Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-01-31

Of all the many thousands who went 10
the great Exhibition doubt if any enjoy.
ed their visist to the City of Brotherly
Love more than did II little golden haired
lady Of ten. Lena Rose by name, from the
old Empire State. As she trpped by
mammals sie through the buildings, or
about the lovely grounds, her bright brown
eyes were busy taking notes of everything;
and although she made no fuss about writ
ing down the wonderful things she saw,
yet | will venture to say that none of the
grown up people who went around with
blank books. nicely sharpened pencils, and
wisely wrinkled foreheads, have succeeded
in making themselves more interesting to
the friends at home who could not 90 and
see for themselves.
But tho funniest thing that Lena saw
during her two weeks stay in Philadelphia
was something that happened one day
when she was visiting the Geological gar
den. She and mamma were in the monkey
house watching the queer antics of the
dozen or two impish-looking creatures,
when n lady, who was standing quite near
the great cage, Glanced TO drop her hand
kerchief. As she stopped to pick it up, II
big brown monkey, that was clinging to
the wires, curiously eyng the crowd of
people outside, snatched the long, beauti-
ful ostrich plume from her hat. and in an
instant had scampered to the topmOst
perch with the stolen prize, pursued by
his companions, all chalterng together in
the most excited manner imaginable, Then
followed scene which drew peals of mer-
rment from the group of spectators be-
low. Not the vainest lady in the land,
prinking before her mirror, could put on
more cOmplaccnt airs than were displayed
by that unprincipled, lhieving monkey us
he fouri>hed the feather around his head
holding it first on one side then on the
other, seemingly in great perplcxity us to
the most becoming arrangement.
"Natral us life" said II jolly-lo )king
old farmer, who laughed until the tears
actually ran down his fat checks.
"He ought tn have looking glass, " re-
marked another.
Pass around the hat, we'll take up a
collection to buy him one" suggested II
young fellow with gayly dressed girl
leaning on his arm.
"What horrid creatures monkeys are!
[ can't endure em #" exclaimed his com.
plnion, with Il scornful toss of her pretty
head.
" That air feather did MT cost lcss'n six
or eight dollars If't was mine I'd shoot
the pesky varmint, that would" said II
tall, thin, sharp faced woman i'll IL tone Of
sympathetic Indignation.
/ Meanwhile the owner of the plume, not
seeming to enter into the spirit Of tile en-
tertainment. was making inquiries for the
keeper, hoping by his aid to recover her
lost property But, failing to ascertain the
whereabouts of that individual. she finally
concluded to try and manage the monkey
herself Fortunately, she had in her pocket
II handful of nuts, which proved Il power
full counter-attraction, for 10 sooner were
they produced than all the inmates of the
cage with the exception Of the thief be-
came engaged in IL general scramble
After IL few moments of solitary grandeur,
he, too, succnmbed to temptation. and
slowly descended from his elevated position
closely hugging his il-gotten treasure. BY
IL little judicous strategy he was enticcd
10 the side of the cage. when Il few tempt
ING nuts, thrown ut his feet, caused him to
forget every thing else. and he dropped
the fca her. which was then easily rescued {;
bit, alas, its glory was departed, and it
was fit for nothing but Centennial me-
mento!
Lena remembered once hearing good
old prson Truman say that there are some
wicked people in the world who believe
that our ancestors, great many thousand
years ago, were monkeys; and often since
that Afternoon spent at the Geological gar
den has she puzzled her wise little head
with wondering if such n thing can pos
sibly be true, for certainly that Phiadel-
phin monkey did act wonderfully "nat'ral."
Faith Harper, in the Advance.