The monkey kept pulling and tearing at Flossie's hat until he had pulled
it from her head and then, jumping down off her shoulder to the ground,
the animal crouched under the piano and began pulling off the red
cherries. But one bite told him they were not real, and then, perhaps
frightened at what he had done and fearing he would be punished, the
monkey tried to run away.
But he was held by the string on his collar, and the Italian, perhaps
afraid that he would be made to pay for Flossie's hat, which his monkey
had torn to pieces, pulled Jacko to him, perched him on his shoulder and
hurried away, wheeling the street piano.
"Oh, Freddie! Freddie! What shall I do?" cried Flossie, as she looked at
her sadly torn hat.
"It's a shame," said a woman in the crowd.
"You'll need a new hat, little girl," said another woman.
That gave Freddie an idea. If his sister needed a new hat he was the one
to help her get it. He looked up and down the street. Across the way was a
large drygoods store, in one of the windows of which were many hats and
other things for girls and ladies to wear.
"Come on, Flossie!" cried Freddie, clasping her hand. "I'll take you
there."
"Where?" she asked. Tears had come into her eyes when the monkey tore her
nice, new hat. But she did not really cry. "Where are you going to take
me, Freddie?" she asked.
"Over to that big store; and we'll buy a new hat for you," said the little
fellow.
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