Lewisburg chronicle, and the West Branch farmer. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1849-1849, 1849-09-19
II u N 0 R 0 u S A.


n MOmcb HUE HAecsCs
Years ago, and, Tor aught we know, it
still exists-ihere was q statute in vogue in
New Hampshire, iegalizing the annual
election Of hog reeves throughout the towns
in the State. The office was a lucrative one.
%. some places, though ii was generally
made orprobrious, and the most obnoxious
individuals in the community were usual
Iy selected to I'll this post. Some good
Jokes occurred in various ways. in counec.
tion with The Office, however.
Farmer Thorow resided in a small town,
above Nashua. and prided himself upon the
neatness OF his cattle. the cleanliness Of
his fields, the symmetry OF his fences. and
the ;hriltn-ss Of his orchards-but farmer
Il. was nervous, penurious and close
fsied.
Waking early one morning, he discov-
cred on sudden, from his chamber win
dow, tha, four large hogs had broken into
nice young orchard of his, just below the
house, and in his usual excieable manner,
he hurried on his clothes and made the
best of his way down 10 Squire Looksharp,
(the hog reeve was called esquire, ")whom
he yer, quickly aroused, with his vocier-
Gus complaint.
"Now, Squire" he said. 'hurry up.
There's four o. my neirhbor's hogs 90, in
10 my little apple orchard, and ''f you'll
hurry, it'll be- good job for you they're
far ones, an' no mistake"
"3e right straight along" said the
Squire, who remembered the details of The
law relating to this SORT Of seizure-nne
half 10 the hog reeve, and the other half to
the poor Of the rown-and, within half an
hour. he had peaceable possession o'
tour animals such as the neghborhood
could Mt otherwise boast ~,
The seized hogs were quickly slaugh,-
ered BY the town ,fij~al, AMI were shoril,
hing up 10 dry in the Squire store room.
Farmer I. righ,ed up his broken fence ,and
then repaired TO his ward, to see that al
was snug at the pig-pen he had no idea
thai his hogs should trouble his nciehbors
--not he-when,lo h. found that a board
had been forced from the side ui the eEclo-
sure. and the sly WIS empty,
Ia the meantime, 'Sq"ir- Lo"k>harp had
had the seized hogs dressed and now he
sen, Ior his good wife, who appeared al the
Store house door.
"Bety," said :he Squire, ",he staiooi
pervik les, Ia case o! se,zure, that one haff !
the pigs shall go To the official, an L other |
haiF 10 The poor. Now, Betty, who's poor
er than you are!'
'Sure enough" said the 'Squires wife
obedenrIv, "sure enough! Ii nnybody's
Poorer'n am, 10 ike 10 hear about H."
"WeIl-so cai'aIr, Betty. An THAR
fore. one hsff these pigs goes 10 the poor.
Chars you) 'he other haff, as said afore.
goes TO The ofiicer-an' that's me-" and
the four hogs very soon found their way
INTO Squire Looxsharr's pork-barrel.
An hour afterwards. Farmer Thorow
arrived at the 'Sq"ire's. sprans over the
s,ile, into the house. through the back ki,ch.
en-, out again into the yard, where he en.
eoun'ered the Squire. quietly a, work.
81 say Squire
"Il-llen"
"Wha,'n thunder you doin'"
"'BaoW what o.
"Where's the pigs !"
"Distribooted 'cording To law"
"Whnt!"
"llaff 10 The hog reeve, haf to the poor
"They're mine! :" shouted Farmer T.,
hali-crazed at h's loss. They're nine,
'Sq"ire-broke Out o my pen"
You made The complaint yourself"
81 know-bu-"
An rs too late, Farmer the proper
ty's dewIv di,ided-can'l 20 behind the !
The farmer squirned. threatened to be =
revengrd on s"neboby, at the frs, oppor. !
tunry, but seeing his mistake, at length !
returned home; and from that day for
ward, had no nrchsion for similar lesson.
He n'ver afterwards compiaiuej OF his
u !shbo,'> hog! American Uni"n.