Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1879-04-29

lOI dL1S SeuSIDle WOIudil u tlllilh VI.
For the rest, she might have married
maybe, if she had been more forward ane
pushing; but men don't generally fancy
bashful girls, so she and poor Janet Wal
ters had been left in the lurch, while, al
their young friends got married; andsee
ing how badly Some of them had turned
out, why maybe it was all for the best
that she had remained single. She had
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 igneminious
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 | 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-
tiers, 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
pret6nce Of capturing or driving down
the monkey, they were climbing her
nice white front palings, trampling her
choice fiower-beds, and throwing mis-
siles. which had already smashed more
than one pane in the upper-room 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 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-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 ront-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 to
them quietly. but with an air Of COM
mand, and they silently trooped out of
the gate into the street, where they stood
awaiting further proceedings. Then he
advanced 10 Aunt lllliafy' ana iltea his
h''l-
'I perceive, madam, that you are in
some trouble. Can / assist you in any
way?"
All, sir" said Aunt Hillary, her eyes
trimming over with tears, " if you could
only send away the boys, and-and get
the monkey down."
1.-The boys will not trouble YOU again.
madam. and She looked dorbtfuliy IN
AT the roof think NAV possibly Sc
cure votlr net. / will try.
Ephraim came limpine I'D with the
garden-ladder, and on this Mr.. Mclean
mounted, advancing cautiously to the
edge OF the roof, near winch 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, artfuily displaying a spectacle
case, when he started up, seemingly in
doubt. whether to retreat or to seize the
tempting lure. .
ou can ketch him now, sir, easy "
baWled Ephralm;, from the foot Of the
ladder. Grab hold OF hlm at once, OF
he'll be right Oft like creased lightning.
It's trick O. his'n."
Alas, IN his eagerness. Ephralm forget
that his duty was to hold the ladd II
steady. He let go his hold of it and ste p
ped back to see the results OF his adVi .e.