“‘See!’ said the gentleman; ‘your mistress’ gown is dusty.’
“Jack instantly took a small brush from his master’s pocket, raised the hem of the lady’s dress, cleaned it, and then did the same to his master’s shoes, which were also dusty.
“When they gave him any thing to eat, he did not cram his pouches with it, but delicately and tidily devoured it; and when, as frequently occurred, strangers gave him money, he always put it in his master’s hands.”
“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 the pains to spend a great deal of time in teaching him. He seems to learn quite fast enough by himself. Indeed, he is so full of tricks, and so troublesome to cook in hiding her kitchen utensils, I am afraid we shall have to put him in close confinement.”
“I had rather uncle Frank would carry him back to Africa,” sighed the child. “He would be so unhappy.”
“Well, dear, I wouldn’t grieve about it now. We must manage somehow till uncle Frank comes, and then perhaps he can tell us what to do. Now I’ll read you another story.”
“A monkey living with a gentleman in the country became so troublesome that the servants were constantly complaining.”
“That seems similar to our case,” said the lady, smiling, as she interrupted the reading.
“One day, having his offers of assistance rudely repulsed, he went into the next house by a window in the second story, which was unfortunately open. Here he pulled out a small drawer, where the lady kept ribbons, laces, and handkerchiefs, and putting them in a foot-tub, rubbed away vigorously for an hour, with all the soap and water there were to be found in the room.