Joe The Fourth.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 269, 13 November 1935, Page 24

Joe The Fourth.

By AMY V. OPPENHEIMER

The Story of a Little Boy who Wanted a Monkey.

Jimmy lad a very nice Unci© Joe. This Uncle Joe -vya's professor of English history at a big college in New York City,'and he and his nephew had become acquainted when Jimmy was still - too young to understand about uncles. At that time "they,, looked- to him pretty much like /book agents, and doctors, and vacuum-cleaner salesmen, for Jimmy was learning how to walk—a big job that kept him altogether busy. Of course Uncle Joe had been walking for yekrs arid years. ■ The only thing that was special about his walking was that he still liked it. Every Sunday morning he started out for Central Park. He could get plenty of company for the museum, or the reservoir found, or. 1 -the Ramble. But Uncle Joe didn't choose to walk to any of> these places. He only liked the monkey-house, and he went all alone except fir a bag of peanuts. All this time a-bit: of company was growing up for him in Grestwood, only,, half an hour away. But ho never noticed it. . ■: •' / / Jimmy was his sister's boy.; Uncle Joe travelled out to Crestwood. every Christmas and every birthday to. bring him presents,, but they-never found anything tp talk to each/other about. One Sunday morning—much too early —Uncle Joe's telephone: rang. He was so sleepy he could hardly answer. It was his sister. She asked him whether he would please do something special for her. She asked him whether he'd take Jimmy along on his Sunday walk! Uncle Joe fell out of bed. His sister explained that there was a wonderful lecture in New York on obedience, and she didn't want to miss it. All her friends were going—the mother of the boy across the street—Mrs. Latham, who had the twins—Johnny Stevenson's aunt —Mrs. Ringwall— and Mrs. Malioney— and Mrs. Goldman — and everybody. They were all taking their children to relations in the city, and she couldn't find a place to leave Jimmy. Uncle Joe listened —sprawled out on the floor. At the end of the whole story, he heard himself say he'd try anything

once. Yes, he'd call for Jimmy at Grand : Central and take him to the monkey- . housed They .weren't very used to one another —Uncle Joe and Jimmy. They walked up the ramp together and didn't say a word. They climbed on a bus together, and sat down on the left-hand front Seat, and still they didn't say a word. Then Jimmy felt a sneeze coming on. He had no, handkerchief, and he could tell it was going to be a very wet sneeze. He just had to ask Uncle Joe for a handkerchief. Uncle Jne swished otit a beautiful blue-and-yellow one, and after that everything was easy. "Are you old enough to eat peanuts?" asked .Uncle Joe. "I really don't kno-# anything about children. You're the first child I've ever been out with. Don't even know if you've got teeth!" Jimmy smiled so wide that Uncle Joe could see he had two rows of them. Enough, anyhow, to manage peanuts. They got to the monkey house. Jimmy "took , a deep breath., .He loved .it! , They • stood in front of the first cage.. A .little ; white-faced ringtail peeped out at them through the bars. He seemed to like Jimmy. He decided) Ito show off,a bit. He caught hold of the [ swing and swung it till the cage-began to rock. He hooked-the end of his tail around the bar. Then he dropped below the.bar and swung himself upside down. Jimmy couldn't understand • how, he held on. He swung himself thud against the. bars, then • squatted in - the corner and scratched himself. They moved along, past the. sad littlegreen monkey, the sprinty little gibbon and the stuffy old mandrill with his red face. Jimmy didn't specially remember the rest of them. >' He liked that first white-faced ringtail best. They went back to him. "Funny," said Uncle Joe, "he's my favourite, too." It was time to go "back to Grand Central. In five minutes they would be with mother again. Uncle Joe tried to plan for another Sunday. So did Jimmy. They didn't say anything about it, though, until half a minute before the train left. Then Uncle Joe blurted it out: "I'd like to take him along again if you'll let me —next Sunday."

Every Sunday after that Jimmy am his mother journeyed down to Forty second Street. Uncle Joe would mee them at Grand Central, and whilejnotlie went to her lectures Jimmy and Uncli Joe travelled up Fifth Avenue togcthe: and visited the honey house. There wen other treats besides the Sundays. Even holiday, when there was nothing to d< around the college, Uncle Joe was ofi with Jimmy* Just two weeks before Jimmy's eight] birthday they went to a large theatre near Grand Central to see a" movie called "Chang." It was mpstly about elephants and there was a great elephant stampede, But there was something else in that movie—much more exciting *■ than the stampede. It was a little, monkey who lived right in a regular house, with a family! Just as easy as a dog or cat in Crestwood. Jimmy had never thought of such a thing before. But why not? This monkey played with the baby. He seemed to be quite a help—more help, anyhow, than goldfish. Why did they always have to have goldfish at home ? 'Hie movie was ~over and Jimmy and Uncle Joe were walking toward Grand Central. They stopped in front of a window with a great aquarium. Jimmy looked beyond the fish and saw a white and yellow parrot. Behind the parrot he saw two rabbits, and way over to the left—a monkey! It was a darling little white-face, like their monkey in the park, only so much! littler. His eyes looked very lonesome. That finished Jimmy's idea. From that moment on he knew he wanted to 'own a real live monkey.' He couldn't understand why he had never known it before. It felt so natural to him now. "How much does a" monkey cost," Uncle Joe?" ' * ' They walked into the pet shop together. Through tiie screeching and the squawking Jimmy heard the woman tell them 25 dollars. They walked out again and across "to Grand Central. ' ; Jimmy thought it was-the high price that made Uncle Joe so quiet. They didn't talk about the monkey again until they got to the ■ door step—home in Crestwood. , - Uncle Joe waited a moment before he rang the bell and-then he said to Jimmy: "We'll ask your mother whether she'll let you keep a monkey in the house, and then we'll think about that little fellow in the pet shop." Mother was standing in the hall with the new vacuum cleaner. -They both felt it wasn't just the time to ask her. They finished their supper. The clock struck half-past seven and Jimmy knew his'bedtime had come. Uncle Joe stood up and spoke the thing straight out: "I'd like to get Jimmy a money for his birthday. Is it all right with you?" "A monkey? What kind of a monkey?"

1 Mother asked them, but you could - hear she already knew. "You don't t mean a live monkey? You don't mean ;• one of those scrawny little flea-y things >in the menagerie? Oh, dear! I wish • I'd never let you take him to the > monkey house." 'Mother went on. "You can't train i them, either. I've heard they can't lie ■ house broken. I'd have to give up my nice blue bathroom. You can't keep him in the garage —they all come from a warm climate, and it's much too cold. And whoever heard of anybody keeping a monkey'in the house?" Uncle Joe didn't know just how to answer. Then* suddenly he remembered a bit of his English history. "There -was a king once," he said, "who had a monkey—George the Fourth. He had a pet monkey called Jerry, who lived in Surrey Gardens, and they brought him to the palace whenever the king, who hated to be lonesome, wanted to be amused." Jimmy looked at his mother. King George of England might make a difference. Bnt he didn't. "I don't care if George the Fourth had a hundred monkeys. I just won't have a monkey in this house." Jimmy got himself tip to bed. His legs, felt awfully draggy. He could hardly get his stockings off. When mother came in to say good night, you could still hear the monkey in her voice. And you could hear it in her hand when she snapped off the light. Next morning Jimmy walked to school with tho boy across the street. It was a terrible day. He got most of his wrong—nine examples out of iten—and six words, in his spelling. He walked home with the boy across tho street. , He tried to tell him about George the Fourth, who owned a monkey. But the story wouldn't come out. I (To be concluded.)

Peggy Price—Did you have a successful Guy Fawkes niglit, Peggy? My word, 1 expect your nrst yswim /was a very cold one. . ' V . Phyllis Beck—Gardens are certainly the loveliest things, Phyllis, and vegetable beds are most rascinating. Best or luck ■with both your, plots. Dorothy Calvey—Despite the rain, you seemed to have had plenty or Tun on Show Day. Dorothy. Such days are very exciting, aren't they? Bruce Mason—The signature should be | pasted on the envelope lor competition, but It is not necessary Tor letters. Your story will be criticised under the heading, "The Editor Suggests." Maree Harrison—Send us your rull name, age, date or birth and address, Maree, and we will enrol you as a member or the Peter Pan Club. What Is the wee baby's name? Irene Stuart—Best or luck in your proficiency examination, Irene. Yes, the weather certainly has been annoying lately. Rhona Goldsmith—We would be ever so glad to receive the little toys rrom you, Rhona, and I'm sure that you will get quite a lot or run out or making them. Many thanks for your lovely Idea. Paverley Bowen—We will enrol you as a member or the club, Beverley, and your certificate will be sent in a rew days. Many thanks ror the little poems. Connie Keesing—Yes, Connie, we would .be glad to welcome a story or yours Tor publication. Stories that are too long ror Budget columns and which are or a very high standard are sometimes printed In Enzed Junior. '

Hazel Dick—Your little letter about Helensville was very Interesting', Hazel, ana of course I was not "bored." Thank you for such a lovely description. F. Parnell—The Budget family send their greetings for a happy birthday, Fay. So glad that you like the Christmas Idea. I m sure it will be a success. Theo Mountfort—Thanks for your Christmas suggestions, Theo. I thinkquite a lot of people feel that way about the scheme. Yes, "Little Men" is a lovely story. Isn't it? Frances Whale—The Christmas story snould be not more than 750 words in length, Frances, and have if possible a Christmas background. The closing date of entries Is November 30.