I gave him a severe thrashing, which seemed to sober the little toper somewhat; but nothing could cure him of his love for liquor.
He was also very fond of tea and coffee, but wanted both to be well sweetened. He could drink out of a cup. Sometimes, to tease him, I would not put in any sugar; then he would throw down the cup and begin to howl; and he would make the whole place resound with his noise.
He had a great deal of intelligence; and, if I had had leisure, I think I might have trained him to some kind of good behaviour, though I despaired of his thieving disposition. The older he grew, the greater thief he became.
He lived so long, and was growing so accustomed to civilized life, that I began to have great hopes of carrying him alive to America.
Sometimes he would come round the fire where my men were and warm himself with them. How comical he then looked! At other times, when they took their meals, and ate out of a common dish, Master Tommy would join the party; and when they would all put their hands into the dish, he would put his in also, and take a little handful of cooked and smoked fish. In fact, he kept time with them.
But alas! poor Tommy! One morning he refused his food, seemed downcast, and was very anxious to be petted and held in our arms. I got all kinds of forest berries for him, but he refused all. He did not seem to suffer, but he ate nothing; and next day, without a struggle, he died. Poor fellow! he seemed sorry to leave us. I was grieved; and even the negroes, though he had given them great trouble, were mournful at his death. He had hardly expired when the news spread through the village that little Tommy was no more. They all came to see him; he looked as if he were asleep.
It seemed as if we had lost a friend. We missed his mischief and noise; and for many days we all mourned for Tommy, and wished him back among us.
Tommy turned darker as he grew older. At the time of his death he was yellow rather than white. If he had lived to be old he would, no doubt, have become black, like his mother.
And now, young friends, for the present I have done. I have told you many things about Africa, about its strange animals, its terrible gorillas, its savage cannibals. And all that I have told you is true; for it is what I have seen with my own eyes.