Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1849-09-10
From the American Art Union.
FARMER TE7OROW.

| Years ago--and for ought we know, it still ex-
| iss-there was statnte in vogue in N. Hamp-
| shire, regulating the annual election of hog reeves
| throughout the towns in that State. The office
was lucrative one in some places, though it was
generally made opprobous. and the most obnoxious
individuals in the community were selected to fill
this post.
| Farmer Thorow resided in small town above
Nashua, and prded himself upon the neatness of
his cattle, the cleanliness Of his fields, the symme
try of his fences and the thrness of his orchards
but Farmer L. was nervous man, penu,ious
and close fsted
| Waking early one morning, he discovered on a
sudden from his chamber window. that four large
hogs had broken into nice young orchard of his
just below the house and in his usua! excitable
manner he hurried on his clothes, and made the
best OF his way down to esquire Looksharp'' (the
hog reeve was called "Sqnire,") whom he quick
" aroused with his vocerous complaint.
CHOW, Squire" he said, '.hurry up. There's
four of my neighbours hogs got into my little apple
orchard, and fyo'i'll hurry. it' be good Job for
you; they're fat ones and no mstake''
"Be right straight along, J" said the Squire who
remembered the details of the law relating to this
sort of selzure-one half to the hog reeve and the
other half to the poor Of the town-and in half
an hour he had peaceable possession of four ami
mails such as the nelghborhuad couldn't otherwise
| boast of.
The hogs We're quickly slaughtered by the town
official. and were hung up to dry in the Sepire's
store house. Farmer 7. reh:ed up his broken
fence and then repaired to his yard 10 see that all
was snug at the pig pen, he had no idea that his
| hogs should trouble his neighbors-not he-wken
10! he found that board had been forced from the
side of the pen and the sty was empty!
In the meantime, Squire Looksharp had the
seized hogs dressed and now he sent for his good
wife. who appeared at the store house door.
Betty said the Squire, the statoot provides
IN case OF seizure, that one haa the pigs shall 90
to the Official and the other half to the poor Now
Betty, who's poorer than You are?'
'.Sufe enough, - ssid the Squre's wife obedient-
y, "sure enough! Il any oody's poorer'n ! am I'd
/ like to hear about it''
"We, so ! cal'eate An tharfore, one hafT
these pigs 60 to the poor, (hat's yeou, y and the
other half. as said afore, goes to the officer-an'
that's mel and the four hogs very soon found
their way into Squire Looksharp's pork barrels.
An hour afterwards, Farmer TIorow arrived at
the Slnlre's, sprang oyer the stile into the house,
through the back kitchen, out again into the yard,
where he encountered the Squire quietly at work
81 say, Squirrel
/ "N hat are you doin ~
.Beeut what ~
Where's the pigs?"
"Disirlhuled 'cordin to aw''
"WhM?"
s'ilaif to the hog reeve half to the poorn
They're mine!o shouted Farmer L. half crazed
at his loss. They're mine, Squlre-bruke out
Of my PEN" 9.s4454as
You made the complaint yourself.''
81 know-but''-
AN it's too late farmer the propsrty's dewly
divlded-cant go behind the staloot."
| The farmer squrnied and threatened to be re-
|
seeing his mistake, at length returned home and
from that day forward had no occasion for similar
| lesson. He never afterwards complained Of his
neighbours hogs.
A CUTTING RETORT-The family Of
Mrs Brown, good widow, consisting of six
daughters, had the misfortune 10 be poor and proud
Above the gross vulgari,y Of manual labor tho
not above its necessity, they lived in '.stuek up''
ldleness, and depended mainly on the hard earn-
'ngs Of the mother for support. Finally, Maria,
who was the youngest, and rather pretty, mana
ged TO win the heat and the hand of the village
physician, and got married. The alliance being
considered as decided step sup in the world y
by all the family, the single sisters grew prouder
and lazler than ever, while the doctors wife took
a new and improved set of airs to match her adj
yancement in the scale of '.ood society,"" Being
comfortably bestowed in her new house, she be-
gan to need somebody to mind the pets aud ket-
lies; and seeing neighbor Ga thrifty mechanic,
who used to be ''boss" to her father in the same
carpenters shop) going past the door she called
out to him in an affected manner, to know swhere
she could find servant expecting to get an Of
fer Of one of his daughters. well, 4 don't know
said the carpenter; 'help is little hard to be got
just now, hut there are the widow Browns girls,
whom, should think, you might get, as they are
dreadful poor, and seem TO be always out of work.
Some nelghoors who overheard the coloquy, say
that madam retreated into the house with pre.
ciptancy that was quite alarming to behold, and
never spoke Of the carpenter afterwards, but as
vulgar fellow who knew nothing of the proper
distinctions Of society. "--Boston Post.