i.

on the porch of a comfortable old house, shaded by fine trees, a group of young girls were gathered around a small table, sewing.

suddenly the harsh notes of a hand-organ came to their ears, disturbing the peaceful stillness of the summer afternoon.

marion johnson, who was visiting her cousins, laid aside her work and listened.

“why, i do believe it is the very same man that came to our town a week ago,” she exclaimed. “he had with him a poor, miserable looking monkey, which he called jocko.”

just then they saw the organ-grinder, with the monkey perched on the, organ, coming up the village street. seeing the girls on the porch, he turned up the walk.

“i think i shall call aunt kate,” remarked marion, rising and going into the house.

aunt kate could always be depended upon to help any dumb creature needing a friend.

aunt kate’s face lost its usual look of quiet good humor, as she glanced over the porch railing and saw a tall swarthy man at the foot of the[70] steps, carelessly turning the handle of a small squeaky organ.

keeping time to the music, a weak little monkey danced very wearily. when his steps dragged he was brought up quickly with a sharp jerking of the chain which was fastened to his collar.

a cap was held on his head by a tight rubber band which passed under the chin. his gaudy dress was heavy and warm and seemed to weigh down his tired limbs.

now and then, when he dared, jocko laid a tiny brown hand on the tugging chain in an effort to ease it. with an appealing look he glanced up at his master, as if trying to make him understand how painfully the collar was cutting his thin neck.

ii.

aunt kate’s mild blue eyes almost flashed as she motioned to the organ-grinder to stop playing.

“you no lika music?” he asked brokenly, glancing up at her in some surprise.

“yes, that is right,” she answered, speaking very slowly and distinctly.

“we do not like the music; and we do not like to see that poor monkey dance; and, above [71]

[72]all, we do not like to see you hurting his neck by pulling that chain.”

woman, jocko and children, organ grinder in background

the look of sullen anger which came over the man’s face quickly disappeared when he saw the coin in aunt kate’s hand.

“i will give you this,” she said, holding up the piece of money, “if you will stay here and let jocko rest for one hour.”

the organ-grinder smiled and sat down on the steps as a sign of agreement.

at first, jocko could scarcely believe that he might rest his weary little legs and feet. after a while, however, he threw himself at full length upon the porch floor as some worn out child might have done.

marion was left on guard to see that he was not disturbed when the others went to get food.

when they returned they found jocko resting on a soft cushion, a comfort his little body had never known before.

only after being promised more money did the organ-grinder permit marion to take off jocko’s hard leather collar, underneath which she had discovered sores.

she bandaged the tiny neck with soft linen spread with salve. she took off his cap, too, with its tight-cutting band.

[73]

when water was brought, jocko drank with pitiful eagerness. many hours had passed since he had had a drink, and his throat and lips were parched. he ate the food they offered him like a wild creature, for he was very hungry.

every once in a while he would glance at the organ-grinder as though he feared punishment.

when the hour was up, the organ-grinder would stay no longer. as his master led him away, jocko lifted his hat, just as if he wanted to thank aunt kate and the girls for their kindness.

“i never knew before,” said marion, “how cruel it is to expect little monkeys to live such unnatural lives. i do hope the man will be more kind to jocko after this.”

—mary craige yarrow—adapted.

questions

why didn’t the girls and their aunt like to see the little monkey dance?

what did they enjoy seeing it do?

have you ever been very, very tired?

can you imagine how you would feel if some giant would not let you rest?

what kind of life is natural for monkeys?

did you ever give a penny to an organ-grinder with a monkey?

if everyone stopped giving money to men who use monkeys for begging, how would it help the little monkeys?