The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-01-03
Story OF n Pet Monkey.


may interest lovers of "our poor re-
lations" and of animals in general.
My hero, very large and extremely
powerful specimen of his class, be-
longed to a late officer in the British
army, and he having been member of
my own immediate family, the veracity
OF the following anecdote can be
vouched for. Peter was universal
favorite with-one individual only eX-
cepted-all the inmates of and frequent
ers of the barracks, where his unusual
sagacity and many varied accomplish
ments were source of endless amuse-
ment; although it must be confessed
that some of his tricks had rather
mischievous tendency. His gentleness
of disposition and genuine love of fun,
nevertheless, procured ready forgive
ness.
Peter unfortunately possessed an en-
envy in the person of diminutive and
generally unpopular subaltern, to
whom he appears in some mysterious
way to have rendered himself particu-
larly obnoxious. Or perhaps this re-
grettable state of affairs may have
arisen from one of those curious cases
of instructive and mutual aversion at
first sight which, like other and more
agreeable impressions of totally OPP
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 brother officer and most
intimate friend, who, on undertaking
the responsibility, conscientiously kept
him chained to 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 undisturhed
liberty of action, the unwonted confine-
ment and restriction, appear to have
greatly depressed him. Thus left in a
great measure to his own narrow re-
sources, the interesting captive still
rose equal to the occasion, though his
field of action was certainly limited. To
while the tedious hours away, upon a
certain day during which he was left
alone longer thin 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 a
better cause, forced open the locks of
all the drawers-a feat requiring 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 q
very large inkstand, placed, it must be
allowed in extenuation, within easy
reach. Immediately availing himself
of the contents, and as a 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
ctUant on the entrance of the unsus-
pecting host may be possibly better
imagined than described. Either Peter
was most consummate actor, or else
he really honestly considered the effect
of his striking performance to be highly
artistic and ornamental; for he APP
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 summary dismissed
from his comfortable quarters, and left
to wander about the barracks, Sin
monkey meditation, fancy Free"
Delighted to regain his liberty on any
terms. all for a time went well. Dur
ing his rambles, like Richard LII. 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 Shout
ders of the irate and alarmed SUBJ
altern, in the presence of large num-
Der 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 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 sub
altern, who had, it was we'll 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