Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-03-11
Pig-Pen Peter.
A sronY on orxu1vE CHARITY.

him home from school to help 10 earning
the living Of himself and wife But the
boy had noble spirit which neither pow
eriy nor hard work could quench. His
ambition was to be a carpenter when he
grew to be man, and ne was always
making bread-boards for the noighbors and
bird-houses for the birds
A man for whom Peter sometimes worked
once promised him pig, if be could make
pen TO hold it. Peter was only twelve
years old then, but with the rubbish lying
about his poor home he made a cottnge
with mock window aud real door, with
board chimneys and weather-cock on it,,
for the new little pig. 1t was as pretty as
toy This pen made such a stir in the
village that Peter was asked by several
boys to help in making the like for them,
and little pigs in clean white pens became
the golden dreams Of the little fellows Of
that town, and the inventor was digniied
with the name Of " Pig-pon Peter"
One night when Peter was about fourteen
years old, the stove.pipe in black Peggy's
little hut became red-hot, aud set the hut
on fire. The poor old creature had barely
kept out Of the poor house by hard work for
three years; and now there was no other
place for her to 90 to, poor soul After
the house was burned the boys found her
sitting on a great stone near the ruins.
weeping bitterly.
wish | could 60 down into the grave
and be long of my own folks when was
mind ter My house is all gone, and my
feather bed, and my patchwork quilt, and
my new cap, and my cups and saucers, and
my looking glass, and my cheers and table,
and all my elegant things, and I'm lef'
poor in my ole agel What shall | do
What shall do?" The boys tried to com
fort her, and more than one Of them did
what his father had forgotten to do-asked
her to 60 home and sleep at his house that
night.
But sleep was the last thing Peggy
thought Of then, aud there she sat rocking
herself to and fro, and talking and weep
ing, for dread Of the poor house bad long
been her greatest trial.
Peggy" said one of the boys, "if |
were a man I'd build you house, and you
shouldn't 90 to the poor-house while lived"
al wish you was man then, cried Peggy
don't believe but can make house
almost as good as Peggy's," said Peter
Dale. "And | will try, boys, if you'll
help me get things, old boards, and win
dows, and nails"
And such flutter as there was among
the boys of that town As there was some
doubt about Petes ability to lay the fouu-
dalton, a carpenter Of the place told the
hnve N di, n onllor nj ,you :. ia o,l A..
he would show them how to lay the beams.
All this they did with Peter as their
boss; " for the carpenter said no man
must give any help there except by advice
that it ought to be boys house.
Well, the foundation was well laid and
the walls began to rico. rosgy, uhv haa
found shelter near by, spent most other time
on the big rock, directing the work, thus:
"Boys, look mighty sharp dat de floors
is strong, so | shant 90 down plump into
de cellar some day BE sure dc ceilin is
high enough for me to stan straight up uu.
der, cause it would be mighty uncomfortable
for to 60 scrouching about all de time.
And be sure you make u pantry, cause
Miss Deacon Jones has promised me six
new cups and saucers, and plates, and |
must have place to put EN- in. You
needn't make no garrett cause haint go'
nothin' to tuck away in it. Look out "
don't leave no holes in de ruff, like de oil,
house had and be sure you make a stronl
hole for de stovepipe, so it won't burn thi
house down"
When the little house was nearly com
pleted, Peggy jumped on the floor to max
sure it was strong, and stretched herself u
to her greatest height to prove that sh
wouldn't have to go scrouchin' arouu
and hurtin' her rhumatizy back"
At last the house was done and Just Q
the happy Peggy was getting her broom
sweep it, with view Of going to hous,
keeping with nothing but floor and wall
she was sent for to go to Farmer Fiske'
three miles away, to wash and iron for tv
days. She didn't want to leave the hou
and the boys; but they all advised her
go, 10 as to get some money to buy chai
and table, aud bedstead with.
Peggy" said one of them, abe su
you tell Mrs. Fiske that you'll have to
on the floor, and sleep on the floor, and c
on the floor, and then, may be. she'll q
you something to help set up housekeeping
"Yes, will but look out, boys, y
don't burn my house down trying the sto
in it," she said for the stove had been Q
safely out Of the old hut, being the on
thing that wouldn't burn " And see
you're about it, I'd Just as lief you'd gath
up the chips and sich like, and hide Z
under the house for kindling; aud Just
soons get enough ahead, and live to b
gallon O. molasses, I'll have the bigg
party for you that ever was heard Of in
town."
The funny, high.shouldercd little twel'
by-fiiteen house was swept out, aud the /
windows washed and the room all gayly
pered. Then came in the girls with thir
from The attcs and closets of their HON
to prepare grand surprise for Peggy, W
was great favorite with them all.
They hung up two little white curtai
and put up bright yellow bedstead, a
made up the bed with sheets, and pillov
and gay patchwork quilt. They hu
bright pictures on the walls, and spre
pieces of gay carpet before the bod a
stove. The shelyes--Peter had not
tempted closet--were graced with pi
and white crockery. The stove was :
up, and fire made in it.
There was no danger Of Peggy TAXI
cold from damp plaster, for there was
plaster there but only boards well join
with strips nailed over the seams on
outside, and lined with other boards with
This had been long days work for
dozen boys aud girls; and they were
weary enough to sleep well when il v
over. The next afternoon they went ag,
to what they now called "Peggy's PEI
and took with them bread, and butter, q
tea, and sugar, and milk, aud cake, and p
serves; and while the girls set the tai
and amused themselves in other ways, so
OF the boys were clearing the little FRI
yard, and two others took wagon aud
OF to bring Peggy home, "to see some p
pie who used to know her, and who were
her new house waiting for her,"
Such attention was quite new to Peg,
and when she walked into her little cast
where the tea was waiting, she exclaime
Well done, now, If don't most beat
Brother Job, 10 his last days Is lots
thiugs / never had afore In mo l;fe-;l