Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1849-09-03
WHOLE NUMBER .222..
A Model II0g-Reeye.
BY THE YOUNG TIN.

BY THE YOUNG uN.
Years ago-and for aught we know, il
still exists-there was statute in vogue in
New Hampshire, legislating the annual
election Of hog-reeves throughout the towns
in that State The office was facratiys
one in some places, though it was generally
made opprobrious, and the most obnoxious
individuals in the Community were usually
selected to fill this post. Some good jokes
occurred in various ways, in connection
with the office, however.
Farmer Thorow resided in a small town
above Nashua, and prided himself upon the
i1etds; the s. rntnetry OF FMS 1ences, and the
thriftiness of his orchards, but farmer T.
was nervous man, penurious and close
listed.
Waking early one morning, he dicsovet-
ed on sudden, from his chamber window,
that four large hogs had broken into nice
young orchard of his, just below his house,
and in his usual excitable manner, he hur-
ried on his clothes, and made the best of his
way down to Squire Looksharp,' (the bog
reeve was called 'Squire,') whom he very
quickly aroused, with his vociferous COM
plaint. t.
"Now Squire, > he said hurry up. There's
four O. my neighbours hogs got into my lit
tie apple orchard, and ii you'll hurry it'll
be good job for you; they're fat ones am
no mistake
"Be right along" said the Squire, Nhe
remembered the details of the law relating to
this kind of seizure-one half to the hog
reeve, and the other half to the poor Of the
town-and within half an hour lie had
pcaeeable possession of four animals such
as the neighborhocd couldn otherwise
boast of.
The seized hogs were quickly slaughter
to dry in the Squire's store house. Farmer
r. ri GIFTED his broken fence: and then re-
paired to his yard to see that all was snug
at the pig pen; he had no idea that his
hogs should trouble his neighbors-not he,
when 10! he found that board had been
forced from the side of the enclosure, and
the sty was empty. 80,
In the meantime, squire Looksbarp had
the hogs dressed, and he sent for his good
wife, who appeared at the store-house door
"Betty," said the squire, "the statoot per-
! vides that in case of seizure, one half the
pigs shall go to the official, and the other
half to the poor. Now, Betty, who's poorer
, than you arc?"
"sure enough!' said the Squire's wife, O.
bediently, @sure enougb bH'SNSS body's poor
er than am, I'd likea,,..,.> sSout it. "-'
aWell-soI cal'late, Betfy. AM there
fore one-half these pigs goes to the poor.
CHATS you) and the other half goes to the
officer, and that's mel" and the four hogs
very soon found their way into Squire Look
sharp's pork barrel.
An hour afterwards farmer Thorow ar
rived at the Sqnire's, sprang over the slile,
into the house, through the back Kitchen,
out again into the yard, where he encoun-
tered the squire very leisurely at work,
Il say, Squirrel"
@HellowI' e....
I @What'n thunder you doin' p"
"'Baout Whatp'
2Where's the pigs?"
"Distribooted 'cordin' to law"
"What?" -.
"Haff to the hog-reeve, half to the poor. .
"1hey're mineP' shouted farmer T
balf-crazy at his loss. @"'Pbey're mine,
Squire b broke out o. my PEN,
"You made the complaint"
Il know, but"
"An' it's too late the property's d,ily d.
vided = can't go behind the statoot."
The farmer squirmed, and threatened to
be revenged on somebody, the first opportls-
nifty; but seeing his mistake, at length re-
turned home and from that day forward
has had no occasion for d similar lesson.
He never afterwards complained Of his neigh
boris hogs.-Spirat.