Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-08-02
LITTLE wINKIE.

LITTLE WINKIE.
When Wrinkle died there was sin.
cere mourning in the family VI
which he was valued member.
Winkie was marmoset, a creature
bearing about the same relation to a
monkey that mouse does to a rat.
He was born in the forests of Cen.
trail Brazil, and when few weeks
old he fell out of his tree home and
was picked up by some men who
wander through the woods and wild
places looking for tiny monkeys that
fall to the ground. He was then
packed in a basket with dozen other
monkeys, and after long journey
to the coast he was bought by man
who was coming up from Brazil early
last summer and wanted to take a
present to his wife. He became a
great pet, with all sorts of cunning
tricks and ways, and the end of his
brief life was a real tragedy in the
annals of the family.
Winkie looked like little gray
squirrel with an old mans face. His
eyes were hazel and very express
sive, and he was prettily marked with
black. His body was five inches long,
and his tail was exactly thirteen
inches from where it began to where
1t ended. And what beautiful tail
1t was. Fine and plumy, yet as
bushy as squirrels. And how much
attention Winkie bestowed on It! A
dozen times a day he would comb it
with his little fingers, carefully pick.
ing off the tiniest speck of dirt or
dust, and when he accidently whisked
it into his drinking cup, or in cup
OF hot tea, he would chatter and scold
and brush and comb until the prec-
ious appendage was in perfect order
again.
Marmosets are much better be-
haved and nicer than monkeys Win.
kie was a little gentleman, and his
table manners were worthy of iml.
tation by grown-ups, as well as by
children. When his cup and plate
We're filled and put before him, he
would fill both hands, eating first
from one. then from the other, and no
matter how hungry he was or whit
delicacy was offered, he would touch
nothing more until he had emptied
his hands, He ate almost everything
the family did, but dearly loved
chicken bone and sweets.
The only bad habit Winkie had was
that Of nnn11,, vii, h;
ter or mistress with his sharp little
teeth. 1t took a good many little raps
on his head to make him understand
that he was doing wrong. Some
times he would cry, and the tears
would run down his cheeks, just like
child's would. Then he would rub
his head and pout, and run off and
hide.
He loved to get on something high
when his mistress was dressing her
hair, and make spring to the top
OF her head He also delighted in
climbing stealthily up the back of
her chair and slyly picking out her
hairpins. SO that the first thing she
knew her hair would come tumbling
down.
Sometimes he was allowed on the
writing table. and it puzzled him
greatly to see the black marks appear
on the paper. After watching the
movements of the pen for some time
he took hold OF it, turned 1t over.
looked into the inkstand, and then
at the paper. and finally he began to
chatter as if trying to explain that
at last he understood all about it,
He was also greatly puzzled by the
fact that the different members of
the family had differently colored
hair. He admired his masters fair
hair, and would take curl in his
hand, separate it hair by hair, and
pat his cheek, as if in approval
He readily obeyed his master, but
was inclined to resent the authority
OF his mistress once in while. He
would hurry to her from any part OF
the room. however, if she put her
niger to her lips, or moved them as
if eating.
Often his master would put him in
his pocket and take him out for a
walk. He did not like crowds and
the noises of the street frightened
him, but when curiosity got the bet
ter OF fear he would come to the edge
OF the pocket and peer out with his
bright little eyes. Occasionally he
would climb to his masters shoulder
to gaze at the, things in a store win
dow, but advances from a stranger
made him scurry back to cover. Yet
he liked company, and loved to be
petted.
Winkie was taught to perform
many amusing tricks and others he
picked up for himself. He could
jump rope. turn somersaults and
play tag and hide and seek" He
whistled beautifully a low, sweet,
clear whistle, like a birds, and It
was in this way that he let the fam.
lily know when he wanted to get out
of his basket
Marmosets are delicate animals,
SO when the cold weather came Win
kie found it very trying. No amount
OF Bleeding would keep him warm,
and soon he took such a cold that
one morning he was found dead in
his basket. His poor little body
was put into box and buried in the
garden, and somehow no one has felt
inclined to get another pet to take
his place.--New York Tribune.
HOMES FOR HORSES.
a. home of rest for horses--that is
what some good people of Philadel-