Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1860-06-01

to see if he was observed, then quickly
tossed pig number two into clump of
bushes by the fence. He then put a
stone in its place, in order to balance the
bag, and to keep up appearances, and
trotted home.
Arrived at the door, out ran his little
daughter Mary, to see the pigs.
50, where are they, father? ?
In the bag, child
'How many?'
1.-TWO, child
80, want to see them
Not tonight. Run into the house.
You'll scare 'em so they won't eat
Mary reluctantly obeyed casting wist-
full eyes at the bag. Her father took it
from the horse, and carried it to a pen
prepared in corner of the yard. Then
he took out the remaining pig, and threw
away the stone. After supper, Mary,
who had been out, returned to the house
with troubled look, and finger in her
mouth.
Have you been near the pigs, Mary P
No, father, only just went by, and
there aint but one pig in the pen!
'The other was lying down, and you
didn't see it, said Wilson. Don't you
60 near them again. Mind" Mary was
up early the next morning, and out to look
at the pigs.
There aint but oner she cried
Only come and seep
Mr.. Wilson went to look, and was very
much astonished.
The other has got out and gone home,'
said he.
But there wasn't but one last night
insisted Mary.
Shall 1 whip you2 I certainly shall
if ever you say again there wasn't but
one pig said Wilson.
After breakfast be saddIed his horse,
spread the bag over the saddle, mounted,
and rode off in search of the runaway
pig.
The same morning Ike Smith and
Charley Howard, wood-cboppers, were
grinding their axes under Dea. Browns
wood-shed.
Been selling any pigs, lately, deacon !?
/ let Wilson have couple last night,
said the deacon.
i, The wood-choppers laughed, and Ike
e Smith, feeling the edge of his axe, tolt
B the deacon story.
y Last night me and Charley was sit
: ting under the fence, behind some bushes
5 when who should come along the road bu
Wilson? He turned up agin the fence
d took off bag from the horses neck, tool
e dead pig out, looked at it, felt of il
n turned it over, and, after scratching hi
r head. and thinking little, chucked it int
the bushes within six foot of where m
Y and Charley sat
o Just at this point in the conversatio
, Wilson rode through the gate into tn
deacon's yard.
d 'There he comes for another pig ? an
the wood-choppers laughed.
r, Come, come said the deacon, don
9, you know better than to laugh at poe
IN mans misfortune? Keep sober, if yo
can ?
E. The boys could keep sober when thel
was fun to accumulate; SO they wei
,e very seriously grinding their axes, whe
Wilson entered the shed.
or Have you seen a stray pig, th
% morning, deacon
il "A stray pig? Not that l know o
-, neighbor Wilson,
- One of mine got out last night, deaco
- and thought most likely had run hom
i An awful silence followed this a
M nouncement. 1t was broken only by Il
. grinding of the steel upon the stone, al
* the suffering of the water. The bo
Mt held their countenances, which appear
nd a good deal flushed with what they su
,er pressed inside. The deacon looked
Wilson. Wilson turned to examine t
He saw-horse.
aid SO you say one of those pigs got o
all and most likely came home last nigh
asst at length said the deacon, solemnly a
me distinctly.
ans Wal, aint sure about bis conf
,le- home,' answered Wilson; but he's
ms out, and where else would he go to? !?
tho Another silence; the deacon looki
to at his neighbor, his neighbor looking
red the saw-horse, with an apparent inter
MID he had never before shown in saw-hors
his Charley still turned the grindstone,
held another axe, the water hsped {
tter spluttered as the stone revolved in
- trouoh