Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-05-29
AUNT HlLLARY'S LEGACY.

"Oh, dear, dear!" said Aunt Hillary
in tone of despair; "oh, dear, dear
whatever shall do with him?n
She was looking Mt something which
the exprcssman had just deposited on the
floor of the back porch-a stout wooden
cage. within which appeared a bright
eyed. pink monkey.
"Why, he'll murder us, | shouldn't
wonder continued Aunt Hillary. draw
ing back rs the monkey stretched forth
his little black paw, "or set the house on
fire. or something else dreadful. What
dm to do with him?n she concluded, in
n tone of distress.
Give him away, aunt, or sell him."
suggested, poking my school-umbrella
between the bars of the cage.
mo, no; | couldn't think of that
He was such fIvorite with poor Janet
And she left bim to me because she was
sure. she said, that | would treat him
kindly; but how to manage him | am
sure | don't know. What do monkeys
eat. RoseP"
"Oh, coCoanuts. and bananas, and
oranges, and cake, and sugar. and such
things | replied, confidently.
. Pretty dear boarding. said old
EPhraim, limping up from the garden.
hoe in hand. "S'pose now, Miss Hill
larry, you try him with piece o bread.
It's plain. hut healthy
The monkey eagerly grabbed the light
roll which Aunt Hillary presented on
the end of fork, and dcvourcd 1t with
gusto. He also accepted some milk
which Ephraim courageously put be-
tween the bars; and then he crouchcd
down in II corner and looked so quiet
and wistful that Aunt Hillary quite
pitied him.
He does look innocent and lonesome.
poor little thing" she said. II dare say
he misses his old home and his kind mis-.
tress; but he shall have at least plenty to
eat and drink here. Only" she added.
Janet Waters had chosen anything but n
monkey for pet"
When. two or three days after this. |
stopped on my way from school to see
Aunt Hillary. found her in great dis
trcss. Jackey (that was the monkeys
name) had turned out n perfect little
demon, and was giving no end Of trouble.
He wouldn't stay in his narrow cage
in fact, he wasn't used To n cage. except
in travelling; and when she. with Ephra-
inns assistance, let him out and tied him
to the bedpost, he had ripped open the
pillows and investigated their contents.
which he afterward strcwed literally
about the floor. He had then been CON
fined in the back porch, where he
wrapped himself in n roller-towel and
pulled Tabby's tail, and upset can Of
kerosene oil on Puff, Aunt Hillary's little
white poodle. Thereupon Ephraim had
tied him in the garden, while he pruncd
the currant bushes, and after n while re-
turned to find all the young radishes
pulled up and Jackcy industriously
searching out the garden peas which had
been sown on the previous day.
Finally a tall pole was erected in the
midst of the grass-plot, and to this
Jackey was secured with rope long
enough to admit of his running up and
down and around in limited circle;
but. alasl even this expedient failed, for
in two hours he had pulled up half the
grass and scratched innumtrable dust
holes.
What was to be done with the monkey?
Il don't know which il the worst
said Aunt Hillary. with tears dimming
her usual bright brown eye" the boys
or Jackey.n
There was an old schoolhouse on the
big lot adjoining Aunt Hillary's pretty
cottage at the end of the village street.
The teacher was n tall, thin, grave-look-
ing man of middle age-"very neat and
thrcadbare, and with the manners of
perfect gentleman" "a Aunt Hillary adj
miringIy observed.
But the boysl the whooping. yelling
crew, who made twelve o'clock hideous
with unearthly noises. and who climbed
Aunt Hillary's garden -palings. and snow
balled Puff and. Tabby In winter and stole
her choice plums and cherries in summer,
and at all seasons enriched her garden
with old shoes, tin cans and discarded
hoopskirtsi
All, what pathos there was in that
simple remark Of Aunt IIillary's: 81 don't
know which Is the worst-the boys or
JackeyI'
She was the most patient and good
humored person in the world. and the
last whom any but schoolbOy would
have taken pleasure In worrying. A
neat, trim little woman about thirty-five,
with bright, kindly eyes. fresh complex
ion, and n face still 80 comely and expires
sive of gentle and womanly feeling that I
offen wondered why she should be an old
maid.
Once. when expressed to her this won
der, she colored like girl, smiled, and
answered frankly that no one had ever
asked her TO marry except Sam Lane, and