The Autobiography of a Monkey

 
Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah! Oh, yes!
For all of the tribes that be
With homes in the tangled wilderness
That never a man shall see.
 
 
But, alas, for the boasts of the jungle!
The men came among us one day,
And one with a box that made music
Enticed foolish monkeys away.
 
 
The birds and the beasts of the forest
Were mute at the marvellous song,
But the monkeys crept out of the tree-tops —
An eager and wondering throng.
 
 
The birds and the beasts of the forest
Kept hidden and silent that day,
But the monkey-folk formed a procession
And followed the minstrel away.
 
 
And thus did we give up the forest
To dwell with our brothers, the men —
Farewell to the beautiful jungle!
'Twas long ere I saw it again!
 

Part Second
THE WAYS OF MEN

 
Then away to a far distant country
On a drift that they said was a ship,
And I studied the ways of my master
And profited much by the trip.
 
 
And we sailed to his home in fair Naples,
Where I studied the language of men,
And I sat on a bench with his children,
But soon we went sailing again.
 
 
And I made some nice friends on the voyage,
And engaged in a pretty romance.
I charmed all the ladies by climbing,
And one of them taught me to dance.
 
 
Yet often I longed for the jungle —
Its song and the rustle of wing —
And sometimes at night in my slumber
I talked with our elephant king.
 
 
One morning my master awoke me,
And, dressed in a gaudy new suit,
I beheld the New World in the sunlight,
And lifted my hat in salute.
 
 
And then began troubles and trials —
Through the streets by a string I was led;