The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-08-23
A Sailors Story Of q Pig

A curious animal is a pig, gentlemen!
Very cunning too-a great Geal more
sensible than people give ham credit for.
had . pig aboard Iny ship that was too
knowing by hail. All hands were found
of him, and there was not one on board
that would have seen him injured. There
was q dog on board too, and the pig and he
were capital friends they ate out OF the
same plate, walked about the decks to-
gether, and would lie down side BY side
under the burlwarks in the sun. The
only thing they ever quarrelled about was
lodging The dog you see, sir, had got q
kennel for himself the pig had nothing
of the sort We did not think he needed
one but he had his own notions upon
that matter. Why should Toby be better
housed Of q night than he? Well, sir, Lo
had somehow got into his head that pros
session IS nine parts of the law and
though Toby tried show him the rights Of
the question, he was SO pisheaded that he
either would not or could not understand.
So every night it came to be catch as
catch can" If the dog got IN first, he
would show his teeth, and the other had
to lie under the boat, or to find the softest
plank where he could; il the pig was
found in possession the dog could not turn
him out, but looked out for his revenge
next time. One evening, gentlemen, it
had been blowing hard all day, and had
just ordered close reeled topsails, for tho
gale was increasing, and there was good
deal Of sea running, and it was coming on
to be wet short, said to myself, as call
ed down the cOmpanon-ladder for the
boy TO bring up my peaiacket We are
going to have dirty night :" The pig
was slipping and tumbing about the decks,
for the ship lay over SO much with the
breese, being close hauled, that he could
not keep his hoofs. At list he thougt he
would go and secure his berth for the
night, though it wanted good bit to
dusk. But 10 and behold Toby had
been Of the same-mind, rnd there he was
safely housed. "Umph umPh says piggy
as he turned and looked up at the black
sky to windward but Toby did not offer
to move. A, last, the pig seemed to give
it up, and took a turn or two, as if he was
making up his mind which was the war
.ncst corner. Presetly, be trudges of to
the lee scuppers, where the tin plate was
lying that ti1sy ate their cold tatoes of.
Pig takes up the plate in his mounth,
and carries it to part Of the deck where
the dog could see it, but some way from
the kennel; then, turning his tail towards
the dog, he begins to act as if he was eating
out Of the plate, making it rattle, and
munchins with his mouth pretty loud
What! I" thinks Toby" has piggy got
victuals there p and he pricked up his
ears and looked out towards the place,
making little whining. s
'Chsmp champ" goes the pig, taking not
the least notice Of the dog. and down
goes his mouth 20 the plate again. Toby
could mt stand that any longer. victuals
and he not there! Out he runs, and
comes up in front of the pig, with his
mouth watering and pushes his cold nose
into the empty plate. Like a shot, gen.
tleman, she pig turned tail. and was snug
in the kennel before Toby we'll knew
whether there was any meat or not in the
plate.-Animal Traits and Charaeteris.ics BY
fHe Rer IL g. Wood