The Little Gleaner, Vol. X.: A Monthly Magazine for the YoungVarious
Religion
The Little Gleaner, Vol. X.: A Monthly Magazine for the Young
Various
Christian literature for children -- Periodicals
Monkeys and apes are (remarks a writer in _Harper's Young People_)
always amusing creatures, and it is great fun to watch their tricks. But
there is one ape, a native of the island of Java, who outdoes most of
his relatives in the way of being ridiculous, especially when he amuses
himself as a fisherman. This ape is very fond of shellfish, and there is
a certain kind of sand-crab that suits his palate exactly. These crabs
dig little homes for themselves deep in the sand, and thither they
retire when they want a quiet rest, or when any danger threatens. When
all is well, they spend their time sunning themselves at the entrance of
their holes, or hopping along the water's edge in search of food. The
apes know their ways, and while the crabs are looking for a dinner they
also are bent on obtaining one for themselves. Apes, you know, can move
very quickly. They wait until they see a party of crabs apparently
unconscious of danger, and busily engaged in discussing a bit of
seaweed, or devouring the insects they are so fond of. Moving stealthily
forward, as close as they dare, the ape gives a sudden leap, and seizes
as many as possible of the poor, unsuspecting crabs, which are speedily
crunched into a shapeless mass by his strong jaws, and devoured. But the
crabs are very active too, and it often happens that they will take
alarm in time to scamper quickly to their holes, and so cheat the ape
out of his anticipated meal. When this occurs, the ape has recourse to a
stratagem which proves how intelligent he really is, and which makes him
appear, as I have said, one of the most amusing and ridiculous of
creatures. The ape of Java, unlike others of his species, possesses a
very long tail. He moves quietly up to the hole into which he has seen
the crab disappear, thrusts his tail into it, and awaits events. The
crab, indignant at such an intrusion, makes a spirited attack, and
fastens upon it. This is precisely what the ape wants. He gives a sudden
spring forward. The crab, having no time to collect his ideas, is drawn
to the surface, and in a moment the ape has him in his claws. Poor crab!
victim of his anxiety to punish the invasion of his home.
One traveller tells us that "there is a comical look of suspense on the
ape's face as he thrusts his tail into the hole, and waits for the crab
to seize it."
SAVED BY GRACE.
Agreeably to your wishes, I send you the following account of W. B----,
who had lived a dissolute life for nearly forty years.
He was notorious for drinking and Sabbath-breaking, and his general
deportment was so abandoned that he was wicked even to a proverb.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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