The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1862-04-11

stTdnR6 thnCisS, Dut uNo uuuuEcu
guineas! Why there is Widow Ma.
sons pig--there isn't a handsomer
one in the kingdom. Isaw II only
the other day and this very morning
she sent for me to buy II; or ten to
one she knows nothing OF the proc.
lamation-I will give halfa guinea"
"lf como one else don't get there
before you" quoth the dwarf, silly
swinging himself down and holding
by one foot on a lower branch, so as
to bring his ugly face on level with
Balthazsr's. which 80 scared him
that, seizing bis whip, he began to
belabor his horse, who, though
trembling and sweating at every
pore, started off at furious gallop.
Arriving at the cottage, he found
the six children playing and the
widow 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
10 good humor, began at once to talk
to him about the pig.
"Pray, Mr.. Balthazar said she,
"did you get my message about the
the pigl I've got the finest In the
world. He stands as high as little
Martha yonder, and you won't find
such another one in the whole coun-
try"
Bslthazar buried his hands in his
pockets where tho bread and cheese
were, and put on look "a if he were
tnmbling over an old drawer Of
memory's bureau to find out where
in the world he had ever heard Of
her pig before.
"Pig-pig?" repeated he; 'is It a
LITTLE ReaF tsllG.w With With 'h9rt iSs saTSsG'
'why, it's as white as snow, and as
large--but first come and see for
yourself. Mr.. Balthazar."
Hardly worth while," said he
drawing up the reins as II to start
II have more pigs now than | want"
"But, indeed, Mr.. Bilthszsr, il
You would only look at him." urged d
the widow. And BsIthazar who
thought he had carried the game far
enough, got down and went to look
at the pig.
swell. what DO you ask for himl'
growled he, snrlily, at length.
"Wouli Is shilings be too muchl
"Fiiteen shillingsl Why. woman
do you want to ruin mel You had
better ask fifteen guineas at oncel--
Ten shilIings is the most I'll give
and its po'r bargain at that!"
The widow sighed. "lt's yer,
little, Mr.. Bllthazr, but we can
afford to keepit. The pig is yours
| Balthazar counted ont eight sliil
lings and told her to call tor tn,
other two some other day; and ia
king no notice OF the children, VIII,
were all crying because the pig Wa,
going, drove it out and started OF
the road to court.
For while they went on quietly
the pig trotting ahead. as ii it knew
the way, and Balthaz,r mnnchinJ
bread and cheese and chuckling owe
his bargain, till they came TO wild
and noisy brook. Then Bslthaz
began to consider how to get tn
. pig over, but pigship saved him tn
) trouble, clearing the brook in ga
liant style at one leap, AMI then star,
q ing across the country ons full run
Balthazar urged his horse with whi
and spur, bit the poor beast WI
{ kept on such low diet that he hadn
the strength for more than a genil
/ trot; and the pig ran as never di
pig before.
Worse than that, he wasn't at a
particular about the road, goin
/ straight through swamps and dash
ing over hedges. to the horror {
= Btlthazar, who was forced to iollo
: him through thick and thin till the
|, came to the palace, when the pi
jumped over the iron gate, and the
E lay quietly down to wait Tor Bal
e hazir. Balthszar, who was scarce
scratched, tired. and angry, didu
:: jump ovJr the gate. but went in Il
4 usual way, where all the guards al
" the pink and green pages g
"a around him. to admire the pig.
L At length came the Lord IIis
q Fiddlestick, and tying blue ribb'
|, about piggy's neck, told Bslthsz r
q lead him into the great hsll. wha
70 the queen was waiting for him. 4
!. the moment the ivory doors wei
" thrown open, the band playing"L
% the Conquering Hero Comes;" a,
e. Balthazar saw the queen sitting {
~ her throne, dressed in green eat
J, with q train forty yards long, o
= all her lords and ladies around he
Id "Your majesty" commenced |
q. II have the honor to offer you
n the finest pig" But, on loo
0. ing down, he saw the pig had d
appeared.
"Your majesty" suffered
"there was Q pig" And he Z
at out into the ante .ch amber, but
ID pig was there. Coming back.
stumbled over something that gru
7" ed, snd sque@led, and snapped
il his leg.
ur "Oh! obi" rosred 3 ,lthszsr, dal
ID, ing about aud slapping his leg