Georgies Present | Page 2

was standing beside her, eagerly listening.
"You know, dear grandmamma," he said, "this is my birthday, and I
have come to spend half of it with you and aunt; and, first, we are to
have a walk, then to take tea together, and, to finish up, you will tell me
all about Newfoundland and what you have seen there, ending with the
history of the wonderful dog."
"Stay, stay, my love," said Mrs. Ward; "it is impossible that I should
tell you all I have seen in Newfoundland. I can, however, give you an
account of some of your dear grandfather's missionary journeys, in
which he met with many adventures, and, at the close of one trip, fell in
with the good man to whom the wonderful dog Box belonged."
"That's just what I should like," said George; and immediately he
hastened to find his grandmother's bonnet and shawl, in which she was
quickly arrayed for the walk. [Illustration]
It was a bright sunshiny afternoon, and as the little party strolled

through the village street, they found half the women and children of
the place, sitting in the doorways, or playing about on the roadside.
By-and-by they came to the green, where there was a crowd of boys
just turned out of school, a large knot of them clustering round a little
Italian boy, who had found his way to the village with his hurdy-gurdy,
upon which he was playing, while, tied to a string, he carried a little
monkey, perched upon his shoulder. George was eager to join the group
and see the antics of Jacko, who sat grinning and holding a little cap for
money, into which a boy flung a halfpenny, and then asked the Italian
where he came from. But the answer was unintelligible to him, for it
was given in a strange tongue, and George was soon tired of listening
to the music and watching the monkey.
In the meantime his grandmother had walked on, accompanied by her
daughter, and they were now slowly crossing the common. A few
minutes' brisk run brought George to their side, when he began chatting
about the boy and his monkey.
"I have no liking for those animals," said Mrs. Ward; "indeed, the very
sight of a monkey makes me shudder with a feeling of aversion. I once
saw a trick played by one of them which made a lasting impression
upon my mind."
"Tell me about it, dear grandma," said George, "while you rest for a
while under this warm hedge upon your camp-stool which I have
brought for you."
"Well," she said, seating herself at her grandson's request, "it is a
strange story, but quite true. It happened many long years ago, when I
was a young married woman, voyaging to Newfoundland, in the good
ship Sarah Ann, with your grandfather, who was then starting for the
missionary station to which he had been appointed. We were drawing
near to land; and after a long and weary voyage, you may imagine how
eagerly all eyes were strained to catch the first sight of the yet distant
shore.
"Among the passengers was one young lady, a sweet, gentle creature,
who quite won my heart by her winning manners. She had with her her

first-born child, an infant at the breast, and was going to Quebec to join
her husband, a military man there. She had come with the rest of us on
deck when the glad summons was heard, 'Land in sight!' and was
seated upon a sofa, with the child in her lap. The captain very politely
handed his glass to the ladies who stood near him, and directed them
how to catch a glimpse of the shore, which they were just able to
discern. When they had all had a peep, he turned to the young lady
whom I have mentioned, and asked if she would like to look. She
thanked him, and rose for the purpose, first cautiously laying her
sleeping baby upon the sofa. She then advanced a few steps, and took
the glass he presented to her; but scarcely had she raised it to her eye
when a shout was heard from one of the sailors--'Stop him! stop the
monkey; he's got the child!' Every eye was turned in the direction to
which the man pointed; and there we saw the ship's monkey, a
favourite animal with the sailors, of which they made a great pet,
climbing up a rope which he held in one hand, while with the other he
hugged close to him the helpless infant! Up, up, to a towering height
the wretched brute climbed, while we followed him with our eyes in
breathless alarm. Suddenly a loud scream was heard: it was the voice of
the poor agonized mother, who would