Minnie's Pet Monkey

“I have told you the best traits of his character,” she answered, smiling. “He was, greatly to his master’s sorrow, an incurable thief. He could not be left alone for a moment with any kind of food. He understood perfectly how to loose the strings of a basket, or to take the cork from a bottle. He was very fond of milk, and would drink it whenever he had a chance. He was whipped repeatedly for these misdemeanors, but the punishment did him no good.

“Le Vaillant was accustomed to have eggs for his breakfast; but his servants complained one morning there were none to be had. Whenever any thing was amiss, the fault was always laid to Kees, who, indeed, generally deserved it. The gentleman determined to watch him.

“The next morning, hearing the cackling of a hen, he started for the place; but found Kees had been before him, and nothing remained but the broken shell. Having caught him in his pilfering, his master gave him a severe beating; but he was soon at his old habit again, and the gentleman was obliged to train one of his dogs to run for the egg as soon as it was laid, before he could enjoy his favorite repast.

“One day, Le Vaillant was eating his dinner, when he heard the voice of a bird, with which he was not acquainted. Leaving the beans he had carefully prepared for himself on his plate, he seized his gun, and ran out of the tent. In a short time he returned, with the bird in his hand, but found not a bean left, and Kees missing.

“When he had been stealing, the baboon often staid out of sight for some hours; but, this time, he hid himself for several days. They searched every where for him, but in vain, till his master feared he had really deserted them. On the third day, one of the men, who had gone to a distance for water, saw him hiding in a tree. Le Vaillant went out and spoke to him, but he knew he had deserved punishment, and he would not come down; so that, at last, his master had to go up the tree and take him.”

“And was he whipped, mother?”

“No; he was forgiven that time, as he seemed so penitent. There is only one thing more I can remember about him. An officer who was visiting Le Vaillant, wishing to try the affection of the baboon for his master, pretended to strike him. Kees flew into a violent rage, and from that time could never endure the sight of the officer. If he only saw him at a distance, he ground his teeth, and used every endeavor to fly at him; and had he not been chained, he would speedily have revenged the insult.”

“Nature is man’s best teacher. She unfolds
Her treasures to his search, unseals his eye,
Illumes his mind, and purifies his heart, —
An influence breathes from all the sights and sounds
Of her existence; she is wisdom’s self.”

“There’s not a plant that springeth
But bears some good to earth;
There’s not a life but bringeth
Its store of harmless mirth;
The dusty wayside clover
Has honey in her cells, —
The wild bee, humming over,
Her tale of pleasure tells.
The osiers, o’er the fountain,
Keep cool the water’s breast,
And on the roughest mountain
The softest moss is pressed.
Thus holy Nature teaches
The worth of blessings small;
That Love pervades, and reaches,
And forms the bliss of all.”