The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction | Page 6

deck, he took his station behind a
cask, whence he leaped on the back of one of his steeds as it passed. Of

course the speed was increased, and the nails he stuck in to keep
himself on, produced a squeaking: but Jack was never thrown, and
became so fond of the exercise, that he was obliged to be shut up
whenever the pigs were at liberty. Confinement was the worst
punishment he could receive, and whenever threatened with that, or any
other, he would cling to me for protection. At night, when about to be
sent to bed in an empty hencoop, he generally hid himself under my
shawl, and at last never suffered any one but myself to put him to rest.
He was particularly jealous of the other monkeys on board, who were
all smaller than himself, and put two out of his way. The first feat of
the kind was performed in my presence: he began by holding out his
paw, and making a squeaking noise, which the other evidently
considered as an invitation; the poor little thing crouched to him most
humbly; but Jack seized him by the neck, hopped off to the side of the
vessel, and threw him into the sea. We cast out a rope immediately, but
the monkey was too frightened to cling to it, and we were going too
fast to save him by any other means. Of course, Jack was flogged and
scolded, at which he was very penitent; but the deceitful rogue, at the
end of three days, sent another victim to the same destiny. But his spite
against his own race was manifested at another time in a very original
way. The men had been painting the ship's side with a streak of white,
and upon being summoned to dinner, left their brushes and paint on
deck. Unknown to Jack, I was seated behind the companion door, and
saw the whole transaction; he called a little black monkey to him, who,
like the others, immediately crouched to his superior, when he seized
him by the nape of the neck with one paw, took the brush, dripping
with paint, with the other, and covered him with white from head to
foot. Both the man at the helm and myself burst into a laugh, upon
which Jack dropped his victim, and scampered up the rigging. The
unhappy little beast began licking himself, but I called the steward,
who washed him so well with turpentine, that all injury was prevented;
but during our bustle Jack was peeping with his black nose through the
bars of the maintop, apparently enjoying the confusion. For three days
he persisted in remaining aloft; no one could catch him, he darted with
such rapidity from rope to rope; at length, impelled by hunger, he
dropped unexpectedly from some height on my knees, as if for refuge,
and as he had thus confided in me, I could not deliver him up to

punishment.
The only way in which I could control his tricks was by showing him to
the panther on board, which excited his fears very strongly. I used to
hold him up by his tail, and the instant he saw the panther he would
become perfectly stiff, shut his eyes, and pretend to be dead. When I
moved away, he would relax his limbs, and open one eye very
cautiously; but if he caught a glimpse of the panther's cage, the eyes
were quickly closed, and he resumed the rigidity of death. After four
months' sojourn together, I quitted Jack off the Scilly Islands, and
understood that I was very much regretted: he unceasingly watched for
me in the morning, and searched for me in every direction, even
venturing into the cabin; nor was he reconciled to my departure when
my servants left the vessel at Gravesend.--Mag. Natural History.
* * * * *

NOTES OF A READER.
* * * * *
COMPANION TO THE THEATRES.
It must be owned that such a little book as this has long been wanted;
for of all writing, that relating to the stage is the most diffuse. It is
scattered about in biography, criticism and anecdote, not unfrequently
of great interest, but occupying so much "valuable" time, that to
condense it, or to pick the wheat from the chaff, is no trifling task. So
much for the amusement which our "Companion" may yield to the
Londoner: his utility as a cicerone or guide will be more obvious to our
country friends, who flock in thousands to see and hear comedy and
tragedy at this play-going season. A young girl comes to town to see
"the lions," and, with her "cousin," goes to the opera, where one guinea
is paid for their admission, or even more if they