The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1881-09-13
TMR MAJoR,s MONKEY.

Fusileers) the depot had been for some
six months stationed at the delightful
town of Ballynoggin, county Longford,
Ireland.
/ suppose my brother officers had by
that time contrived to exhaust all the re-
sources of the neighborhood in the way of
amusement, for on my arrival ! found
l found them reduced to three topics of
conversation First, snipe-shooting
bog with bird in it lying within reach.
Second, the sayings and doings of the
three Miss McCrans; dazzling beauties,
daughters of the local solicitor, who kept
a "car'ge and resided in stucco villa
with Castellamare " painted on the lit
tie green gate, on which the manly forms
of two or more of the Royal Manx were
generally 70 be seen lounging-in conver-
sation with the lovely Ger'ldine or N orah
Third, Major Marillier's monkey, and why
he kept it.
The snipe became bore now and then,
ones interest In Ger'ldine's bewitching
Irishisms or Norah's conquests might
even flag occasionally, but the mention
of Congo's name or Of his --latest infquity
brought excitement into our fattest mo-
ments directly.
Congo W as beautiful little creature,
with long, soft fur, dark face and paws,
and gentle, mourntul eyes, the temper of
wild cat, and the morals of an imp of
darkness. He was supposed to reside in
a house, made of a wine case, in Car
mody, the ma lOr's servants room but
except for the purpose of secreting his
plunder in the straw, never was found
there by any chance.
Every device that the mind of man
could conceive, and Carmody hit upon
fresh one o nee week at least, failed to
secure him. He bit through leather and
rope, united knots, picked locks, dislo-
Gated chain and always ended by flying
like a demon-spider, up and down every
passage and staircase in the place Car
mody swea aring in his wake-till he gain
some coign of vantage whence it was inn
possible to dislodge him.
To appreciate the situation one should
have known the major.
He was : sedate and dignifed person
age about forty, very quiet and rather
precise and old-maidish in his ways.
always suspected that be considered
himself created by nature to be the regu-
lar pattern of the British officer and gen.
tleman, and intended his dress, demeanor
and onversation to be instructive studies
for us you1gsters-each was so perfect IN
its way. ! can. imagine why we didn't
detest hin. think we were rather
proud of him and considered him credit
to the regi ment. He was thoroughly
good, kind hearted fellow du fond, and it
was generally understood that he could
if he chose do everything better than
anybody else. He didn't often choose
and generally held aloof from our sports
and pastimes, not only refusing to enter
his horse fo r our steeplechases, but actually
declining TO lend him to Miss Nora Nc
Gran for the same occasion.
His dres Is was a study of cut and color,
from the parting of his hair to the toes of
his boots but l think his rooms inn
pressed me most-such a combination of
military precision with feminine pretti-
nesses trophies of warlike weapons lace
fiounces to shelves and chimney board
tiger-skinss his crewel-work, antimacas-
sars, military models and plans, and old
china He had some valuable engravings
and photographs about, and over the fire.
place hun large water lblor sketch,
"Brockwood, Leicestershire, "a mag nifi-
cent old b4ronial residence-which, with
out the slightest foundation for the idea,
we all agreed to be the majors birthplace
or inherit hnce, of which he had been
somehow wrongfully deprived.
There W as also big writing-table, sur
rounded by laden bookshelves, at which
he spent most of his spare time, elabo-
I1libS duu FtN1elUy uLc STcol WOfA OH
tactics, of which we were wont to speak
with respectful admiration. Now imag
inc, oyer d his scene of peaceful propriety,
four-arni led fiend rampaging, leaving
destruction in his train, playing all manner
of impish pranks, hiding bottle of Bril-
liantine,' carefully uncorked, in the ma
jor's boot$; swallowing every stud he
possessed under the delusion they were
bon bons or bombarding him with
freshly cor rrected proofsheets crumpled
and chewe into pellets and you'll have
some notion of the neyer-failing zest the
existence Of Congo gave to life in Bally-
noggin.
Why did be keep IT.?
Some Of Congo's performances turned
him livid with rage. bat never drove him
to condemniag the brute to exile or ex-
| ecation.
Every man has rs pet extravagance,n ?
he was wd dnt to say, smiling serenely. 81
suppose Congo % mine"
i never bat once saw Major Marilher
nearer 70 being excited than when M
NOR that Congo was lost srose.
He wasi't, the beast he had ~ many