II.
Aunt Kate’s mild blue eyes almost flashed as she motioned to the organ-grinder to stop playing.
“You no lika music?” he asked brokenly, glancing up at her in some surprise.
“Yes, that is right,” she answered, speaking very slowly and distinctly.
“We do not like the music; and we do not like to see that poor monkey dance; and, above all, we do not like to see you hurting his neck by pulling that chain.”
The look of sullen anger which came over the man’s face quickly disappeared when he saw the coin in Aunt Kate’s hand.
“I will give you this,” she said, holding up the piece of money, “if you will stay here and let Jocko rest for one hour.”
The organ-grinder smiled and sat down on the steps as a sign of agreement.
At first, Jocko could scarcely believe that he might rest his weary little legs and feet. After a while, however, he threw himself at full length upon the porch floor as some worn out child might have done.
Marion was left on guard to see that he was not disturbed when the others went to get food.
When they returned they found Jocko resting on a soft cushion, a comfort his little body had never known before.
Only after being promised more money did the organ-grinder permit Marion to take off Jocko’s hard leather collar, underneath which she had discovered sores.
She bandaged the tiny neck with soft linen spread with salve. She took off his cap, too, with its tight-cutting band.
When water was brought, Jocko drank with pitiful eagerness. Many hours had passed since he had had a drink, and his throat and lips were parched. He ate the food they offered him like a wild creature, for he was very hungry.
Every once in a while he would glance at the organ-grinder as though he feared punishment.
When the hour was up, the organ-grinder would stay no longer. As his master led him away, Jocko lifted his hat, just as if he wanted to thank Aunt Kate and the girls for their kindness.
“I never knew before,” said Marion, “how cruel it is to expect little monkeys to live such unnatural lives. I do hope the man will be more kind to Jocko after this.”
—Mary Craige Yarrow—Adapted.