“One day, when the monkey had become so familiar as to be a favorite with all in the family, he found his way to this apartment, and made a hearty breakfast on the insects.
“The owner, entering when the meal was almost concluded, was greatly enraged, and was about to chastise the animal, who had so quickly destroyed the work of years, when he saw that the act had brought its own punishment. In eating the insects, the animal had swallowed the pins, which very soon caused him such agony that he died.”
“I don’t call the last part funny at all,” said Minnie, gravely.
“But wasn’t it queer for it to think the wig was its mother?” asked the boy, with a merry laugh. “I don’t think it could have had much sense to do that.”
“But it was only a baby monkey then, Harry.”
“How did it happen,” inquired Mrs. Lee, “that Jacko got away from you?”
“He watched his chance, aunty, and twitched the chain away from Minnie. Now he’s done it once, he’ll try the game again, I suppose, he is so fond of playing us tricks.”
And true enough, the very next morning the lady was surprised at a visit from the monkey in her chamber, where he made himself very much at home, pulling open drawers, and turning over the contents, in the hope of finding some confectionery, of which he was extremely fond.
“Really,” she exclaimed to her husband, “if Jacko goes on so, I shall be of cook’s mind, and not wish to live in the house with him.”