Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-03-05
Mortester @a1lp Syn.
WIDOW MAsONs PIG.

d Fairy Story for Little Folks and Biz Ones
Old Balthazar was very much too mean 10
buy dinner, so with his pockets stuffed out
with bread and cheese, he rode through the
woods on his lean horse. His short black hair
was cuTled up SO tightly that it seemed as if
1t was pulling Away his eye brOws from his
little cunning eyes; his hat had belonged to
his great grandfather, and ran up in point
like steepe, while under his saddle went
'chnk.' 'chink,' bag OF gold guineas-the
sweetest music in the world in Balthazar's
ears.
Now, it was in the days when fairies and
goblins had habit of jumping out at you
from drawers, tea kettles, stumps OF trees and
all other unreasonable places. So Balthazar
was not in the least surprised, when, sitting
under fine old oak, he sped dwarf-the
very ugliesU little creature ever seen-beiug
covered with long black hair, with arr.s twice
as long as his body, head as large as the rest
of his person, a wrinkled forehead and
mouth that, when he laughed opened so wide
that II seemed TO swallow his entire face, and
even started Bathazar, who could not help
stopping to ask, "What in the saints name
he found to laugh at in that lonesome forest 2"
No sooner had he spokent han the dwarf set
up yelling scream, that made Balthazar's
curly hair stand on end and rolling himself
up in ball, he bounded right on the horses
neck, his ugly little eyes swapping wickedly,
almost at the top of Bathazar's nose Bal
thazar crossed himself and tried to say
prayer, but not a thing could he think of but
the multiplication table. The dwarf grinned,
and catching hold of an overhanging branch,
swung himself up like monkey Balthazar
whipped his poor old horse, but the frightened
animal refused to go. The dwarf set up an.
other of his yelling laughs, and began to Chant
in harsh voice
'Five hundred guineas not to be had
But poor Balthazar's gone quite mad"
"Eh what-hOw what was that you said
good Mr.. Dwarf 2" asked Balthazar.
ooh, nothing" grinned the dwarf; "only
you might look behind you if you were not so
busy saying your prayers" Balthazar looked
round, and there, fastened by an arrow to a
tree, was a royal proclamation in letters of
gold, written on parchment;
"know all men that we, queen candlemas
and princess of plum cakes, do hereby otler
five hundred guineas for the finest pig in our
kingdom of candlPmas. Given at the marble
palace with the golden tower, under our hand
aud seal"
Wonderful Z" cried Balthazar Give hun.
bred guineas fora pig l have always heard
that ladies have strange fances; but five hun
dred guineas Why, there is widow Masons
pig-there isn't handsomer one in the king
dom. 1 saw it only the other day and this
very morning she sent for me to buy it. She
has six children and can't keep it. / will give
her guinea for il or-ten to one she knows
nothing Of the prOclamaion-l will give half
guinea"
al some one else don't get there before you
quoth the dwarf, slyly swinging himself down
and holding by one foot on lower branch, so
as to bring his " y face on a level with Bal
thazars, which so scared him that, Selling his
whip, he began to belabor his horse who,
though trembling and sweating at every pore,
started off at once on a furious gallop. Arriv-
ell at the cottage, he found the six children
playing and the gwidow spinning, but she
dropped her distaff and ran to the gate when
she spied the great man coming, and judging
from his looks that he was in good humor, be.
gan at once to talk to him about the pig.
"Pray, Mr.. Balthazar," said she, 'dd you
get my message about the pig? Pve got the
finest in the world He stands as high as little
Martha yonder, and you won't find such an.
other one in the whole country"
Balthazar buried his hands in his pockets
where the bread and cheese were, and put on
a look as ii he were tumbling over an old
drawer of memory's bureau TO find out where
in the world he had ever heard of her pig be
fore.
"Pig-pig? 2" repeated he "is it little
black fellow with short ears ?''
it's as white as snow, and as large-but first
come and see for yourself, Mr.. Balthazar."
"Hardy worth WHILE said he, drawing up
the reins as if to start. II have more pigs
now than l want"
"But, indeed, Mr.. Balthazar, if you would
only look at him." urged the widow. And
Balthazar. who thought he had carried the
game far enough, got down and went to look
at the pig.
Ill Ia 4 ,.ir[ 10, Il, IL
he, surlily, at length.
"Would fifteen shillings be too much 2"
"Ftteen shillings? Why, woman do you
want 10 ruin me You had better ask fifteen
guineas at once Ten shillings is the most
Iii give, and its poor bargain at thatW
The widow sighed. cts very little, Mr..
Balthazar, but we can't atfard to keep it, The
pig is yours
Bathazar counted out eight shilings and
told her to call for the other two some other
day ; and taking no notice of the children,
who were all crying because the pig was 60
ing, drove it out and started on the road to
court.
For while they went on quietly, the pig
trotting ahead, as if he knew the way, and
Balthazar munching bread and cheese and
chuckling over his bargain, till they came to
a wide and noisy brook. Then Balthazar be
gan to consider how to get the pig over but
plgsDlD saved min the trouble, clearing Inc
brook in gallant style at one leap, and then
starting across the country on full run. Bal
thazar urged his horse with whip and spur,
but the poor beast was kept on such low diet
that he hadn't the strength for more than a
gentle trOt and the pig ran as never did pig
before.
Worse than that, he wasn't at all particular
about the road, going straight through swamps
and dashing over hedges, to the horror Of Bal
thazar, who was forced to follow him through
thick and thin till they came to the palace,
when the pig Jum,ed over the iron gate, and
then lay quietly down tu wait fer Balthazar
Bathazar, who was scared, scratched, tired,
and angry, didn't jump over the gate but
went in the usual way, where all the guards
and the pink and green pages got around him,
to admire the pig.
At length came the Lord High Fddestick,
ard, tying blue ribbon about pggy's neck,
told Bathazar to lead him into the great hall i,
where the queen was waiting for him. AT
the same moment the ivory doors were thrown
open, the band playing "Lo the Conquering
Hero Comes" and Balthazar saw the queen
sitting on her throne, dressed in green satin,
with train forty yards long, and all her lords
and ladies around her.
"Your Majesty" commenced he, 81 have
the honor to offer you the finest pig
But, OH looking down, he saw the pig had dis
appeared.
your majesty" suffered he, "there was a
. pig" And he ran out into the ante chamber
but no pig was there. Coming back, he stun
bled over something that grunted and squeal
ed, and euannp1 af his laO