30 ABOUT MONKEYS. I NEVER can tell a story properly unless there are several little listeners gathered round me, and I like to have one rosy-cheeked darling to cuddle up on my lap; so now we must fancy all these preparations made, a bright fire burning, before which we have settled ourselves comfortably, and we know that nurse is not coming with her fatal tap at the door (which must be instantly obeyed, remember) for a whole hour yet. I think I hear a chorus of little voices say, 'Go on, please.' What shall the stories be about to-night? Let me see; what do I know about monkeys? not out of books, or from other people's lips; these will be monkeys of my personal acquaintance. B In case any little boys or girls wish very much to have a monkey for their very own, I will first warn them by telling them of three attempts I made to set up one of these animals as a pet. My first monkey was brought to me early one morning at Lucknow, a great city in India, a few years ago. I had only been a fortnight in India, and about two days at Lucknow. The evening before, at a dinner-party, I happened to say how much I should like to have a monkey, and immediately four voices said, 'Oh! I will give you mine with pleasure.' When I thought of this afterwards, it looked very suspicious that the owners of the monkeys should be so ready to part with them; it seemed as though they had been rather troublesome pets; but at the time I only felt how goodnatured everybody was, and how much I should like to be able to accept all four monkeys; but as this was impossible, I contented myself with selecting one whose master gave him an excellent character. My last thought at night and my first in the morning was one of joy and impatience to see my |