The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1873-10-17

tenants, it follows that you'll have to
make some sacrifices too," went on Sir
John; but trihing-nothing to what I
have TO do. My frients and tenants,
TIE raised your rents fire per cent. all
around. Now shout for your Queen
and country and for your landlords and
protectors ="
"And they paid it?''
"Of course they did, and we're thank
full to get off so cheap. Wasn't Sir
John paying shilling in the pound for
the country all the time? o, you're a
very loyal race =
"And so we are, Captain, and very
fond of Queen Victoria, and we don't
mind paying for her, too, Captain
only what we've paid before; it's the
new things We don't like, Captain. And
what did Sir John do when the war was
over ?"
"He forgot to take off the five per
cent"
Dear me that was clever. Yes, l
give in to you there, Captain Sir John
was very clever man. But we've
GOT clever men in these days, too. Cap
tain"
"But we we're talking about intel
lect," said the Captain, after n pause,
during which the coach had driven off,
and the square in front of the hotel had
resumed its normal quietude. "Now,
to my mind, as far as intellect went, 1
never knew anybody to beat old David
Gaur, of Penllyn."
ooh, come, Captain, now, that won't
do, Why, David was half an idiot"
"That may be-" said the Captain.
"I don't say he was clever all round.
The finest intellects have flaw some
where; but, in his particular way,
David was the cleverest man l ever
, knew"
:sBut, indeed, what Was his way,
Captain? I never knew him do any
thing but run about at fairs, and earn a
: sixpence where he could"
"What did you never hear of navid
Gaur and the pig-tax?"
"No, infect"
"Then you don't know half the ira
ditions of your country. Why, Jones,
l.. wNo'm half an Englishman, and
have followed the colors half over the
world, I'm better Welshman than
you are. Why, thought everybody
knew about pavid Gaur and the pigs.
"Tell it to us, Captain; tell us the
story"
"You know" said the Captain, hem,
ming and stroking his moustache medi'
{ tatively, "that David had a peculiar
gift. How he acquired it, nobody evel
knew; it was said he was taught it by
old Morris Morris, who lived to be Q
: hundred and twenty, and that Morris
l father had it from the fairies. But how
J ever he got it doesn't matter-he hat
it and as he never impaired the secret
, it died with him. offered him sove
u reign once, to show me how he did 1t
and swore most solemnly I'd keep it {
profound secret. But no. l wish II
bid higher now; it would have beer
something to fall back upon in ones ole
: age-something that Lawyer Jones
: couldn't lay his claw upon"
"Rut what was it, Captain? Wha
was the secret he had? 2"
"It was the art Of frightening pigs,
j.. said the Captain solemnly. "Ah. nov
don't 90 away with the idea that that
!. nothing. / don't mean startling EN-
anv fool with an umbrella can cry
sShoo shoe ? and do that. But wha
mean is downright frightening them
> injecting their very souls with fear
. making them mad, SO that they'll juml
y ont of their very skins with terror
y New, you know, they're very imagina
= tive beasts, are pigs, and at the sam
l. time they're very cunning. They're no
+ to be taken in and if you were to max
all the horrible noises you could pu
your tongue to, they'd quietly whis
their tails and cock their eyes, an
w think you fool for your pains. Bu
D. this was how David went to work. 70
10 knew thst Penllyn May fair is tremer
dous fair for pigs. They all com
from the north side of the cour
ty, and must cross the brlde
T. over the Dulas to get there at al
v v and when they've crossed the rive
there's a long, straight piece OF roat
q; with grass on each side of it, and hig
IL stone walls beyond the grass. Wei
y here it was David would take his stan'
1e or seat, rather, for he squatted himse
re down in the grass, and then he mac
himself a round hole like basin, fo'
IN deem. at the side of the road and the
ld he'd sit from early daylight coilectir
'h his tax on the pigs. If there were le
re than ten he charged penny, and
a on q penny of every half-score. In
nr was David tax; and very good ia
OF ootherer he made. He wasn't nlwn.
'u altering it, moving it up and pnlill
'u it down; but he put on reasohao
~ figure, and stuck to 1t.
~ "But suppose the people wouidr
N. pay it?"
all "That's lust what they made up the