Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-01-10
OUR PORKER.

ishment, pausing in the act of helping
Nelly to slice of the steak. We were
at breakfast.
Eyes, my DEAR" said Mrs. Dobb, "a
pig. We could keep one just as well
as not, and it would be quite a little
item of saving, when meat is so high"
"Why, Susan, you'd have to buy
food for it-corn and apples, and l
don't know what ALT would cost
more than it would come to-"
"No," persisted nv wife, "it would
not, James. Father always kept pig"
'sBut he lived in the country"
HThat makes no difference. was
talking with neighbor Jones about it
over the fence yesterday, and he said
we threw away swill enough every day
to keep ten pigs"
"I should like to know what Jones
knows about our swill," said I.
"Why, he judged from his own ex-
perience, James. He keeps a pig"
And while we are on the subject,
Susan, III just take the opportunity to
say that [ do not approve of your hirt-
ing with married men over the fence"
FLAMES, do be serious Flirting, in
deed-with pigs and swill for basis of
conversation. You just want to vex
mep'
"Oh, pigs are pretext; anything
will do for q pretext when a woman is
determined to f1irt. knew woman
once who tried to use portrait of her
dead grandmother as a pretext for a
Irritation. And as for Jones'"
"Now, James, you shall not 60 on in
that way; before the children, too.
Look at Nellie's eyes"
"Perhaps you'll PRETEND" I con-
tinued, 'that Jones didn't bring you a
bunch of his Isabellas at the same"
"Yes, and you ate the best part of
them last evening yourself, for l
saved them for you, and you know
Mr.. Jones grapes are much superior
to ours; I'm sure I'm thankful for all
he gives me. Will you get pig for
me or won't you?"
ooh, if you ask it as a favor, Susan,
Of course will. I'll get you anything
that will be a source of pleasure, you
know; but If you want pig for pet,
don't try to pretend its for economy's
sake"
GA pet!" pouted Susan. "How
ridiculous you are [ detest pets"
"Then why don't you avoid them,
my dear?"
"What are Won driving at? I don't
know"
"Why you ale in one now, Susan
Be calm. The coTee will get cold"
Mrs. Dobb gave me despairing
look, and then poured the coffee. Be-
fore left the house had promised
to see about getting a pig.
Now if there is any eatable animal l
know less about than do about anoth-
er, it is the pig. remembered having
seen pigs alive when was boy, but
since | grew up my knowledge of the
species has been confined to the por-
cine corpses [ have seen suspended
from hooks in market places, and to
certain works of art in which they had
been represented-not IN landscapes, |
may remark; so if there had been a
market for live pigs adjoining my stu
diO [ could not have selected an avail.
able one from the lot. l thought about
it q good deal during the day, and the
result of my meditations was, on my
homeward way in the afternoon made
a circuit around by the residence of
Peter Van Popp, Dutchman whom l
employed to take care of my garden,
and to do such other heavy work as
might be necessary about the house
from time to time. On consultation /
found that Peter was just the man for
the business. He had a brother who
kept small farm up in the vicinity of
Schraalenburg, back of the Palisade on
the Hudson. and Peter said:
Next week I goes oop to see Hans,
and my wife she goes along, too, so l
brings you pig home, Mr.. Topp."
Good said L. "Tll pay your fare,
for your trouble, Peter, besides the
price of the pig. A good one, now!
None of your snub-nosed, pug-eyed
fellows, you know-a sleek, intelligent
one"
"Yah," said Peter.
A few days later the pig came. |
was Just leaving the house to go down
town when I met Peter with a pig in a
bag.
Il got him." Peter remarked-very
unnecessarily, however, for the pig an
nounced the fact in his own behalf.