THE YOUTH’S CABINET. The Mischievous Monkey. EORGE. John, do you like to saw wood ? Joun. O yes, pretty well. I do not love to be idle. I like to do my work. Your father gives me money for doing it, too. I buy my clothes with it, and give some to my good mother, besides. G. Here are two pears for you, John. Mamma did not send them to you. They are all my own. Grandpa’ gave me some, J. I will take one, little George. You must keep the other. Thank you, very much. G. No. You must eat those. I have more. See! My pocket is full. It is all stuffed out, like Jacko’s cheeks. J. Who is Jacko ? G. Jacko is a monkey. J. O, the little monkey, which was dressed like a man, and belonged to the man with a hand-organ? I asked the man to come, so that you might see him. G. Yes. Why did not you leave off sawing when he came ? J. O, I cannot leave my work to see monkeys. I have seen a great many monkeys, too. And once I had one of my own. G. A real, live monkey ? J. Yes. My brother brought him home from sea for me. It was very small. I do not think it was larger than your little baby brother. G. What was his name? Did he wear a coat? Could he speak? Tell me about him; do, John. J. O, he was the funniest little rogue ! His name was Mischief. He wore no « bie ’ * .. 7 % 181 clothes but his own brown fur, and he had a very long tail. He could not talk; no, indeed. But he knew his own name, just as Growler does; and if I said, “ Here comes the baker,” he would leap up on the fence in an instant. He was very fond of cake, and when I had a cent, I used to give it to Mischief, to buy cookies with. G How could he buy it, when he could not speak ? J. O, the baker would hold out his hand for the cent. Mischief looked hard at his other hand. The baker kept it behind him, sometimes, or shut it up. Mischief would chatter and scold till he opened it, and showed him the cake. Then he would take the cent out of his pouch— G. Pouch ?. J. His cheek, you know. G. Yes, Jacko’s pocket. J. Then the baker would take it, and give him the cake. One time Mischief caught the baker’s whip away from un- der his arm. The baker tried to reach it. Away ran the monkey the. whole length of the fence. There he sat chat- tering. G. Did not the baker run after him ? J. Yes. “Stop thief—stop thief!” cried the baker, and we all ran, calling, “ Mischief—Mischief.” Just as we came to him, up he went into a higa tree. There he sat, chattering. G. What did the baker say then? J. Then the baker took up stones, and began to pelt him. But when Mischief saw that, he threw the whip down on his head. So the baker got it, and went away laughing. G. Did you tell Mischief he must not do so again?