The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1880-01-01

posite character, are difficult to account
for, in man as well as in the lower ami
mails.
During a temporary absence of his
master on leave, Peter was intrusted to
the care of a brother officer and most
intimate friend, who, on undertaking
the responsibility, conscientiously kept
him chained to a chest of drawers in
his own barrack-room, being anxious
that no harm should happen to the
monkey while under his charge.
This kindly and well-meant ar
rangement did not, however, at
all coincide with Peters elastic
views on the subject. The loss of gen.
eral society, and hitherto undisturbed
liberty of action, the upwonted confine-
ment and restriction, appear to have
greatly depressed him. Thus left in a
great measure to his own narrow re-
sources, tho interesting captive still
rose equal to the occasion, though his
field of action was certainly limited. To
while the tedious hours away, upon q
certain day during which he was left
alone longer than usual-there being
an inspection by the General command
ing the district-he seems, in despair,
to have hit upon the following occupa-
ton. Having, with an amount of pa
tience and perseverance worthy of q
better cause, forced open the locks of
all the drawers feat requiring a very
considerable degree of strength-he
strewed the miscellaneous contents
upon the floor, asd seated himself in the
center, monarch of all he surveyed; and
doubtless contemplated with tranquil
satisfaction the chaos he had produced.
Having presumably tired of this, COM
paratively speaking, harmless recrea-
ton, he had evidently begun to look
about for further relaxation of mind,
combined with healthful exercise of
body. Unfortunately, he soon espied a
very large inkstand, placed, it must be
allowed in extenuation, within easy
reach. Immediately availing himself
of the contents, and as little pleasing
variety of excitement, he deliberately
and with an unsparing hand dedaubed
every article of his hospitable enter
tainer's property with ink. The tableau
rtU0nt on the entrance of the unsus-
pecting host may be possibly better
imagined than described. Either Peter
was a most consummate actor, or else
he really honestly considered the effect
of his striking performance to be highly
artistic and ornamental; for he ap-
peared to be totally unconscious that he
had been guilty of the slightest wrong
doing in this somewhat sensational
scene. He was mercifully spared from
punishment, but summarily dismissed
from his comfortable quarters. and left
to wander about the barracks, "in
monkey meditation, fancy free"
Delighted to regain his liberty on any
ing his rambles, like Richard III. en-
countering Richmond on Bosworth
Field, Peter unluckily met, not the OBJ
ject of his affections, but of his intense
dislike; and springing on to the shoul-
ders of the irate and alarmed SUBJ
altern, in the presence of a large num-
ber of officers and men-whose sympa-
thies were of course all with Peter-he
very nearly succeeded. to the great
amusement of the audience, in drawing
the sword of his enraged victim, who,
if report did not cruelty belle him, was
not at all likely to draw it readily him
self! The ludicrous position in which
the latter was thus placed, and the loud
laughter of those assembled, of course
vastly increased the subaltern's former
hatred of the popular and now victori-
Gus monkey. They parted with omni-
GUS signs, at any rate on one side, of
anticipated revenge, to be carried out
sooner or later to the bitter end.
Shortly after this assault in arms,
poor Peter was found in q woful condi-
ton; it being discovered, amidst gen.
eral indignation, that he had been fired
at, and seriously injured by gun-shot
wounds. Notwithstanding the impos-
sibility of proving who was guilty of
this unmanly and cowardly action, it
was openly attributed to the only per-
son who was capable of committing it
the now most cordially detested SUBJ
altern, who had, it was well known,
never forgiven the indignity publicly
inflicted on him; the annoyance of
which was immensely aggravated by
the story having become the standing
joke of the entire garrison. Peters
numerous sympathizing friends did
their utmost to save his life, which was
in imminent danger. He had the best
medical advice; the slugs were all ex-
tracted; and with surgical skill and af-
fectionate care, he was happily soon
restored to health. His master return
ed at the time of Peter convalescence,
and the rapturous Joy of the poor mon
key at seeing him once more will never
be forgotten by those who witnessed it.
He clung to him, and fondly embraced
him over and over again; repeatedly
kissing, or rather licking his face and
hands, with every possible demonstra-
ton Of the most devoted attachment.
When the first paroxysm of delight
had subsidized, Peter, sitting on the ta-
BILE, the better to gaze upon his newly
recovered friend and able champion,
looked earnestly at him, and clasping
his arm, to bespeak special attention,
pointed with his own forefinger to each
of the wounds whence the slugs had been
taken; trying at the same time, in the
nearest approach TO speech, that he
could accomplish, to tell the piteous
story of his narrow escape from a vio-
| lent death, at the hands of his ruthless
assailant; who never, by the way, had
the courage to further molest the sub
ject of this brief memoir. 1t is ques-
tionable if the most intellectual of hu-
man beings, not gifted with the power
of speech, could have acted more pa
thetically, or indicated more vividly
what had occurred to them during the
absence of their natural protector and
dearest tfriend.-Chambers' Journal.
Ha- ha Wnvno- VofoH