Jocko off fromJasper's knee. "Come on, Ben, where shall we tie him?"

  "Oh, I don't know," said Ben, looking about him doubtfully. "Why, to thedoor-knob, perhaps."

  "Wouldn't the bureau handle be better?" asked Polly.

  "The table leg, Polly," suggested Jasper.

  "The table leg, oh, yes," cried Polly. "Now then, Jocko, you must bevery good," and she knelt down by the table, dragging the monkey up toher.

  "Let me fasten it for you," said Ben, coming up.

  "Oh, I can do it," said Polly, pulling the chain around the table legand taking a little loop in it. "There, sir! Now you're fast!" as shejumped up and brushed her brown gown with both hands.

  "He's mussed you all up," cried Ben; "and see, his hair's all over yourdress."

  "Never mind," said Polly, who always liked everything very nice,"they'll come off," and she brushed away smartly. "There, that's allright now, Bensie. Oh, let's talk over what we are going to doto-morrow, our real Christmas," and she flew back to Jasper's chair.

  "Yes, do," said Jasper. "Come on, Ben."

  "You know, of course, there's the tree," began Polly, as the two pulledtheir hassocks and sat down again, on either side of Jasper's chair.

  "Yes, of course," said Jasper. "Christmas wouldn't be Christmas, wouldit, Polly, without our tree."

  "No, I should think not," laughed Polly. And Ben saying the same thingthey immediately launched into an animated recital of all the plans forthis particular tree, and the comparison with all the other trees of thepast Christmases, till they forgot Jocko and everything else in thecharms of this belated holiday.

  "What's that funny noise?" at last asked Ben in a lull, when all threehad paused to rest.

  "What? I don't hear anything," said Jasper, pricking up his ears.

  "Nor I," said Polly. "Oh, yes, I do." She sprang off from her hassockand ran around to the table.

  "Why, Jocko, where--" she cried.

  Ben got off from his hassock. "Well, that explains the noise fastenough," he said grimly. "Why, where is the whip?" going over to thetable.

  "Dear me, I don't know," said Polly. "I haven't touched it," and shebegan to fly all about the room. "Jocko, Jocko dear," she criedcoaxingly.

  "The little scamp has taken the whip," said Ben, too vexed to smile."How you can laugh, Jasper, I don't see. Now then, we must find thatbeast. My goodness me!" He dashed off. As Ben seldom took any butdeliberate steps, Jasper stopped laughing to see him go. The nextinstant, "Come, Polly!" called Ben.

  "Where?" She was over by one of the long windows, shaking the curtain,fully expecting to see the runaway hiding within its folds.

  "In the bath-room," shouted Ben. So down the little passageway, tiledand wainscoted, clattered Polly on hasty feet, to find Ben holding Jockoby the collar, and the bath-tub running over with water, both faucetsbeing turned on, and several articles, the broken whip among the rest,floating on the top.

  Jocko was grinning and cringing, with sharp, sudden squeals for pitywhen he saw Polly.

  "Take care, you'll wet your feet," warned Ben. "The water's all over thefloor." Which Polly soon found out the moment she stepped on the tiledsurface.

  "O dear me!" she gasped, stepping gingerly in.

  Squeal! Squeal! Jocko set up more elaborate attempts to attract herattention.

  "Do turn off the faucets, Ben," said Polly, hurrying over to peer intothe tub.

  "Oh, I have, long ago," said Ben, "but I can't let the water out."

  "Why, Ben Pepper, there is Jasper's 'As You Like It,'" said Polly, inanguish, hanging over the bath-tub.

  "I know it," said Ben. "Hush, Polly, Jasper'll hear you."

  "O dear! And I 'most know there are his sleeve buttons."

  "Yes, and lots of things more," said Ben, grimly, "so I can't let thewater off, for they'd all run down."

  "And, and,--why, Ben Pepper!" Polly forgot the wet floor and shesplashed up and down in great distress. "Oh, I must bale it out," shecried. "I see Jasper's watch and chain down at the bottom."

  "Stop, Polly, you're getting as wet as anything and spl
ashing all overme," said Ben. "Now then, you little scoundrel," to Jocko, "I'll tie youup so that you won't get loose again in a hurry," and he fastened thechain, in a way that no one but Ben could do, to the door-knob, then hecame back and rolled up his sleeves, Jocko beginning to sob and whimper,since Polly wouldn't look at him.

  "Do you run out in the hall and call down the tube for Jane," said Ben."Jasper can't hear, for his door is shut."

  "But I must tell him what is the matter," said Polly, in great distress."Listen, he's calling."

  "Pol-_ly_." Evidently Jasper _was_ calling. "Ben, what in the world isthe matter?" came from Jasper's room.

  "I'll tell Jasper," said Ben. "You get Jane up here to clear this waterout; do, Polly."

  "Well, don't tell Jasper about his Shakespeare," said Polly, hurryingoff on her wet feet, "nor the watch."

  "No, I won't," promised Ben.

  "Oh, nothing much, old chap." He went down the passage, and put his headin at Jasper's door, "It's Jocko, you know; we've found him."

  "Oh, that's good," cried Jasper; "and nothing has happened to him, Ihope?"

  "No," said Ben, "there hasn't."

  "That's good," said Jasper again.

  So Ben went back and Jane came up with her pail and mop and cloths, andpresently a fine array of articles was brought to view on the bottom ofthe bath-tub, to add to those floating on top.

  "Oh, Ben, did you ever in all the world!" said Polly, aghast, as theyfished for the things. "I don't see how he had time to do it."

  "Well, he used it pretty well," said Ben. "See there, Polly Pepper,"holding up what had once been a necktie.

  "And it's quite, quite ruined," said Polly, choking off a little sob.Then she deserted the bath-tub, to fly over to the monkey. "Oh, younaughty, naughty--Oh, Ben, what has Jocko got in his mouth? He'schoking!"

  "Nonsense, he wouldn't choke," said Ben; yet he left fishing in thebath-tub for more articles of Jocko's depositing and went over toinvestigate.

  Jocko, when he saw Ben coming, spit out a mouthful which proved to bepins, while he tucked with one paw a small article underneath him, andblinked up in Ben's face.

  "Spit out the rest," commanded Ben, "or I'll get another switch. Do youhear?"

  "Oh, he'll choke, he'll choke," cried Polly, in great alarm. "What shallwe do? He has ever so many more in his cheeks. Oh, you bad Jocko!"

  Jocko spit out a few more pins, then wrinkled up his eyebrows andgrinned and chattered.

  "Get the rest out, sir," said Ben, "or the switch, you know."

  Fretting dismally, Jocko stuck his paw clear into his cheeks, and pokedthe pins out until none seemed to remain. Then he sat up quite straight,scolding frightfully.

  "Where did he get the pins?" exclaimed Polly, wonderingly.

  "Where did he get anything," said Ben, "you might as well ask."

  "But he didn't have them when we found him," she went on.

  "Oh, yes, he did; he must have," said Ben; "and he's hidden moresomewhere about him now, you may depend. Get up there, Jocko!"

  But Jocko, seeing no fun ahead of him if he lost that little cushion,sat still and glared, showing all his teeth at Ben.

  "O mercy me!" exclaimed Jane, with her gown tucked up, busy with her mopand pail over the tub, "he'll bite you, Master Ben."

  "Yes, he will," said Polly, in a terror. "Oh, Ben, do let him alone."

  "I'll let him alone for a minute," said Ben, hurrying off. Presentlyback he appeared, flourishing Jasper's riding crop. At sight of thisJocko drew his teeth in, and slunk down into a little heap of abjectmisery.

  "Get up," said Ben, flourishing the whip threateningly.

  "Oh, Ben, don't strike him," pleaded Polly.

  "And if you do, he'll jump at me, most likely," said Jane, with only athought for her unprotected ankles. "Please don't, Master Ben."

  "I'm not going to," said Ben, "only he must get up. He's sitting onsomething he's hiding. Now, then, will you get up?" he cried, swingingthe whip in the air.

  Jocko, who saw the riding crop going up, supposed naturally it wascoming down. Not desiring to receive it on his body, he made a quickmovement and leaped. Jane, who had followed all proceedings with extremeanxiety, saw no reason why he shouldn't come her way. And to leave thespace she had been occupying she decided without delay. But forgettingthe pail, half full of water she had mopped up from the tub, shepromptly fell over it, into the pool on the floor.

  "What is it?" cried Polly, picking up a small object where Jocko hadbeen sitting. "Why, Ben Pepper, it's Jasper's little pincushion, the oneI made for him last Christmas!"