“Oh!” screamed somebody“Oh!” screamed somebody.—Page393.
“Oh!” screamed somebody.—Page393.
“Oh!” screamed somebody.—Page393.
“Oh—oh—oh—a monkey!” It was impossible for anything else to be heard. Joel choked, trying to say as he pointed with shaking finger to the company sitting on the table, “He’s eat it all up,” but even he could not get out any words. But Company didn’t seem to mind the lack of a welcome in the least, peering about as he wrinkled up his brows, for more refreshments. But there were none—that was plain enough to be seen.
So then what did he do but hop to the floor, and begin the most surprising antics possible, perhaps thinking it quite time for him to do something to entertain, who had been so well entertained himself; but more than likely with a view to being offered something further in the way of refreshment, if he did his best.
And his best it was, for when the whole bunch of Peppers recovered from their astonishment, it was to burst into peals of enjoyment with eyes glued to the movements of a flashing red waistcoat and smart perky cap, as Company went through, from beginning to end, a most surprisinglist of accomplishments, turning up now and then a wrinkled little face to see if by any chance he was to be invited to have something to eat.
At last he got down to all fours and scrambled up to them. Little David gave a loud scream and clutched Polly about the neck, though, strange to say, Phronsie, the very one whom it might be expected would be frightened, leaned forward and put out her hand. “He’s my sweet little monkey. I want him,” she said.
The monkey, supposing at least a penny was in her hand, made her his grandest bow, and held out his paw, but, getting nothing, he gave the whole bunch of children a withering look, probably thinking that it was their funny curious headgear (for they weren’t nearly as fine as his smart red cap) that made them so queer, and turned and scrambled off to the door that he had left open a crack when he entered, and hurried out. And all they saw was a flash of red and his long tail slipping out.
“Oh, stop him—stop him!” roared Joel, plunging after him, with all the others at his heels. But, although they looked far and near, running down to the gate and out into the road, not a glimpse of him could be seen. And at lastthey were just turning back into the house when Sally Brown and her father and mother and four or five of the other neighbors came by in a big wagon.
“We’ve been to thecircus!” screamed Sally, from the back of the wagon, where she was crammed in among some other children. “And ’twas awful good,” she added triumphantly.
“’Twasn’t either,” declared another girl, vindictively, in a louder scream; “the best monkey—th’ one that does all th’ tricks—ran away this morning, an’ they couldn’t fi-ind him—” Her voice pealed after her, as the wagon rolled on down the road.
“Oh, Ben!” Polly seized his coat. “It was our monkey, don’t you believe?” she gasped.
“Yes,” cried Ben, “I know it. Well, we’ve had the circus, after all.”