The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-05-01


For the rest, she might have married,
maybe, if she had been more forward and
pushing; but men don't generally fancy
bashftlf girls, SO she dpoor Janet w al
ters had been left in the lurch, while all
their young friends got married and see
ing how badly some of them had turned
out, why maybe it 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 Puff, and, in short, she complain
cd 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 a special dis
/ like to him; and when, at length, the old
! man declared that .judicious chastisement
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 to an ignominious
! retreat, and remained victor of the field
| that is, of the grass-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 l had best do
with that monkey. If I 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
a crowd in front of the cottage, whoop-
ing and yelling, while on the roof in full
view sat Jackey, attired in Aunt Hill
lary's very best Sunday bonnet-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 as she stood trying on her
bonnet at the open window, and on her
departure had gnawed asunder his fet-
ters, appropriated the bonnet, and
mounted with it to the roof, where he
could examine his prize at leisure.
Poor Aunt Hillary! 1t was not SO
much the injury to her bonnet which
now troubled her, as the greater mis-
chief which the boys were doing. On
pretcnce of capturing or driving down
the monkey, they were climbing her
nice white front palings, trampling her
choice hower-beds, and throwing mis-
siles, which had already smashed more
than one pane in the upperroom win
dows.
In vain she implored them to desist.
In vain she represented to them that she
did not care for the bonnet, and that il
Jaclley were only left alone he would
come down of himself. They were toe
much delighted with the fun to listen tc
her, as she stood. with flushed face and
tears in her eyes, on her rose-covered
porch while her tormentors howled and
screeched, and threw wet clay and mud.
balls against the hitherto immaculate
white walls of her cottage.
Suddenly hush fell upon the crowd
The little front-gate opened, and the
boys fell back, as along the walk came
the tall form of Mr.. Mclean, the school
master. The pale. thin man spoke tC
them quietly, but with an air of com
mand, and they silently trooped out o
the gate into the street, where they stooc
awaiting further proceedings. Then h'
advanced to Aunt Hillary. and lifted hi!
hat.
- perceive, madam, that you are il
some trouble. Can / assist you in an.
way?n
.'Ah, SIR" said Aunt Hillary, her eye
brimming over with tears, if you coulC
only send away the boys, and-and ge
the monkey down."
1.-The boys will not trouble you again
madam, and "-he looked doubtfully W
at the roof think l may possibly Sc
cure your pet. | will try"
Ephraim came limping up with til,
garden ladder, and on this Mr. McI4eaI
mounted. advancing cautiously to tn
edge of the roof, near which Jackey wa
now seated, deeply absorbed in pickin!
to pieces the yellow rose which hat
adorned his mistress bonnet.
lie took no notice of the schoolmaste
until the latter quietly stretched fortl
his hand, artfllly displaying spectacle
case, when he started up, seemingly il
doubt whether to retreat or to seize tn
! tempting lure.
You can ketch him now, sir, easy
bawled Ephraim, from the foot of tn
ladder. "Grab hold Of him at once, O
he'll be right off like creased lightning
It's trick O. his'n,"
Alas, in his eagerness, Ephraim forgo
that his duty was to hold the ladde
Sltiuy. he let ~ MS uolu VI ~ anu Slep
ped back to see the results of his advice
The schoolmaster, with a quick mo
ton, seized the monkey by his long arm
as it was outstretched to snatch at tn
spectacle-case. The impetus threw hir
off his balance-the ladder slipped slowl
along the edge of the roof-and befor
Aunt Hillary's horror stricken shrek ha
fairly ceased, Mr.. Mclean lay, very sti
, and white, on the bed of violets beneat
!, the parlor window.
, He was not dead-though we a
2 thought so at first. Aunt Hillary ia
for water and blackberry wine, and kne
q down and bathed his face and rubbed ID
y hands, while her own face was as colo
less as that of the injured man.
: Meanwhile the boys had rushed off
a some for the doctor and the rest [
a spread the news that the schoolmast,
/ had broken his neck, back and skull,
consequence of which the yard and sire
q were soon filled with an eager crowd.
s The doctor and Squire Sanders COZ
d veyed the unconscious man into Aul
> Eliilary's parlor, and laid him upon h
e broad chintz sofa, where, with prop
r. restoratives, he was soon revived. Ar
n then, after an examination, it was offic
a ally announced by Ephraim to the anx
Gus public without that there w
# nothing more serious the matter than
7 broken leg.
II Hooray!" cried Bill Davis, tossing
his cap-"hooray, boys! there won't
l. any school tomorrow
e Upon which Aunt Hillary hastened
d the front gate, with more Indignation