This is one of the true stories that I tell my little boys over and over again, as we sit before the fire, and make ready for their journey to "Sleepy-Land."

"When your grandfather was a lad about twelve years old, an uncle of his made a voyage to South America, and brought home as a present to his nephew a fine large monkey. Of course Master Richard was very much pleased; and the frolicsome pet would have had a warm welcome from the whole household, had not the uncle seen fit to report some of Jocko's pranks on shipboard.

"This put the young ladies upon their guard. But old Bella, the cook, never seemed prepared for his capers; and the fuss she made over them pleased Jocko so much, that she became the object of his attacks.

"One day Bella went to the city, and brought home a fine new bonnet in a large bandbox. During the evening she showed it with great pride to the young ladies; and, unknown to her, Jocko enjoyed the sight of the ribbons and laces and flowers from behind the parlor sofa.

"Like Bella herself, he was fond of finery; and the bonnet seemed to him a very fit garment for a monkey to wear. So the next morning, while Bella was busy in the kitchen, Jocko went to her closet, took out her bandbox, dressed himself in the bonnet, and stole down the back-stairs.

"Bella, hearing a noise, looked around, and there he was, his head literally lost in a sea of red and yellow ribbons. With a shout of rage, she seized the broomstick, and hurried after the thief. But before she could reach him, Jocko had mounted two flights of stairs, leaped out on the porch, and climbed up to the roof of the house.

"There he rested; and there he was when the whole household, frightened by Bella's shrieks, came running up to see what was the matter. In vain Bella scolded. In vain Richard coaxed and threatened. Jocko would not come down until he had finished his work; for he was busily engaged in tearing poor Bella's bonnet into fragments.

"As ribbon after ribbon was destroyed, her screams grew louder and louder; and nothing could move her from her determination to kill the monkey, except the promise of a gayer bonnet than the one that Jocko had stolen.

"But Jocko never was forgiven; and the poor fellow would have gone supperless a great many times, had it not been for his devoted young master."