The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-06-26
THE Pigs PENNY.
BY W. o. sT0DDARD.


his pen. GF4
Ben knew it, but for all that he won
dered how it came to pass that he should
find that pig in the village street, half
way.down to the tavern.
"Out of the pen into the barn-yard,
and out of that into the street when the
gate was open. Won't l have time
getting him homew
There was little doubt of that, for the
pig felt that it was his duty to root as
he went, and he refused to walk quietly
past any good opportunity to thrust his
snub-nose into something.
Ben worked, and SO did the pig.
"Hullo! What's thatT
The pig had turned up clod of earth
with something sticking on to it, and
Ben sprang forward to pick it up.
"It's centw
1t was round; it was made of copper;
it was coin of some kind; but it was
black and grimy, and Ben rubbed hard
to clean it. ......
II never saw cent like that before. !
can't even read what it says on it,"
"What have you found, Ben, my
boyT'
"Guess it's kind Of cent. The pig
ound it."
All the boys in the village knew old
Squire Burchard, only they were half
afraid Of him. 1t was said he could
read almost any kind of book, and that
was a wonderful sort of man for any man
to be.
"The pig found it? I declared Iguess
I'll have to buy it of you"
Don't you s'pose it'll pass%
"Well, yes, it might; but it'll only
buy CENTS worth. I'll give you more
than that for it."
"Going to ;. melt m, it over and make a
new cent of itT
"No, Ben, not SO bad as that. I'll keep
it to look at. It's very old German
coin, and Pm what they call numisma-
tist."
"Rumismatics- know;i it's good deal
like what father says he has sometimes.
Gets into his back and legs"
"Not quite, Ben; but it makes me
gather up old coins, and put them in a
glass case, and look at them"
"Father's is worse'n that; it takes him
bad in rainy weather."
| "Well, Ben, I'll give the pig or you,
Just as you say, a quarter OF dollar for
that cent"
Ben's eyes fairly danced, but all he
could manage to say was: pai
eyes, sir. Thank you, sir. Guess I
will"
"1here it is, Ben. It's new one. I
don't care much for new ones. What'll
you do with itT"
Ben hesitated only for moment, for
he was turning the quarter over and
oyer, and thinking of just the answer to
the squire's question.
'Its a puppy, sir. Mrs. Malone said l
might have it for quarter, and father
said couldn't buy it unless l found the
money" :. tarw,egt 3
"Itll be the pigs puppy, then9 All
right; but you can't make pork of him."
The pig was driven home in a good
deal of a hurry, without another chance
being given him to root for old coins;
and when Ben's father came in from the
corn field that night, there was Ben ready
to meet him with the puppy"
SCOT him, have your
Ben had to explain twice over about
the old cent and the squire.
ooh, the pig did it. Well, Ben. I
don't see what we want of another dog;
though that is a real pretty one. Too
many dogs in this village, anyhow"
The next day Ben's father went to
town with load Of wheat, and Ben went
with him. 49,.
He had not owned that puppy long
enough to feel like leaving him at home,
SO the little lump of funny black curls
and clumsiness had to 60 to town with
him.
Ben's father was in the store, selling
his wheat and Ben was sitting on top
of the load in the wagon, when carri-
age with lady in it was pulled up in
the street beside it.
us that your puppy, my boy"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Will you sell it? I want one for my
little boy"
"Its real nice puppy"
"What will you sell him forf"
Ben did not feel at all like parting
with his new pet, but he knew very well
what his sather thought about it. Still,
it might save him the puppy to ask
tremendous price for it.
"Pll take Ave dollars, ma'am."
"Bring him to me, then. It's Just such
dog as thought Of buying"
It seemed to Ben good deal as if be
were dreaming; but he did as be was told,
and climbed back to his perch on the
heaped-up bags Of wheat to wait for his
| father.
1t was not long before he had sold the
wheat and came out.
aWhy, Ben., where's your puppyr'
"There he is, father"
"Why, il that amt q fye-dollar bill
You dom I nv soI'
| Ben. explained, and added. I
"The PIC did IT father"
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