The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1867-11-28
Old owsley.

Previous to the revolutionary war
persons convicted Of crimes in England,
were sentenced to be transported to Vir-
ginia, as they are now to Botany Bay
A fellow by the name Of Ovsley was
transported for theft, which he had
committed as much out Of mischief as
any thing else. After his arrival In
Virginia, he played some mischievous
tricks, which showed that his punish
ment had not had the effect to reform
ing him. A neighbor of his, who was
not very well provided for In the upper
story, poor i'll managing creature, who
had not wit enough to contrive how to
make both ends meet, had ono hog
which he put into pen to fatten, and
before the hog was fit to butcher, his
owner had been borrowing pork all over
the neighborhood, which he promised
to pay when he killed his hog, until on
making a calculation he found that his
hog would not make pork enough to pay
his debts, let alone leaving any thing for
his family's use. In his troubles Jones
applied to Owsley for advice, telling him
the difficulty he was in, and promising
that if Owsley would tell him of some
plan to get out of it, he would pay him
what he owed him, and give him some
thing more. "Well," says Owsley, "Tll
tell you what to do, Jones. Do you go
home and mind your business for day
or two, and be sure that you don't tell
any body that you're afraid that you
can't pay them their pork, but tell them
that you're going to kill your hog on
such day and that then you'll pay 'em.
When the day comes, kill your hog and
dress him and let him hang out to cool
in some place where the neighbours can
see him: and make as much fuss as you
can, so as to make them oil take notice
of you. Let the hog hang out till after
dark and then slip out and take him
down and put him out of the way, and
then go to the nearest neighbours and
tell them that you had killed your hog,
and let him hang out to cool till after
dark and that when you went to take
him down somebody had stolen him. II
they don't believe you, you must swear
by all that's good and bad that it is SO,
and you must tell the same story to all
your neighbours; and be sure next day
to go to all that you have borrowed pork
and tell them the story aud how sorry
you are that you can't pay them, and
that you have no meat at home for your
family. They'll all let you off: None
of them will expect you to pay them, if
you make them believe your hog was
stolen, and if they don't believe you,
you must try every way you can to con-
vince them that it is true. But now
Jones, honour! You must pay ME what
you owe me-" Jones promised faithful
ly that he would, and went away.
Some days afterwards Jones killed his
hog and hung it out as Owsley had d.
rected. Every neighbour that passed
by, Jones would call to him and tell
him that he would pay him has pork to-
morrow. AS soon it became dark, Ows-
ley alipped up and stole the hog and
carried it off. When Jones came out tn
take care of it he found that it was gone.
and almost ran mad. He followed Ows-
ley's directions without having to tell
lie. He went to his neighbours and
told them of his bad fortune with tears
In his eyes. In the morning he was at
Owsley's as soon as it was light. "Well!
Mr. nHyelov,l lil toll r
killed my hog yesterday and hung it up
and when went out after dark to bring
1t in, it was gone-somebody had stolen
it sure enough" Owsley looked at him
as if he did not know what he meant
Mr.. Owsley; may be you don't believe
me? Why you don't want to poke that
story on to me, do you? I wish I may
never stir if it ant just as l tell you.-
Owsley burst into a laugh, Jones swore
that it was true and went over the whole
story again: how he had killed the hog
and dressed it and hung it out as Owsley
had told him, and when he went to take
it in to hide it, some one had stolen it.
Well, says Owsley, you need not be
afraid but what any body will believe
that your hog is stolen if you'll keep
such long face on when you tell them
your story as you do now. If did not
know how it was should believe you
myself. Then Jones began to swear
again that somebody had stolen the hog.
Stick to it Jones, you'll easily make
them believe it, and they'll all forgive
you what you owe them. You look just
as If you were in earnest. Why Mr..
Owsley, am in earnest. no
joke about it, somebody did steal the
hog! Why Jones! l believe in my
soul you are trying to make me believe
1t too, after it was that put the plan
into your head. Come now you need
not think I'm going to be such a fool as
that, after putting you up to the trick
Then Jones would swear again that the
hog was stolen. Well Jones you're go-
ing to pay me what you owe me, ant
you? How can pay you when have
nothing to pay you with? 1 tell you
the hog is gone. I suppose you think
you'll cheat ,,,- ,.-nll nc tho rast says