The Sailor and the Monkeys

Once, in the hope of honest gain
From Afric’s golden store,
A brisk young sailor cross’d the main,
And landed on her shore.

And leaving soon the sultry strand,
Where his fair vessel lay,
He travell’d o’er the neighboring land,
To trade in peaceful way.

Full many a toy had he to sell,
And caps of scarlet dye,
All such things as he knew full well,
Would please the native’s eye.

But as he travell’d through the woods,
He longed to take a nap,
And opening there his pack of goods,
Took out a scarlet cap,

And drew it on his head, thereby
To shield him from the sun,
Then soundly slept, nor thought an eye
Had seen what he had done.

But many a monkey dwelling there,
Though hidden from his view,
Had closely watched the whole affair,
And longed to do so too.

And while he slept did each one seize
A cap to deck his brows,
Then climbing up the highest trees,
Sat chattering on the boughs.

The sailor wak’d, his caps were gone,
And loud and long he grieves,
Till, looking up with heart forlorn,
He spied at once the thieves.

With cap of red upon each head,
Full fifty faces grim,
The sailor sees amid the trees,
With eyes all fixed on him.

He brandish’d quick a mighty stick,
But could not reach their bower,
Nor yet could stone, for every one
Was far beyond his power.

Alas! he thought, I’ve safely brought
My caps far over seas,
But could not guess it was to dress
Such little rogues as these.

Then quickly down he threw his own,
And loud in anger cried,
“Take this one too, you thievish crew,
Since you have all beside.”

But, quick as thought the caps were caught
From every monkey’s crown,
And, like himself, each little elf
Threw his directly down.

He then with ease did gather these,
And in his pack did bind,
Then through the woods convey’d his goods
And sold them to his mind.