The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-05-22
The Marrowfut Pig.

The Marrowfnt Pig.
The Guinea-hen was extremely aristo-
cratic, and talked a great deal about the
first families. CT will not allow my
children to associate with the common,
vulgar herd" she said. "Their minds
and manners shall be formed by inter-
course with the select few" Therefore,
when she gave a party in honor of the
Oldest son, Heliogabalus, she did not
invite all the fowls in the barn, but only
the Gray Goose, the old Gobbler and
the three White Turkey-hens, the White
Bantams, and the Black Spanish family.
She also invited the Marrowfat Pig.
The Marrowfat Pig was a newcomer in
the barn. BE was quite small. His
body was white and silky a a white
mouse, ard his nose, feet, ears, and tail
e of a bright pink color.
"I consider him a prize, the farmer
had said. when he brought him intothe
yard. ."There is not another like him
in the country. He is pure Marrowfat."
AMI the Guinea-hen, overhearing these
remarks, began %cultivating the stran-
gers acquaintance Immediately.
He slept nearly all the time he was
not eating; and when the Guinea-hen
approached him, and spoke of the
weather or asked after his health, he
rarely did more than to open one of his
little pink eyes, or witch his long ears.
Sometimes he made an asthmatic noise,
that sounded somewhat like "Wuf |
Wuff" But the Guinea-hen said to her
friends and family: "What an air Of
high-bred reserve there is about the
Marrowfat Pig. What distinguished
manner he has. Really he is a great
addition to our society,"" And all the
Hens cackled, "Ah, yes, to be sure y
for such is the way of the world.
The Guinea-hep's guests arrived early;
and when all were assembled she and
Heliogabulus led the way to the corr-
house, the door of which the farmers
son, who was in love, had absent-mind-
eddy left open.
Mounting on the largest heap of corn,
the Guinea-hen said, politely: "My
dear friends, eat as fast as you con, and
rs long as you can, and rs much as you
can" The Gray Goose, the Turkeys,
and the different families of Hens re-
piled: "Thank you," and bowed grace
fully; but the Marrowfat Pig did not
aver 60 "Wuf! Wuf" but fell to eat
ing directly.
He rooted right and left, poked the
Gray Goose in the ribs, almost upset
the venerable Gobbler, and took not e1-
actly the lions, but the pigs share of
the corn.
"What an original character the Mar
rowfat Pig isl" said the Guinea-hen.
"You can see bis genius in the way he
acts. Blood will tell, and there is moth.
ing SO desirable as high descent"
When the Marrowfat Pig had eaten all
he could possibly hold, he lay down in
the biggest corn-heap and fell asleep.
Little Biddy Bantam ventured to pick
up a few kernels near his head, and, in
sdvertently scratching, sent the corn
against his nose. He opened n of his
pink eyes and went "Wufl Wuff!" as
if it was a great effort and really too
much for him.
"How I should like to understand
Marrowfat," said the Guinea-hen. "I'm
sure he is saying something very enter
tanning to Miss Biddy."
The Gray Goose waddled around in
the corn, shoveling up a dessert-spoon-
full at every step /; and, as she was
short-sighted, as many literary and
learned persons are, she accidentally
gave the Marrowfat Pigs pink tail a
sharp tweak with her bill. Squealing
angrily, he started up, and caught hold
of poor little Biddy Bantam's yellow
legs and nearly bit them off.
You miserable, nasty Marrowfat
Pig |" screamed the Gray Goose, very
much excited. "'Twas I who pinched
your good-for. nothing tail; but I did not
damage 1t a mite. You ought to be
ashamed of yourself"
But the Marrowfat Pig, instead Of
blushing, only lowered his head, and,
looking savagely OF her, went "Wuf
Wifi" in such q threatening manner
she retreatel quickly behind a cider
barrel.
The whole Bantam family left the
corn house Immediately, with their sui
fering little Biddy ; and the rest Of the
guests, except the MarroWfat rig, VINO
lay down for another nap, soon followed
them. AS the old Gobbler took his
leave, he said to the Guinea-hen, in
low tone "Pardon me, my dear friend:
but don't you think we had better cui
the acquaintance of the Marrowfat Pig
His conduct this afternoon has been
shocking-quite like a common hog, in
fact"
81 cannot agree with you there
said the Gainea.hen, "He evidently
has o delicate organization. Miss
Biddy annoyed him by pecking around
his head, and the outrage the Gray
Goose committed on lis tail was en-
tirely ine1cusable. The Bantams I
shall drop forever !; Id if it were no
for the culture and blue blood of the
Gray Goose l should CIT h:r also. NJ
one but a vulgar person would behave
badly to o gentleman Of such consider
alton as the Marrow5at Pig"