1876.] Animal Humor. 259 
pets. Then came heartless practical jokes, harsh treatment, and 
general neglect. The poor creature had now evidently lost all 
heart. Something worse than the throwing of the rotten apple 
had happened. Marimonda was clever at catching sticks. A hot 
poker was thrown to it, — the burning shame! Poor thing! It 
now broke down completely, and made up its mind to drop all 
fun forever. Not at all vicious, still gentle, but joyless, it be- 
came chronically sad. Prematurely grave, for it was very young, 
the merry Marimonda was mirthful no more. I told its tor- 
mentors that the little fellow’s days were numbered ; in fact, that 
they were killing it. Already it had lost confidence in every 
one of them; but the first time that Ateles heard my voice, it 
approached me with a trustingness which was quite affecting. It 
attracted the attention of the workmen, one of whom said, “ Just 
look at that! The beast won't come nigh any of us, and always 
fears a stranger; but see how it takes to the minister from the 
first time that it puts eyes on him. It fairly whimpers when it 
hears him coming.” All this was true. And for that whimper — 
1t was a plaintive coo, soft and flute-like. True it was, whenever 
I called at the basket-maker’s shop I was sure to be met with 
the love - greeting of little Ateles, a soft, cooing utterance of 
trustful joy. But there was much plaintful, tender melancholy 
in it, for the wonted merry mood of Marimonda was forever gone. 
That there was real affection in that little heart, I entertain no 
doubt. Its gentle eyes told all this plainly whenever they saw 
ve Coming. Such manifestations could not be other than touch- 
ing, they spoke so unmistakably of an implicit faith in me; and 
1t is evident that it yielded the fruits of peace to the trusting 
One. I think with animals, as with men, humor and gentleness 
8° together; and if either survive the other, it is this goodness 
that gleams when the other light is put out. : 
I would not have it implied that this glinting towards, or even 
assimilating, the higher attributes of man makes our monkey less 
“mian, but I would insist that such qualities should not be reck- 
ned brutish. Tt is these touches of nature that make the whole 
world kit: I never dared interpret the words of that apostolic 
man, words so weighty with significance, whatever that may be, 
to “very thoughtful mind: “ For we know that the whole crea- 
tion groaneth, waiting for the adoption.” Yes, trust is needed at 
the dark end of the journey. I have had a mouse creep into my 
and to be covered, and to die. 
Poor Marimonda soon came to grief. A pot of green paint 
~ 
