The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1880-01-23
KILLING HOGS IN THE MOON.

KILLING HOGS IN THE MOON.
There used to be, when l was a boy
which was once upon a time IA good
many men, aud women too, who be-
lieved In the moon. It. seemed as Ii
some of III women did really believe
there was man in it, who controlled
their destiuies, to some extent; and the
men, too, were just as pad. The.
C iuldn't have been worse If they had
believed there was a woman in it, too.
II would not do to kill pork in the old
Of the moon, nor to SOW onions In the
new of the moon; for if they did the
1 first, the pork would shrink in the pot,
and if they did the last, the onions
would not DO tom, or be subject to
some disagreeable infirmity or other; (;
and moreover, it wouldn't do to cut the
children's hair, unless the moon was
just right.
Men and women are growing wiser,
VIC all admit, vet we haven't all out
grown our belief in the moon. A great
uiany believe init yet, to some extent,
aud to show that their belief may not
be ill-founded after all, will cite the
following case:
There lived. in the days of my boy
hood, an old-at least they seemed old
to me-couple, in the same part of the
town that inhabited. Insed to go to
see them quite often-Uncle Zach, as
we used to call him, being so accommo-
dating, and Aunt Rhody such good
Did soul. They were just comfortably
10 do, and nothing more.
Uncle Zach titled little land, kept
a COW aud pig, and worked out y
part of the time for the neighbors who
we're better off than he, though there
were certain odd times in the summer
when he himself had to have Q hired
man. Neither Uncle Zach nor Aunt
Ithody were very well read, and Aunt
Rhodv, in particular. believed most
firmly in the moon. Uncle Zach, of
course, admitted that it did make diff
rerence, yet there were times when he
chose to accept the difference, though it
we're against him, rather than 20 out
# his way.
Late one fall-only few days before
Thank ksgivinY- was all ready to kill
nice large hog which was to furnish
is years supply of pork, when both
g aud Aunt Rhody suddenly remem.
"rcd that it was IN the old of the moon
You wouldn't wanter kill him in the
I'D of the moon," Zacheus, s.e said
of cnurse."
"But I'll have to, Rhodv, or We
Won't have no sparcrib for Thanksgiv.
ing"
} "I'd rather go without, Zacheus, al
ur's TN concerned. | .wuuldn't kill
. i'm till ter the moon changes, any
. vny. if were you"
Wall, Rh"dv, You amt me: if yor
.as you'd XII him to-niorrer moruin.
The Deacon expects the sparerib. "
; know, and we want one ourselves fol
Z Thanksgiving. 1 don't s'pOse tn,
noOn'll make so much difference, arte
, Ill. The Deacon says folks are kinde
|. .cttin' out of that notion"
. "The Dracon's a sensible man,
4 pose, bnt guess he don't know ever
!. hing, arier VII. 'Taint likely, though
. I,cheus, that he'd kill his hogs in tn
I. ID of the moon, and wouldn't mine
I were YOU"
: +" But tell ye. Rhody, You amt ME
= Ihu'n the Deacon can dos you'r
4: mind To; but Pm goin' ter kililhim."
. "Wall, wall, just go and kill him
d ;ou want to; don't s'pose its any us
T or me to advise; hut if the pork shrink
s in the pot, you'll know the reason ont
5 We amt none too well off now, Zach
:. Ieus, an 1t does seem 'sif we 0ughte
. make things 60 M fur's we can."
: "Of course, Rhody. but we've aller
| had q sparerib for Thanksgiving, y
know, and the mcon'H change to-mol
N rer any wav. I guess the porkll hol
out. II it don't we can buy some {
y the Deacon, and I'll pay him in wor
a, or sumthin'.~ 1t won't make no difie
r. ence with you"
"Thst's always the way" murmure
the good wife to herself, when the eas'
going husband had left her, to MAX
Is his preparations for killing. H
g thinks 'twon't make no difference vii
~ me, just as If a woman wasn't nobody
IS A deep sigh followed, which was su
n ceeded by half-formed wish that 81
H. was man. But that wish was checkt
IN when she Thought that, IL she were
man, she would have to associate wi
men, so MANY of whom, she we'll kne,
were not what they ought tn be.
Pm thankful, arter all, that hair
. got only one OF 'em,v she murmnre
''and that he ain't the worst one tn
ever was. either. But II does seems
might we dome bet err"
"Wsll. he may kill tho old hog.
-. sll me; guess we shall live ihronl
it. wonder just what Time the mo-
does chsnge2n and To find out, 9
ook dow D the aimanac from. tho M
p who're Ii hung over the Fireplace, a
III l,prned II to November. The yel
1889. was In large figures on the COVE
/. lbut he smoke Of many fires had son
what. obscured the figures, and
course she knew well enough what I
|. year was without looking at them.
at would be a little Iate," she q
to herself; "not till seven minutes
ter. seven IN the evenin'. Wall.
- wouldn't want 'em butcherin' round
r. THAT time O'night, don't s'posf.
too bad the moon didn't change to-day
aud with another sigh she hung the
al Inanac back on its nail, adding, 20 |
. what can't be cured must be endured
The next morning Zachens rnsc ear
aud completed his preparations, WI
b Rhody. with calm resignation. prepsl
plain breakfast of johnny-cske, picl
,per up fsh, and baked potatocs mot
the worst breakfast that ever was. by q
'sie. means, but not near SO good, Zach,
dial ,',a,,,d hsv. Z. 10 too hsd about
moon, Rhodv," said he, full Of e
My nature la the pleasant anticipation"
1.-THE hsrslet won't have time TO shrl
cul %sy much. guess, specially II Sim stops
viii eat with us" atla f
and Sim was the butcher Of the neighh
The hood. who WAS coming to help b
rome His fondness for fried harsIet gencrs
,See nee led him, on snch occasions, to stay
rms dinner HaH
sort "Slm would know better than
- butcher for himself In the old Of