All this is very well in its way, but it stands in the way of keeping the monkey as a pet, for it is apt in the end to become a nuisance. No one knows what it is going to do next. It is as full of tricks as a watermelon is of seeds. As we do not enjoy a boy who is too fond of mischief, so we do not enjoy a monkey. He makes too much trouble. And then he is of no use except as a pet. We can not often put him to work, except in such ways as taking up pennies for an organ-grinder.
It is said that some people in the South are talking of using the monkey to pick cotton. This sounds very nice. No doubt the monkey can be taught to pick cotton, as it has been taught to do many other things. But it is not to be trusted. Any fancy, a bird flying over, a mouse stealing through the cotton field, will be likely to draw it from its task, and if any one tries to punish it for not keeping to its work he cannot be sure but that the little rascal will have revenge in some costly way.
HOW MONKEYS TAKE REVENGE
Many stories might be told of monkeys that take revenge on those who treat them badly. One or two of these may be worth telling. There is one story of a gentleman who kept a pet monkey and lived next door to a widow lady who had three boys, all fond of mischief.
These boys were at home from school for the holidays and spent much of their time in teasing the monkey, in such ways as throwing lighted fire-crackers at him and giving him nuts filled with pepper and mustard.
The little sufferer did not forget. When the boys set out on their return to school the monkey watched them from a hiding place till they were well out of the way. Then he crept slyly along the balcony till he came to a window of the widow's house, looked in to see that there was no one about, then went in, found a bottle of ink on the table, and sprinkled the ink widely over the carpet and furniture. He was caught at the trick, handed over to his master, and soundly whipped. But he had his revenge for the nuts and crackers.
Here is a tale of a jealous monkey. His master, who made a great pet of him, belonged to a yacht club and used to take him along when out on a cruise. Every one on board petted him and he felt that he was folks like all the rest and a gentleman of importance.
But the time came when the monkey found his nose out of joint. This time there was a pretty girl on board and the attention that had been given to Master Pug was given to her. She said that she did not like monkeys, so our little friend had to keep in the background, a thing which he did not like at all.