The mother ran out from the kitchen to the spot, only just in time to see the boar disappearing through the gate with her child in its clutch. Suddenly there was a noise in the porch and a loud cry from the child. The child was crooning happily in the morning sunlight, dabbing on the mats at the play of light and shadow. The mother placed her child near the porch as usual while she tidied up the house and got her breakfast ready. Then all happened as the boar had planned. It seemed to him a very long time before his master's wife began to move about and open the shutters to let in the light of day. He was the first up, waiting anxiously for what was to happen. His life depended on whether the boar's plan succeeded or not. He did not sleep much that night, as you may imagine, for thinking of the morrow. The monkey thanked the boar many times and then went home. "Why the mother will be in a tremendous scare, and before your master and mistress know what to do, you must run after me and rescue the child and take it home safely to its parents, and you will see that when the butcher comes they won't have the heart to sell you." "Doesn't it lie by the door in the morning when your mistress begins the work of the day? Well, I will come round early and when I see my opportunity I will seize the child and run off with it." "Oh, yes," said the monkey, "he has one infant son." He thought for a little while and then said: The boar was pleased at the flattery and determined to help the monkey. What do you advise me to do? I know how clever you are!" I have grown old in the service of my master, and because I cannot dance properly now he intends to sell me to the butcher. I am in great trouble, you alone can help me. Boar, I have heard of your excellent wisdom. The boar was at home, and the monkey began his tale of woe at once. The monkey slipped out of the house and ran as quickly as he could to the forest to find the boar. Perhaps if I go to him and tell him the strait I am in he will give me his counsel. Ah! a bright thought has struck me! There is, I know, a wild bear living in the forest near by. "Barbarous, indeed, is my master! Here I have served him faithfully for years, and instead of allowing me to end my days comfortably and in peace, he is going to let me be cut up by the butcher, and my poor body is to be roasted and stewed and eaten? Woe is me! What am I to do. He soon understood that he was to be killed, and he said to himself: Now the monkey was in the next room and overheard every word of the conversation. The woman felt very sorry for the poor little animal, and pleaded for her husband to spare the monkey, but her pleading was all in vain, the man was determined to sell him to the butcher. I must now sell him to the butcher and make what money out of him I can. I beat him with my stick all I know how, but he won't dance properly. "It's no use taking that monkey round any longer, he's too old and forgets his tricks. "Why do you wish me to send for the butcher?" The wife was very bewildered and asked her husband: One evening the man came home in a very bad temper and told his wife to send for the butcher the next morning. Long, long ago, there lived in the province of Shinshin in Japan, a traveling monkey-man, who earned his living by taking round a monkey and showing off the animal's tricks.
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