Connecticut western news., 1911-11-23
THE MONKEY SKIPPED
Prank that Mussed Fred Williams Hair
 and fingered the Organ Grinder.

anu NnBeTeo me organ STlnueTs e
 The story of Judge Roraback's dog and the organ grinders monkey, that aP- peared ir this column last week, has brought to the sutface another monkey show with practically the same stage setting, though with a different cast of characters, and without the dog.
 As the story goes, an organ grinder, with monkey, stopped in front of the Roraback law offices one summer day, some twenty years ago or such a matter, and tuned up his music box. The office door was open, and the organ man could see, through the portals, a prosperous looking group of distinguished gentle men who looked good to him, and he forthwith unwound the monkeys cable tow and set him on the ground. The monk knew his business, and skipped nimbly over the pavement and into the office. Among the occupants were l. Henry Roraback, who belonged there '; Sam A. Eddy, at that time an active and potent force in republican politics, and Attorney Fred Williams, of New Mil ford, gentleman whose interest in the town of North Canaan, though some what intermittent, has not grown en- tirely lukewarm.
 Well, the monkey came into the office and naturally made his first bow to l. Henry-it has been said that they've all got to see J. Henry first. As there was no expressing business before the house, monkey-shines were in order, and Henry was not averse to little monkey busi- ness. He took silver quarter from his pocket, showed it to Jocko, and put his hand on WilIiams's shoulder, indicating that the monkey would have to climb for it. Jocko Understood, and promptly rem- braced the New Milford leg and went up, hand over hand, till he reached the New Milford shoulder
 At that period Williams's classic dome was matched with luxurIance of curly hair-it'S different now and as the monkey was about to grab the coin, Henry deftly tucked it deep into one of the thickest ringlets and bade the monkey go for it. He went for it. How he did go for itl No sooner had he be- gun. to claw into the ringlets than Williams, who had been standing in passive enjoyment of the fun, began to dance and tried to reach up and pull the monkey down. But Jocko saw him first, and nimbly dodged to the other shoulder and continued the search The victim quoted legal verbiage that the monkey didn't seem to understand. In the mean time somebody-it was never definitely divulged whether.it was J. Henry or Sam Eddy--cut the string that bound the monkey to the organ, and by this time the monkey having found the quarter, found, too, that he was loose, and giving jump that nearly scratched Williams's ear off, ran out of the side door and across the lawn toward the Judges house, with the organ grinder in hot and pro- fane pursuit on the sidewalk outside the fence.
 The Judge didn't happen to be at home at the time, and the first inkling the family had of anything unusual, was when they heard the most picturesque Italian objurgations proceeding from the cellar, punctuated with the rattle of loose coal in the bin. A thorough search of the cellar failed to disclose any trace of Jocko, but few minutes later he was discovered perched upon the ridge-board of "Bill" Shields's barn, wiping the per spiration from his hairy lac+ with his little red hat, and grinning and chatter ing to himself like all possessed. The organ grinder beckoned, cursed, pleaded and threatened, but Jocko wouldn't budge. Williams suggested that some body get a cannon and shoot him, but the problem was finally solved by pro- curing a ladder and the recreant simian was at last restored to the arms of the professor, who first tied him securely to the organ, then trudged< off, muttering to himself, while Sam and J. Henry pro- ceeded to smooth down the ruffled fur of the gentleman from New Milford.