When the morning came Mr. Stubbs aroused his young master at a
much 'earlier hour than he would have awakened had he been left to
himself, and the two went out for a short walk before breakfast.
They went instinctively toward the woods; and when the shade of
the trees was once reached, how the two reveled in their freedom!
Mr. Stubbs climbed into the trees, swung himself from one to
the other by means of his tail, gathered half ripe nuts, which he
threw at his master, tried to catch the birds, and had a good time
generally.
Toby, stretched at full length on the mossy bank, watched the antics
of his pet, laughing boisterously at times as Mr. Stubbs would do
some one thing more comical than usual, and forgot there was in
this world such a thing as a circus or such a man as Job Lord. It
was to Toby a morning without a flaw, and he took no heed of the
time, until the sound of the church bells warned him of the lateness
of the hour, reminding him at the same time of where he should be
-- where he would be, if he were at home with Uncle Daniel.
In the mean time the old monkey had been trying to attract his young
master's attention, and, failing in his efforts, he came down from
the tree, crept softly up to Toby, and nestled his head under the
boy's arm.
This little act of devotion seemed to cause Toby's grief to burst
forth afresh, and, clasping the monkey around the neck, hugging
him close to his bosom, he sobbed:
"Oh, Mr.
Pages:
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81