Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-05-29

maybe, III she had been mort iuTNHlu hhH
pushing; but men don't generally l!ncy
bashfil girls, so she and poor janet w ~,
their Young friends got married; and sec
inr how badly some of them had turned
out why maybe IL was all for the best
that she had remained single. She had
! her own house. and money enough TO live
comfortably; and. If she did feel lonesome
at times-mostly in the winter evenings
why, there Were the neighbors. and Tab
by and Pun. and, in short, she complain
ed of nothing, except the boys and
Jackey.
Ephraim-who lived across the road,
and came over every day To do the out
door work--had undertaken the manage
ment of Jackey, but the experiment
proved failure.
The monkey had taken special dis
like tn him; and when. at length. the old
man declared that iudicious chastisemcnt
was as necessary TO monkeys as To boys.
and attempted to carry that theory into
practice. Jackey fairly turned the tables
upon him. forced him 10 an ignominious
retreat, and remained victor of the field
that is, of the grlss-plot, to whose central
pole he was still attached.
I'm go right over, said Aunt Hillary,
desperately" right over to Squire San
ders. and ask him what / had best do
with that monkey. If | only knew how
to manage him. | wouldn't part with
him for gold. ON account of Janet; but
he's worrying the life out Of Us all, and
something must be done"
When. on her return from Squire
Sanders. she came in sight of her own
house. she knew that the climax Of her
woes was reached. All the boys just
dismissed from school were collected in
crowd in front of the cottage, whoop-
ing and yelling. while on the roof in full
view sat Jackcy. attircd in Aunt Hill
lary's very best Sunday bonnct--an
ancient Leghorn. of rather obsolete pat
tern, which she had that morning care
fully trimmed for its third summers
term of service,
Jackey, it appeared. had watched her
proceedings rs she stood trying on her
bonnet at the open window. and on her
departure had gnawcd asunder his fct-
tiers, appropriated the bonnet. and
mounted with It to the roof. where he
could examine his prize n ,iiIrr.
Poor Aunt Hillary II was not so
much the injury to her bonnet which
now troubled her. rs the greater mis-
chief which the boys were doing. On
pretcncc OF capturing or driving down
the monkey. they were climbing her
nice white front palings. trampling her
choice ilowcr-beds, and throwing mis-
silcs, which had already smashed more
than one pane in the uppcr-room win
dows
In vain she implored them to desist
In vain she represented tothCm that she
did not care for the bonnet. and that If
Jackey were only left alone he would
come down of himself They were too
much delighted with the fun TO listen TO
her. rs she stood with flushed face and
tears in her eyes, on her ruse-Covcrcd
porch, while her toTmontors howled and
scrccchcd, and threw wet clay and mud
balls against the hitherto immaculate
white walls of her cottage.
Suddenly q hush fell upon the crowd.
The little frunt-gatc opened and the
boys fell back, A. along the walk came
the tall form of Mr.. Mclean. the school
master. The pale. thin man spoke TO
them quietly. but with an air of com
mand, and they silently troopcd out of
the gate into the street, where they stood
awaiting further proceedings. Then he
advanced To Aunt Hillary, and lifted his
hat.
- perceive. madam. that you are in
some trouble. Can | assist you in any
way?n
"Ah. sir" said Aunt Hillary. her eyes
brimming over with tears. If YOU could
only send away the boys, and-and get
the monkey dowui'
The boys will not trouble YOU again.
madam, and '-he lookod.loubtfully up
at the roof think may possibly Sc
cure your pet | will try"
Ephraim came limping mp with the
rfnTst4Yr. Ladder nRI tiuta NJ MI
mounted, advancing cautiously to the
edge of the roof, near which .Tackcy was
now seated, deeply absorbed in picking
to pieces the yellow rose which had
adorned his mistress bonnet.
He took no notice Of the sChoolmastcr
until the latter quietly stretched forth
his hand. artfully displaying n spectacle
case. when he started up. seemingly in
doubt whether to retreat or to seize the
tempting lure.
You can ketch him now, sir. casy,"
bawled Ephraim. from the foot of the
ladder Grab hold Of him at once, or
he'll be right off like creased lightning.
It's trick % his'n."
Alas. i'm his eagcrncss. EphTaim forgot
that his duty was tn hold the ladder
steady. lie let go his hold of ii and step
ped back 10 see the results Of his advice
The schoolmaster. with quick mo-
tion, seized the monkey by his long arm.
as 1t was outstretched to- snatch at the
spectacle-case. The impetus threw him
of his balance-thc ladder slipped slowly
along the edge Of the ruof-aud before
Aunt Hillary's shorTur-stricken shrek had
fairly ceased. Mr.. Mclean lay. very still
and white, on the bed Of violets beneath
the parlor window.
He was not dead--though we all
thought so at first. Aunt Hillary ran
for water and blackberry wine. and knelt
down and bathed his face and rubbed his
hands. while her own face was as color
less as that Of the injured man
Meanwhile the boys had rushed Of
some for the doctor and the rvst 90
spread the news that the schoolmaster
had broken his neck. hack and skull. in
consequence of which the yard and street
were soon filed with AN eager crowd.
The doctor and Squire Sanders con-
veyed the unconscious man into Aunt
Hillary's parlor. and laid him upon her
1v.gxal II. sns owfn ...tsl.