Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1849-11-03
Rev serFes--V0i. A-No. y.
a { scet tlatGc q I; 8 .
The Model Hog-Reeve.
BY THE YOUNG TN.

Years ago-and for aught we know, it
still exists--there was statue in vogue in
New Hampshire, regulating the annual
election of hog-reeves throughout the towns
in that State Ihc Office was lucrative
one in some places, though il was general
Iy made opprObrious, and the most obnox-
ious individuals in the community were
usually selected to fill this post. Some
good Jokes occurred in various ways, N
connexion with the Office however.
Farmer Thorow resided in small town
above Nashua, and prideG himself upon
the neatness of his cattle, the cleanliness
of his fields, symmetry of his fences, and
the thriftiness Of his orchards, but farmer
r. was a nervous man, penurious and
close fisted.
Waking early one morning, he discoy
cred on sudden, from his chamber win
dow, that four large hogs had broken into
nice young orchard OF his, just below the
house, and in his usual eXcitable manner
he hurried on his clothes, and made the
best Of his way down to Squire Look
sharp the h0g-reeve was called Squire
whom he very quickly aroused with his
vociferous complaint
Now Squire he said hurry up
There's four o my neighbors hogs got in
TO my little apple orchard, and if you'll
hurry, it'll be a good JOB for you =; they are
fat ones an no mistake
Be right straight along, said the Squire,
who remembered the details of the law re-
lating 10 this sort of seizure-one half to
the hog reeve, and the other half to the
poor of the town-and within half an
hour he had peaceable possession OF four
such animals as the neighborhood couldn't
otherwise boast of.
The seized hogs were quickly slaugh
tered by the town official, and were hung
up to dry in the Squire's store house.
Farmer T. frightened his broken fence, and
then repaired to his yard to see that all
was snug al 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 en-
closure. and the sty was empty.
In the meantime, Squire LOoksharp had
the hogs dressed, and he sent for his good
wife, who appeared at the store-house
door.
Betty said the Squire, statoot per-
vidcs that in case of seizure, one half the
pigs shall 90 the official, and the other TO
the poor. Now, Betty, who's poorer
than YOU are ?
Sure enough y said the squire's wife,
obediently, sure enough if any body's
poorer than am, I'd like 10 hear about it,
'Well--so cal'late, Betty. And there
fore one half of these pigs goes to the
poor, that's you) and the other half goes
to the officer, and that's me = and the
four hogs very soon found their way into
squire Looksharp's pork barrel.
An hour afterwards farmer Thorow ar
rived at the squ,re's, sprang over the stile,
into the house, through the back kitchen,
out again into the yard. where he encoun-
tered the squire very leisurely at work.
Il say squire ?
Helow !!
What'n thunder YOU doin' p
Baout what 2
Where's the pigs 2
Distrbooted 'cordin' to law
WHAT
Half to the hog-reeve, half to the
poor
They're mine ? shouted the farmer T.,
half crazy at his loss. They're mine,
squire-broke out o my pen
Iou made the complaint
Il know but
And it's to late-the property's duly
divided-can't go behind the statoot.
The farmer squirmed, and threatened TO
be revenged on somebody, the first oppor-
tunity; but seeing his mistake, at length
returned home and from that day forward
has had no occasion for similar lesson.
He never afterwards complained Of his
neighbor's hogs.