The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-05-01
AUNT HILLARY'S LEGACY.

"Oh. dear, dear" said Aunt Hillary
in u tone of despair; "oh, dear, dear,
whatever shall | do with him?"
She was looking at something which
the expressman had just deposited on the
floor of the back porch-a stout wooden
cage, within which appeared a bright
eyed, pink-iaced monkey.
Why, he'll murder us, ! shouldn't
wonder" continued Aunt Hillary, draw
ing back us the monkey stretched forth
his little black paw, or set the house on
lire, or something else dreadful. What
ttm to DO with him?" she concluded, in
a 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 f;,vorite with poor Janet.
And she left him to me because she was
sure, she said. that l would treat him
kindly; but how to manage him | am
sure | don't know. What do monkeys
eat, Rose?"
"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
iiuS, Ou NY llIl Win Il piSSS DiStu'
It's plain, but healthy"
The monkey eagerly grabbed the light
roll which Aunt Hillary presented on
the end Of II fork, and devoured it with
gusto. He also accepted some milk
which Ephraim courageously put be-
tween the bars; and then he crouched
down in a cdrner and looked SO quiet
and wistful that Aunt Hillary quite
pitied him.
ale does look innocent and lonesome,
poor little thing she said. Il 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,
hesitatingly, - do rather wish that
Janet Waters had chosen anything but a
monkey for pet"
When, two or three days after this,
stopped on my way from school to sec
Aunt Hillary, | found her in great dis.
tress. Jackey Chat was the monkeys
name) had turned out 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 cage, except
in travelling; and when she, with Ephra.
inns assistance, let him out and tied hin.
to the bedpost, he had ripped open the
pillows and investigated their contents
which he afterward strewed literally
about the floor. He had then been con
fined in the back porch, where h'
wrapped himself in a roller-towel anC
pulled Tabby's tail, and upset a can o
kerosene oil on Puff, Aunt Hillary's LITTLE
white poodle. Thereupon Ephraim hac
tied him in the garden, while he prunet
the currant bushes, and after while re
turned to find all the young radishe:
pulled up and Jackey industriouslN
Searching out the garden peas which ha(
been sown on the previous day.
Finally tall pole was erected in tht
midst Of the grass-plot, and to thi
Jackey was secured with rope Ion,
enough to admit of his running up anC
down and around in limited circle
but, alas! even this expedient failed, TO
in two hours he had pulled up half tn
grass and scratched innumerable dust
holes.
What was to be done with the monkey
Il don't know which is the worst,
said Aunt Hillary, with tears dimmin
her usual bright brown eye" the boy
or Jackey."
There was AN old schoolhouse on tn
big lot adjoining Aunt Hillarys prett
cottage at the end of the village street
The teacher was tall, thin, grave-looI
ing man of middle age-"very neat an
threadbare, and with the manners of
perfect gentleman, as Aunt Hillary &C
miringly observed.
But the boys! the whooping, yellin
crew, who made twelve O'Clock hideor
with unearthly noises, and who climbe
Aunt Hillary's garden-palings, and snow
balled Puff and. dT.Tabby in winter and sto
her choice plums and cherries in summe
and at all seasons enriched her garde
with old shoes, tin cans and discarde
hoopskirts!
All, what pathos there was in thl
simpleremark of Aunt Hillary's: ~ don
know which is the worst-the boys {
Jackeyw
She was the most patient and gooc
humored person in the world, and IL
last whom any but schoolboy woul
have taken pleasure in worrying.
neat, trim little woman about thirty-fiy
with bright, kindly eyes, fresh compile.
ion, and a face still so comely andexpre
sive of gentle and womanly feeling that
often wondered why she should be an O
maid.
Once. when expressed to herthis wo,
der, she colored like girl, smiled, al
answered frankly that no one had ev