The barber bowed politely to his customer , and begging him to be seated , tied a large cloth round his neck , and rubbed his chin with soap ; but instead of cutting off his beard , the barber made a snip at the end of his tail . It was only a very little bit and the monkey started up more in rage than in pain . ` Give me back the end of my tail , ' he roared , ` or I will take one of your razors . ' The barber refused to give back the missing piece , so the monkey caught up a razor from the table and ran away with it , and no one in the forest could be shaved for days , as there was not another to be got for miles and miles . As he was making his way to his own particular palm-tree , where the cocoanuts grew , which were so useful for pelting passers-by , he met a woman who was scaling a fish with a bit of wood , for in this side of the forest a few people lived in huts near the river . ` That must be hard work , ' said the monkey , stopping to look ; ` try my knife -- you will get on quicker . ' And he handed her the razor as he spoke . A few days later he came back and rapped at the door of the hut . ' I have called for my razor , ' he said , when the woman appeared . ' I have lost it , ' answered she . ` If you do n't give it to me at once I will take your sardine , ' replied the monkey , who did not believe her . The woman protested she had not got the knife , so he took the sardine and ran off . A little further along he saw a baker who was standing at the door , eating one of his loaves . ` That must be rather dry , ' said the monkey , ` try my fish ' ; and the man did not need twice telling . A few days later the monkey stopped again at the baker 's hut . ` I 've called for that fish , ' he said . ` That fish ? But I have eaten it ! ' exclaimed the baker in dismay . ` If you have eaten it I shall take this barrel of meal in exchange , ' replied the monkey ; and he walked off with the barrel under his arm .
As he went he saw a woman XXXXX a group of little girls round her , teaching them how to dress hair .
If along as at for in of on to with