CHAPTER IV.
THE MONKEY IN CHURCH.
One day, Jacko observed nurse washing out some fine clothes for hermistress, and seemed greatly interested in the suds which she made inthe progress of her work.
Watching his chance, he went to Mrs. Lee's room while the family were atbreakfast one morning, and finding some nice toilet soap on the marblewashstand, began to rub it on some fine lace lying on the bureau. Aftera little exertion, he was delighted to find that he had a bowl full ofnice, perfumed suds, and was chattering to himself in great glee, whenAnn came in and spoiled his sport.
"You good for nothing, mischievous creature," she cried out, in suddenwrath, "I'll cure you of prowling about the house in this style."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 toher husband. "I can't tell how much longer my patience with him willlast."
"Would Minnie mourn very much if she were to lose him?" asked Mr. Lee.
"I suppose she would for a time; but then she has so many pets to takeup her attention."
Just then the child ran in, her eyes filled with tears, exclaiming,--
"Father, does Jacko know any better? Is he to blame for trying to wash?"
Mr. Lee laughed.
"Because," she went on, "I found him crouched down in his cage, lookingvery sorry; and nurse says he ought to be ashamed of himself, cuttingup such ridiculous capers."
"I dare say he feels rather guilty," remarked Mr. Lee. "He must betaught better, or your mother will be tired of him."
When her father had gone to the city, Minnie looked so grave that hermother, to comfort her, took the book and read her some stories. A fewof them I will repeat to you.
"A lady was returning from India, in a ship on board of which there wasa monkey. She was a very mild, gentle creature, and readily learned anything that was taught her. When she went to lie down at night, she madeup her bed in imitation of her mistress, then got in and wrapped herselfup neatly with the quilt. Sometimes she would wrap her head with ahandkerchief.
"When she did wrong, she would kneel and clasp her hands, seemingearnestly to ask to be forgiven."
"That's a good story, mamma."
"Yes, dear; and here is another."
"A gentleman boarding with his wife at a hotel in Paris had a petmonkey, who was very polite. One day his master met him going downstairs; and when the gentleman said 'good morning,' the animal took offhis cap and made a very polite bow.
"'Are you going away?' asked the owner. 'Where is your passport?' Uponthis the monkey held out a square piece of paper.
"'See!' said the gentleman; 'your mistress' gown is dusty.'
"Jack instantly took a small brush from his master's pocket, raised thehem of the lady's dress, cleaned it, and then did the same to hismaster's shoes, which were also dusty.
"When they gave him any thing to eat, he did not cram his pouches withit, but delicately and tidily devoured it; and when, as frequentlyoccurred, strangers gave him money, he always put it in his master'shands."
"Do you think, mamma, I could teach Jacko to do so?" inquired Minnie,eagerly.
"I can't say, my dear; and indeed I think it would be hardly worth thepains to spend a great deal of time in teaching him. He seems to learnquite fast enough by himself. Indeed, he is so full of tricks, and sotroublesome to cook in hiding her kitchen utensils, I am afraid we shallhave to put him in close confinement."
"I had rather uncle Frank would carry him back to Africa," sighed thechild. "He would be so unhappy."
"Well, dear, I wouldn't grieve about it now. We must manage somehow tilluncle Frank comes, and then perhaps he can tell us what to do. Now I'llread you another story."
"A monkey living with a gentleman in the country became so troublesomethat the servants were constantly complaining."
"That seems similar to our case," said the lady, smiling, as sheinterrupted the reading.
"One day, having his offers of assistance rudely repulsed, he went intothe next house by a window in the second story, which was unfortunatelyopen. Here he pulled out a small drawer, where the lady kept ribbons,laces, and handkerchiefs, and putting them in a foot-tub, rubbed awayvigorously for an hour, with all the soap and water there were to befound in the room.
"When the lady returned to the chamber, he was busily engaged inspreading the torn and disfigured remnants to dry.
"He knew well enough he was doing wrong; for, without her speaking tohim, he made off quickly and ran home, where he hid himself in the caseof the large kitchen clock.
"The servants at once knew he had been in mischief, as this was hisplace of refuge when he was in disgrace.
"One day he watched the cook while she was preparing some partridges fordinner, and concluded that all birds ought to be so treated. He soonmanaged to get into the yard, where his mistress kept a few pet bantamfowls, and, after eating their eggs, he secured one of the hens, andbegan plucking it. The noise of the poor bird called some of theservants to the rescue, when they found the half-plucked creature insuch a pitiable condition that they killed it at once. After this, Mr.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?"
"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 thetrouble he makes. Sometimes he is only cunning, but otherwise mild andtractable."
"And which, mamma, do you think Jacko is?"
"I have always thought, until lately, that he was one of the betterkind; but I have now a good many doubts whether you enjoy her funnytricks enough to compensate cook for all the mischief she does. If Iknew any one who wanted a pet monkey, and would treat him kindly, Ishould be glad to have him go. I should hate to have him killed."
"Killed!" screamed Minnie, with a look of horror; "O, mamma, I wouldn'thave one of my pets killed for any thing."
Mrs. Lee thought that would probably be at some time Nannie's fate, butshe wisely said nothing.
"Please read more, mamma. I don't want to think about such awfulthings."
The lady cast her eyes over the page, and laughed heartily. Presentlyshe said, "Here is a very curious anecdote, which I will read you; butfirst I must explain to you what a sounding-board is.
"In old fashioned churches, there used to hang, directly over thepulpit, a large, round board, like the top of a table, which, it wasthought, assisted the minister's voice to be heard by all thecongregation. I can remember, when I was a child, going to visit mygrandmother, and accompanying her to church, where there was asounding-board. I worried, through the whole service, for fear it wouldfall on the minister's head and kill him. But I will read."
"There was once an eminent clergyman by the name of Casaubon, who keptin his family a tame monkey, of which he was very fond. This animal,which was allowed its liberty, liked to follow the minister, when hewent out, but on the Sabbath was usually shut up till his owner was outof sight, on his way to church.
"But one Sabbath morning, when the clergyman, taking his sermon underhis arm, went out, the monkey followed him unobserved, and watching theopportunity while his master was speaking to a gentleman on the steps,ran up at the back of the pulpit, and jumped upon the sounding-board.
"Here he gravely seated himself, looking round in a knowing manner onthe congregation, who were greatly amused at so strange a spectacle.
"The services proceeded as usual, while the monkey, who evidently muchenjoyed the sight of so many people, occasionally peeped over thesounding-board, to observe the movements of his master, who wasunconscious of his presence.
"When the sermon commenced, many little forms were convulsed w
ithlaughter, which conduct so shocked the good pastor, that he thought ithis duty to administer a reproof, which he did with considerable actionof his hands and arms.
"The monkey, who had now become familiar with the scene, imitated everymotion, until at last a scarcely suppressed smile appeared upon thecountenance of most of the audience. This occurred, too, in one of themost solemn passages in the discourse; and so horrible did the levityappear to the good minister, that he launched forth into violent rebuke,every word being enforced by great energy of action.
"All this time, the little fellow overhead mimicked every movement withardor and exactness.
"The audience, witnessing this apparent competition between the good manand his monkey, could no longer retain the least appearance ofcomposure, and burst into roars of laughter, in the midst of which oneof the congregation kindly relieved the horror of the pastor at theirreverence and impiety of his flock, by pointing out the cause of themerriment.
"Casting his eyes upward, the minister could just discern the animalstanding on the end of the sounding-board, and gesturing with all hismight, when he found it difficult to control himself, though highlyexasperated at the occurrence. He gave directions to have the monkeyremoved, and sat down to compose himself, and allow his congregation torecover their equanimity while the order was being obeyed."