The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1875-03-12
JosH'S RIO.
A STORY OF rmE REVOLUTION.


NJ ROSE TERRY COOKE.
Therc was an Old woman who lived by the sea
As shall shortly tell,
In A little brown house by ccuar Tree,
With pig sly, barn, and "eh
Nox this ola woman was stiff and queer;
Her husba M had sailed away,
And her sons lay dead this many year.
Deep down in Buzzard's Bay.
She lived alone on the Vineyard shore,
Except for one small child,
She scowled M all who came To her door,
Bat for little Josh she smiled.
A naughty aud merry boy was he,
Who liked to have his way,
TO wade al day in the edge Of the sea,
And dance about in the spray
To stone the peeps ON the shniag beach.
And scare his Granny 10 bis,
swimming almost into the breakers reach,
Where they foam on the sandy spits.s
But he had a torment Of his own,
A torment and delight,
A little black pig thai lived all alone
In the woodshed day and night.
A wee fat pig, with curly tail.
And eyes as bright AS Goals,
Ills ears upright like a schooner's sails,
And nose as sharp as moles.
The funniest pig that ever you saw.
He could scratch and bite and squeal,
And every thing vent 10 his hungry nav
lie could either beg or steal
He would scramble out Of his tiny pen,
And open the woodshed 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 as he could go,
For soldiers were coming with pike and gun
From the ship that lay below.
lie ran away in the woods to hide,
But Granny she staid at home,
She was old. and stin. and weak beside,
SO she stad To see them come.
They drove her COW from the little barn,
They killed her hens and cocks,
They stole her skeins OF good gray yarn,
And her store Of winter socks.
She bore IL all in silent rage
Though the heart in her breast grew big;
But Granny forgot her feeble age
When they found little Josh's pig.
She hid 1t under her linsey gown,
But piggy began to squcal;
You could almost hear Il at Edgartown,
That shrll and angry peal.
soldier heard him quite too well,
And seized him where he lay
90 Ho, hoi little piggy. you've rung the bell.
I'll carry you, too, sway"
Then piggy he squealed both loud and long,
And Granny began 10 scold;
Her weak old arms grew stiff and strong,
Her hngers they took good hold.
Sha causht the troonar,s scarlet coat
She caught his yellow hair,
She shook till he blcated like a goat
And begged the old woman to spare.
You awful cretur! why, what do you mean
To rob an old woman SOL
You sneaking, mis'abe horse marinel
You let that little pig gol
You've stole my chickens, and calf, and COW
But I've got you by the wig,
There's one thing you sha'nt have anyhow
You shant have Josh's pigi"
The drum il beat loud recall,
The old woman's grasp was sore.
Tie was deaf and dazed with piggy's squall,
so he dropped IL on the floor.
When Josh came back from the wood at night
frightened boy was he;
=. Come in !" said Granny. - for you're all right
They haven't got little pig gee -
Now all small people who read my song
wish you wish TO day:
May you have a Granny as bold and strong,
II your pig il stolen away
-Chrissian Union.