Year: 1869




-Igopng pefuoR Bonde9 lislt ID fkdre,
ana With one Of those iait, transparent
compilations that make yonafhink of a
! light shining through an alabaster vase,
/ Clara Coriander was certainly as lovely a
girl as one ever lay eyes upon. Besides,
she was an only daughter, and old Corian.
der had grown rich in the menagcrie bust.
ness Jack WAS a lucky dog (eofilla, 1
should say) 20 gain her hand--if he ever
l did, but one could not help thinking, as
he ACTED her dainty manner and delicate,
somewhat distingue face, that she was
hardly the girl 70 fancy q fellow who had
personated a gorilla, even for her hand.
NJ was Afraid that Jack had made miss
take in thus debasing himself or the ab-
| sutd passion OF her cruel parent for the
possession of q gorilla. Moreover, by de-
barring himself her society for the
greater portion Of the time (Suudays only
excepted), he left the field open for some
more fortunate rival whs might, in the
meantime, carry off the prize.


But Jack ieit sure that ne was all right,
and by a precious bit Of deception he had
led Clara TO believe that he was hard at
work, night and day, at some legitimate
calling, earning money for his future am.
bilious designs in lie. The poor little
thing believed in him, but Jack saia Ia
was vary hard for him to be obliged to
see his beloved flirting, right before his
eyes at the menagerie (for the girl had
taste for natural history, and was there of
ten), with some perfumed dangler who
was in love with her pretty face sand Old
Coriander's money. On these occasions
he hated himself, for his mean disguise,
and found satisfaction in bowling at the
gay party in such dreadful fashion as
sent them quaking from his cage; and
then he cursed himself for having driven
away his lovely angel, and was smitten
! with sudden remorse as he saw her rose
hued cheek blanch at his terrific cries.
At such times he could with difficulty re-
strain himself from shouting: "Don't be
frightened, dear, it's only Jsckp But he
was fortunately preserved from such an
untimely exposure.


Old Seanecks was very mean, and,
though he accepted my article on the Ori-
gin of the Human Species, only paid me
the pitiful sum of twenty dollars for that
valuable contribution to knowledge
Twenty dollars for the labor and thought
of weeks Was ever anything so absurdP
And there was Jack confidently expecting
at least twenty-five dollars TO purchase
birthday present for Clara. Jack loved to
make presents, and the deeper he got into
debt the more presents did he bestow on
his friends. Such another whoie-souled
fellow as he was, to be sure


But l pocketed the disappointment
along with the money, and went straight
way to the menagerie. There was quite
a crowd about Jacks cage, standing at q
respectful distance. In his capacity as the
real African gorills, Jack had just avenged
himself on . dangerous rival BY snatching
off his matchless wig. This gentleman
| hQd 10 CT Dc l.
brosial locks, but Jacks quick eye had
discovered the cheat, and he seized IA
| vorable moment to make a grab for it.
To his inexpressible Joy, it came off in his
paw, and the discounted gallant stood
with his bare poll in the presence of the
giggling and amused Clara Coriander.
The amateur gorilla was in frenzy of de-
light, and tore up and down his cage,
scattering Mr.. Jonquil's chestnut curls
with savage glee. Old Coriander after
ward had to pay for his wig of course, but
he was so delighted with the stroke Of
Snowman genius displayed in its destruc-
ton that he paid the bill without a muir
mur. None but wild and savage ami
NAL, of course, would snatch gentle
man hald-headed." as tho old man on
/ pressed it. suppose some of my readers
who new recollect the occurrence, will
agree with Mr.. Coriander in his opinion.


After the little crowd which this anus
ing affair had drawn around the cage had
dispersed in various directions, drew
! near enough to hand Jack ten dollar
! note, which was his share of the proceeds
of my article in the Interoceanic Monthly.
He snatched it furtively, for the keepers
were not far of, and cramming it into his
ferocious jaws Qined with blood-red vel;
vet), he howled In his usual staccato style.


%" Didn't scalp old Joncuil, thought"


One OF the keepers approaching me said
suspiciously, "Look-a-here, young man,
you make entirely too free with that ere
beast He's awful, he is, and some day
he'll just go for you, if you amt keerful.
Why, this AFTERNOON, he jest tore gentle
mans skelp clean off his head, and he was
bore out in a faintin condition. Jest
see the hair of him all scattered over the
cage"


l humbly thanked him for the caution,
and drew off, asking for information as to
the creatures habits. He was very COM
municatiye, and enlightened me with much
valuable knowledge relative to his diet,
ayerring that he was invariably fed before
the menagerie was opened, the raw meat
and live rabbits which he devoured exas-
perating him by their blood to that degree,
that it was not safe for any person but
I Il
enjoyed this confidential communication,
and roared his approval thus: "He is the
head liar OF this menagerie."


Jack and kept up casual correspond
/ ence from day to day by means Of our
| telegraph signals, for had little time to
see him when off duty. Occasionally /
strolled in of an evening to commiserate
his fearful ennui and cheer him with a
| friendly sign, or when opportunity offered
to chat furtively with the man gorilla,
who swore dreadfully at the bad bargain
! which he made. His confinement was
growing excessively irksome, and though
| his constant exercise kept him. In good
bodily health, poor Jack lost his spirits
aud grew positively Yretched in mind
One night, when managed TO find time
10 visit him at his7Hden in Morusmulu-
caulis street, he grew plaintiVe over his
unhappy condition.


"Hang 1t, SAM" said he, "you have no
! idea How mad it makes noe to think that I
have shut myself up in that cage for q
| year and with no chance Of getting out
without telling Clara what have been
doing. And there she goes pottering
about the menagerie, Ike 4 blessed little
angel as she Is, without the least idea that
Jack, unhappy Jack, is glowering 1T her
from his accursed gorilla prison. longing
to say the words that would bring confu
sion and dismay upon all Of us. And
then when see some other fellow flirting
around with her, and old Coflandet iser-
ing over her head at me, knowing full
well how aggravated | am, why, 1t just
makes me Wild" 2MIEI1


l comforted Jack as well as I could, and
bade him hope that some stroke Of lick
would yet deliver him from his voluntary
thraldOm and bring him 10 his love He
was hopeful that old Coriander would hnd
the. gorilla business improbable and