The Story of a Monkey on a Stick Part 12

"Yes, I guess that's so," admitted her brother. "Well, then the next part of the show," he cried in a loud voice, "will be when the Candy Rabbit rides around the ring on the back of the Lamb on Wheels."

"Oh, that will be nice," said Mirabell, blowing a kiss to her woolly Lamb.

The two girls left their seats and took their places in the middle of the tent. Mirabell tied a string to her Lamb and then Madeline took her Candy Rabbit and held him on the fleecy back of the Lamb.

Around and around the little gra.s.s ring in the tent rode the Candy Rabbit on the back of the Lamb, and the boys and girls thought it was a very nice part of the show. One of the Lamb's wheels squeaked a little where she had caught rheumatism after her ride down the brook.

"And now we come to the last act!" said Herbert. "This will be some tricks by my Monkey on a Stick."

"I'm glad my chance has come at last," thought the Monkey to himself. "I must do my best!"

The Monkey had got back on his stick himself after he had driven the Goat out of the tent, and now the funny chap was all ready to do whatever Herbert wanted.

"The first trick," said the little boy ringmaster, "will be turning a front somersault!"

He pulled the string, up the stick went the Monkey, and then and there, before the crowd of boys and girls in the tent, the lively fellow turned a somersault head over tail.

"Hurray! Hurray!" cried d.i.c.k and the others, clapping their hands.

"The next trick," went on Herbert, "will be when my Monkey turns a back somersault."

Once more the string was pulled. Up the stick s.h.i.+nned the Monkey, and, when he reached the top, he turned a back somersault. Of course this was harder than a front one, and the boys and girls clapped all the more.

"And now, Ladies and Gentlemen!" cried Herbert, just like a real ringmaster in a real circus, "the next trick will be when my Monkey does a flip-flap-flop!"

And, indeed, that was a very hard trick to do. But the Monkey did it when Herbert pulled the string, and all the boys and girls said it was fine, and that the show was one grand affair.

The Monkey did several other tricks, and then Herbert's mother, outside the tent, called, just like a circus vendor:

"Here's your pink lemonade! Here's your pink lemonade!"

And, as true as I'm telling you, she had made a big pitcher of sweet lemonade for the children, and had colored it pink with strawberry juice.

"Oh! Ah! Um!" said the boys and girls, and, really, I think the lemonade was almost as good a part of the show as the tricks of the Monkey, the fight of the Tin Soldiers, or the dance of the Sawdust Doll.

"Well, the show is over. I wonder what will happen next," said the Lamb on Wheels to the Bold Tin Captain.

"Maybe the children will have another," said the Monkey. "But, while we have the chance, I would like to talk to my friends the Sawdust Doll, the Bold Tin Soldier, the White Rocking Horse, and all the others."

And so the toys talked among themselves, and told of their different adventures, just as I have told you in the different books. And they all said the Monkey was very brave to have driven away the bad Goat as he had done.

"I'd like to know what the Calico Clown is doing all this time, since we came away from the toy store," said the Monkey, after a while.

"So would I," put in the Sawdust Doll. "I wonder if anything has happened to him."

And as perhaps you children are wondering the same thing, I have decided to make the next book about that funny chap.

The volume will be called "The Story of a Calico Clown." He had many wonderful adventures to tell about.

As for the Sawdust Doll, the Lamb on Wheels, the White Rocking Horse, the Candy Rabbit, the Bold Tin Soldier and the Monkey on a Stick, why, they had some strange adventures, too, and they took part in another show. But this is all I have to tell you just now about the Monkey on a Stick, except to say that he lived for many years with Herbert and Madeline, and had many happy times.

THE END

THE LITTLE WAs.h.i.+NGTONS SERIES

By LILLIAN ELIZABETH ROY

=Handsomely Bound. Colored Wrappers. Ill.u.s.trated.=

=For Children 6 to 12 Years=

This series presents early American history in a manner that impresses the young readers. Because of George and Martha Was.h.i.+ngton Parke, two young descendants of the famous General Was.h.i.+ngton, these stories follow exactly the life of the great American, by means of playing they act the life of the Was.h.i.+ngtons, both in battles and in society.

THE LITTLE WAs.h.i.+NGTONS

Their thrilling battles and expeditions generally end in "punishment" lessons read by Mrs. Parke from the "Life of Was.h.i.+ngton." The culprits listen intently, for this reading generally gives them new ideas for further games of Indian warfare and Colonists' battles.

THE LITTLE WAs.h.i.+NGTONS RELATIVES

The Davis children visit the Parke home and join zealously in the games of playing General Was.h.i.+ngton. So zealously, in fact, that little Jim almost loses his scalp.

THE LITTLE WAs.h.i.+NGTONS' TRAVELS

The children wage a fierce battle upon the roof of a hotel in New York City. Then, visiting the Davis home in Philadelphia, the patriotic Was.h.i.+ngtons vanquish the Hessians on a battle-field in the empty lot back of the Davis property.

THE LITTLE WAs.h.i.+NGTONS AT SCHOOL

After the school-house battle the Was.h.i.+ngtons discover a band of gypsies camping near the back road to their homes and incidentally they secure the stolen horse which the gypsies had taken from the "b.u.t.ter and egg farmer" of the Parkes.

THE LITTLE WAs.h.i.+NGTONS' HOLIDAYS

They spend a pleasant summer on two adjoining farms in Vermont. During the voyage they try to capture a "frigate" but little Jim is caught and about to be punished by the Captain when his confederates hasten in and save him.

=GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK=