The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1879-05-15

pushing, Dul men QOn L SenerallJ lanC.
bashful girls, SO she and poor Janet Wal
ters had been left in the lurch, while al
their young friends got married; and see
ing how badly some Of them had turneG
out, why maybe it was all for the bes
that she had remained single. She haf
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 neig ghbors, 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 rs 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.
III 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
n 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 us 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
pretence of capturing or driving down
the monkey, they were climbing her
nice white front palings, trampling her
choice flower beds, and throwing mis-
siles, which had already smashed more
than one pane in the upper-room vim
dows.
In vain she implorcd them to desist.
In vain she represented to thon, that shn
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, as she stood, with flushed face and
tears in her eyes, on her rose-coyered
porch, while her tormentors howlcd 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
bows fell back, as along the walk came
the tall form of Mi. Mclean, the school
master. The pale. thin man spoke to
them quietly, but with an air of COM
mand, and they silently trooped out OF
the gate into the street, where they stood
further proceedings. Then he
advanced to Aunt Hillary, and lifted his
hat.
II perceive, madam, that you are in
some trouble. Can ] assist you in any
way?"
"Ah, SIR" said Aunt Hillary, her eyes
brimming over with tears, if you could
only send away the boys, and-and get
the monkey down."
THE boys will not trouble you again,
madam, and he looked doubtfully up
at the roof think may possibly Sc
cure your pet. l will try"
Ephraim came limping up with the
garden ladder, and on this Mr.. Mclean
mounted, advancing cautiously to the
edge of the roof, near which Jackey was
now seated, deeply absorbed in picking
to pieces the yellow rose which had
adorned his mistress bonnet.
He took no notice of the schoolmaster
until the latter quietly stretched forth
his hand, artfully displaying spectacle
case, when he started up, seemingly in
doubt whether to retreat OF to seize the
tempting lure. go.
You can ketch him now, sir, easy!"
bawled Ephraim, from the foot of the
ladder. "Grab hold of him mt once, or
he'll be right off like CREASED lightning.
It's trick O. his'n."
Alas, in his eagerness, Ephraim forgot
that his duty was to hold the ladder
steady. He let 60 his hold of it and step
ped back to see the results of his advice.
The schoolmaster, with quick mo-
ton, seized the monkey by his long arm,
as it was outstretched to snatch mt the
spectacle-case. The impetus threw him
offhis balance-the ladder slipped slowly
along the edge of the roof--and before
Aunt Hillary's horror-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 rs color
less rs that of the injured man.
Meanwhile the boys had rushed off
some for the doctor and the rest to
spread the news that the schoolmaste1
had broken his neck, back and skull, in
consequence of which the yard and street
were soon filled with an eager crowd.
The doctor and Squire Sanders con.
veved the unconscious man into Aunt
Hillary's parlor. and laid him upon hel
broad chintz sofa, where, with proper
restorativcs, he was soon revived. AnC
then, after an examination, it was offici
ally announced by Ephraim to the anxi
ouc n1,hlic without that there wat
nothing more serious the matter than ;
broken leg.
"Hooraym cried Bill Davis, tossing W
his cap-"hooray, boys! there won't b.
any school tomorrow
Upon which Aunt Hillary hastened t
the front gate, with more indignation il
her eyes than l had ever before seer