The Portland daily press., 1863-03-06


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 curled up SO tightly that it seemed as If it
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
steeple: while under his saddle went "chink,
chink.-a bag of gold guineas-the sweetest
music in the world la Balthazars ears.
Now, il was in the days when fairies and
goblins had habit OF jumping out at you
from drawers, tea-kettles, slumps of trees and
all such unreasonable places. Baltliazar was
not in the least surprised. when, sitting under
a fine old oak, be espied dwari-the very ug-
lest little creature ever seen-being covered
with long black hair with arms twice as long
as his body, a head as large as the rest Of his
person, a wrinkled forehead. and mouth that,
when he laughed. opened SO wide that it seem
ed to swallow his entire face, and even startled
Balthazar, who could not help stopping to ask,
"Mhat in the Saints name do you find to
laugh at 10 this lonesome forest?"
No sooner had he spoken than the dwarf set
up yelling scream. that made BalthaZar's
curly hair stand on end; and rolling himself
up in bali, he bounded right on the horses
neck, his ugly little eyes snapping wickedly,
almost at the top of Balthazar's nose.
Baltha.ar whipped his poor old horse, but
dwarf set up another OF his yelling laughs, and
began to chaQt in a harsh voice:
give hundred guineas not TO be had
But poor Baltnazar's gone quite mad"
"Ah. what-how? what was that you said,
good Mr.. Dwarl?n asked Bathazar.
"Oh, nothing" grinned the dwarf; only you
might look behind you if you were not so busy
saying your prayers
Baithazar looked around; and there, fasten-
A. ...1
nation, in letters Of gold, written on parch-
ment:
sKnow all men that we. Queen Of Candle
mas and Princess of Plum cake, do hereby Of
fer five hundred guineas for the finest pig in
our kingdom of Candlemas. Given at the
marble palace with the golden tower, under
our hand and SEAL
"Wonderfur' cried Balthazar, Five hun
dred guineas for pig | have always heard
that great ladies have strange fancies but five
hundred guneasl Why, there is Widow
Mason's pig-there isn't handsomer one in
the kingdom. / saw it only the other day,
and this very morning she sent for me to buy
1t. She has six children and cant keep 1t. /
will give her guinea for it; ten TO one she
knows nothing of the proclamation-I will
give her half a guinea"
ssIf some one don't get there before you,"
quoth the dwarf, slyy swinging himself down
anu UDi0ing DIV one fDtt bu n lONtT DTdiitil. 50
as to bring his ugly face on a level with Bal
thazar's, 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.
Arrived 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 in good hu-
NOR, began at once to talk to him about the
pig.
APray Mr. Balthazar," said she, did you get
my message about the pig? I've got the finest
in the world. He stands as high as little
Martha yonder, and you won't find another
one in the whole country"
Balthazar buried his hands in his pockets
where the bread aud cheese were, and put on
a look as IL he were tumb.ing over an old
drawer of inemory's bureau TO lind out where in
the world he had ever heard Of this pig before.
"Pig-pig p repeated he: lis ii little black
fellow with short ears ?'
sBack little,r cried the widow. "Why it is
as white as snow, aud as large-but first come
and see for yourself, Mr. Balthazar."
Hardly worth while,r said he, drawing up
the reins as ifto start. " | have more pigs now
than 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.
We'll. what do you ask for him?" growled
he surlily, at length.
Would fifteen shillings be too much?"
Fifteen shilings! Why, WOMAN. do you
want 10 ruin me? You had better ask fifteen
guineas at oncel Ton shillings is the most
I'll give, and its poor bargain at thatr'
The widow sighed.
g It's very little, Mr.. Balthazar, but we can't
afford to keep it. The pig is yours"
Balthazar counted out eight shillings and
told her TO call for the other two shillings some
other day; and taking no notice of the chill
dren who were all crying because the pig was
going, drove it out and started on the road to
court.
For awhile they went on quietly, the gig
trotting ahead as if he knew the way, and,
Balthazar mnnching bread and cheese and
chnckling over his bargain, till they came TO
wide and noisy brook. Then Bathazar be-
gan to consider how to get the pig over, but
his pigship saved him the trouble, clearing the
brook in gallant style at one leap. and then
started across the country on a full run. Bait
hazar urged his horse with whip aud spur. but
the poor beast was kept on such low diet that
he hadn't the strength for more than 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, 10 the horror of Bait
hazar who was forced to follow him through
thick and thin till they came to the palace,
where the pig jumped over the iron gate, and
then lay quietly down to wait for Balthazar
Balthazar, who was scared and scratched,
tired and sngry, didn't jump over the gate,
but went in the usual way where all the
guards aud the pink and green pages got a.
rourd TO admire tile pig.
At length came the Lord High Fiddlestick
and tying a blue ribbon about pirgys neck
told Balthazar TO lead him into the great hall
where the Queen was waiting for him.
At the same moment. the ivory doors were
thrown open, the band playing. "Lo the Con-
quering 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" cried be, 81 have the honor
to offer you the finest pig"
But on looking down, he saw the pig had
disappeared.
"Your Majesty, suffered he. "there was
pig" And he ran into the ante chamber. but
no pig was there. Coming back he stumbled
over something that grunted and squealed and
snapped his leg.
"Oh. oh' roared Balthazar, dancing about
slapping his leg.
ale Is mad" cried all the ladies'.
HE is drunk y shouted all the lords.
"Your Majesty" quivered Balthazar Don't
you see the pig anywhere? l certainly"
"OhF' screamed all the conrtiers," he wants
Her Majesty to help him look for the pig?"
II.