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1. Natural History -- A Monkey on Horseback |
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[24] Francis Forrester. 1856. Natural History. -- A Monkey on Horseback. Forrester's Boys' and Girls' Magazine, and Fireside Companion Jan. 1, 1856, p. 31-32. [A monkey rides a horse]
The monkey is a quizzical, comical, mischievous animal. He loves to play up a prank almost as well as he loves to eat. Some of his tricks almost surpass belief. I will relate one of Jacko's tricks, of which I read not long since."The desire for riding seems to be naturally implanted in the monkey mind. Not long ago, a gentleman, who rather prided himself on a very fine stud of hunters, found that the horses did not appear properly refreshed by their nightly rest. One of the grooms, on being desired to keep a strict watch, discovered that a tame monkey, belonging to the house, was accustomed to ride on the horses' backs almost all night, preventing them from taking sufficient rest. His master, on discovering his penchant for riding, and being averse to killing the monkey on account of his horsemanship, succeeded in curing him effectually of his love for horses. The next time that the hounds met, he had the monkey put into a full hunting suit, and secured by a strap to the saddle of his most spirited hunter, and took him away to the meet. When the fox was found, the horse pricked up his ears at the well-known sound, and started off at once. The chase happened to be a particularly long and severe one; the monkey, of course, from his light weight, being far ahead of the legitimate huntsmen. A countryman, who was coming from the direction which the fox had taken, was interrogated by some of the sportsmen who had been thrown out as to the position of the hunt, and told them that the fox was looking tired, but that none of the huntsmen were near, except a little gentleman in a yellow jacket, who took his leaps beautifully; Sure enough, Master Jacko was in at the death, but did not by any means appreciate the honor. After the fox had been killed, there was a long ride home again, by the end of which time the monkey seemed thoroughly wearied out. After the experience that he had of a day's hunting, he was never known to mount a horse again."
And here is another story, showing how a monkey proved himself more than a match for an ugly pony.
"A pony of my acquaintance was celebrated for his talent at throwing everyone who tried to mount him; his principal manoeuvre being a rapid twist to his right as he descended from a rear, and then a sudden jump to the left directly his feet touched the ground. I never saw him beaten except on two occasions. On one occasion his rider was a monkey, who stuck so firmly with all his four hands to the saddle that the pony could not even shake him; and the rider on the second occasion was a very long-legged butcher's lad who contrived to hitch his feet together under the pony's belly, and, by squeezing him whenever he attempted to rear, completely mastered him."
These monkey stories must suffice for the present. They are true, and they serve to show you some things a monkey can do when he pleases.
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