Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1877-02-23


box aud let out piggy. Then they went
around to see what they could find. Pretty
soon some one dropped piece Of cake from
the table, which Piggy grabbed first, and
which Sammy thought he would have il he
could get II; 80 he caught hold Of Piggy's
tail aud held firmly on, while Piggy held on
to the cake but soon over went Sammy on
his back with Piggy's tail in his hand
and piggy went off squealing "Quee, quee,
quee give me back my curly tail again.
Quee, quee, quee! !" But he was so salts
fed that he beat Sammy about the cake
that he soon forgot about his curly tail.
After awhile the sun began to shine lit
tie warmer, and May came around; then the
house-clcaning began, and little Piggy be-
gan to tremble some about his quarters. He
would look out Of the corners of his eyes
when the bustling housemaid went buzzing
by his box, but he said nothing. One
bright morning he was awakened by an un.
common hOuse-cleaning storm.
This kitchen comes next in order, and
that box Piggy pushed his head and ears
further into the straw so he could not hear
the rest of the sentence) is going out doors :
another day will | have it here p And
Piggy laid SO still that in spite of his fears he
was fast asleep when Farmer John came in to
move the box.
Piggy, Piggy, wake ups" called little
Sammy; papa is going to move you to q
nice large house where it's real pretty and l
shall come to see you all the time"
So Piggy found himself quite elated at
moving into tho new house where there was
room enough to run good race then there
was large tray that would hold q deal Of
bread and milk if any one would only put it
in, and such Gnc room all covered from
the sun and rain, filled most to the roof with
straw. Into this went Sammy aud Piggy
head over heels together.
Pretty soon Farmer John called to
Sammy-"Comc, come, guess you have
had your play out; let's go.and sec mother
and leave Piggy to take nap"
Then Sammy was hosted on to his papa'c
shoulders and went in to see the house.
cleaning. But every day he had to go out
and have race and tumble with Piggy
until Farmer John began to think he could
hardly afford the time to take him out there
and tried to put him off. After that Sam
my concluded he could open the little side
door himself, and several times Sammy
Piggy, Farmer John aud mother had flu,
race through the garden, over the young
cabbages, beets-and the pea vines traced
up so Iuunily, Piggy thought especially Gun,
ming to run through; and where Piggy
went, Sammy was sure to go too. But Far
mer John threatened aud talked, aud mother
threatened and talked, until they finally
made Sammy understand that he must mo-
let Piggy out any more and when he would
tease very hard his papa would toss him ovei
into Piggy's house to have visit. But hi
visits grew less frequent every week.
One day about the last of August farmer
John with his two men came 10 for thei
dinner very warm and hungry. They wer'
just sitting down to the smoking dinne
when the mother said
"Whero is Sammy, iather2 did you eav,
him to toddle along alene?"
why no, have not seen Sammy
"Ha'n't seen that child, John You don
mean to say he has not been with you TO
the last hour and a half?" said the mothe
as she hastily dropped hear heavy pitche
of cold well water on to plate which sew
cred IN twinkliug but she did not notic
the plate, as the father replied:
al mean to say that have not seen tn
boy since breakfast
He caught his sunbrowned hat, quick,
placed it over his sunbrowned face and wa
out of the door. But turning back agair
sent one man down to the brook where Their
was little deep water. "IIo might hav
tried to come to US that way, he said. Tn
other man he sent cup the road piece, an,
/ will go down the road to Neighbor Jonel
and sec if he has been there | took hil
; with me the other morning and maybe h
has paid them another VISIT
The mother was soon left all alon,
"Well," she said, 81 may as we'll be lookin
t somewhere he said he was going to pap'
r and had no thoughts but that he wei
straight to the meadow when l showed hir
7 the men," Aud she looked up stairs an
; down stairs, through the woodshcd, the gal
den and the barn and began to retrace he
t steps with heavy tears. "Why, bless me
y why didn't | think of the pig penn" sh
e exclaimed, as she hurried back to the pen
$ but all was still and the little side door 81
e curely fastened what should she do next
AS she turned away her tears and her hea
}. stood still when she saw neighbor Jones an
:, all the men coming back-but no Sammy
n Not word was spoken by the sad groul
s One of the workmen stood by the pen loaI
ing over tho low roof waiting for furth,
o orders, when suddenly he smiled and motion
6 ed to the others to come softly and pee
+ through a small opening in one corner of IL
roof The mother rushed up for the fir
g look, and there in the straw lay the lit
mates fast aslCop-Piggy with his head bu
led in the straw, aud Sammy by his side wi
is one arm thrown over Piggy. The faith
:. covered his face with his hands and wep
10 the mother buried her face in her apro
while the rest broke out in laugh