Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1874-10-08
pottrp.
Josh's Pig.
BY ROSE TERRY COOKE.

There was an old woman who lived BY the Sc
| As shall shortly tell.
! In little brown house by a ccdar-tree.
| With pig-stye, barn, and well.
| Now this old woman was stiff aud queer;
Her husband hsd sailed away,
! And her sons lay dead. this many a year.
| Deep down in Buzzard's Bay.
She lived alone on the Vineyard shore.
Except for one small child:
She scowled at all who came TO her door,
| But for little Josh she smiled.
| A naughty and merry boy was he,
| Who liked TO have his wsy.
To wade all day in the edge of the sea.
And dance about in the spray.
| To stone the peeps on the shining beach.
And scare his granny 10 bits.
Swimming almost into the breakers reach,
Where they foam on the sandy spits.
| But he had torment ofhis own,
A torment and !cight,
4 little black big that lived all alone
In the woodshed day and night.
4 wee fat pig. with curly tail,
And eyes A. bright as Goals.
His ears upright like a schooners sails,
And nose a sharp as mole's.
The funniest pig that ever YOU saw.
lie could scratch and bite and squeal
And everything went to his hungry NAV
He could either beg or steal.
He would scramble out of his tiny pen,
And open the woodshCd door.
Break up the nest of the setting hen,
And scamper down TO the shore;
OR into the onions just set out.
or over the growing corn,
And root them up with his wicked snout,
The worst pig ever was born.
Now one day Josh began TO run
As fast A. he could go.
For soldiers were coming with pike and gun
From the ship that lay below.
He ran away IN the woods TO hide
But Granny she staid at home;
She was old. and still. and weak beside,
So she stsid TO see them come.
They drove her cow i1om the little barn,
They killed her hens and cocks,
They stole her skcins Of good gray yarn.
And her store Of winter socks.
She bore it all in silent rage,
Though the heart in her breast grew big;
But Granny forgot her feeble age.
When they found little Josh'- pig.
She hid it under her linsey gown,
But piggy began 10 squeal;
You could almost hear II al Edgartown,
That shril! and angry peal.
soldier heard him quite too we'll
And seized him where Ee lay;
BIO. ho' little piggy you've rung the bell.
III carry you. too, away"
Then piggy he squealed both loud ana long,
And Granny began 10 scod;
her weak old arms grew >tih and strong.
Her fingers they took good hold.
She caught the troopers scarlet coat.
She caught his yellow hair.
She shook till he beated like goat
And begged the old woman TO spare.
You awful cretur, why. what do you mean
To rob an old woman 70:
You snesklng. mis'abl horse-marine,
You let that little pig go"'
You've stole my chickens. and calf and cow
But I've got YOU by the wig;
There's one thing you shan't have any bow
lou shan't have Josh's pig
The drum it beat loud recall.
The old womans grasp was sore
lie was deaf and dazed with piggy's squall.
80 he dropped II on the floor.
When Josh came back from the wood at nigh
a frightened boy was he:
Come i'm said Granny, "ior you're all right
Tney haven't got little pig-gee'
Now all small people who read nv song.
| wish YOU a wish to-day:
May YOU have a Granny as bold and strong
II your pig i stolen away,
-ChriStidH URion.