The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1880-07-28
THE PICS PENNY.
BY W. o. sToDDARD.


The bigger the pig grew the more
he squealed, and the less he seemed
to like his pen.
Ben knew it, but for all that he
wondered how it came to pass that
he should find that pig in the vii
lage street halfway down to the tav-
ern.
"@ut of the pen into the barn
vad, and out of that into the street
when the gate was open. Won't /
have a time getting him home
There was little doubt of that, for
the pig felt that it was his duty to
root as he went, and he refused to
90 quietly past any good Opportml-
tv to snub-nose into something.
Ben worked and so did the pig.
Hello what's that ?"
The pig had turned up a clod OF
earth with something sticking on it,
and Ben sprang forward to pick 1t
up.
Its a cent?"
1t was round; it was made Of
copper, it was a coin of some kind
but it was black and grimy, and
Ben rubbed hard to clean it.
Il never saw a cent like that be
fore. | can't even read what II says
on it.
what have you found, Ben, my
boy?"
Guess it's kind of cent The
pig found 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 a
book. and that was a wonderful sort
of a.man for any man to be.
'The pig found it? l declare? |
guess III have to buy it of you"
"Don't you s'pose it'll pass 2"
well yes, it might; but it'll only
buy a cents worth. I'll give you
more than that for il.
"Going to melt it over and make
new cent out of it"
"No. Ben, not so bad as that I'll
keep it to look at. It's very old
German coin, and I'm what they
call numismatist
Ben listened hard over that word
FOR a momalt, and tried to repeat it.
"Rumismatics-I know; its a
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 in a glass case and look at
them"
Father is wors'n that; it takes
him bad in rainy weather"
well, Ben, III give the pig or
YOU, Just as you say quarter ola
dollar for that cent"
Ben's eyes fairly danced, but all
he could manage to say was, Yes,
sir. Thank you, sir. Guess | will" "
There it is. Ben. It's a new one
l don't care much for new ones.
Whatll you do with it p
Ben hesitated only moment, for
lac was turning the quarter over and
over. and thinking of just the answer
10 the Squire's question.
"It's puppy, sir. Mr.. Malone
said | might have it for quarter,
and father. said / couldn't buy it
unless found the money"
"Itll be the pigs puppy, then ?
All right but you can't make pork
out of him"
The pig was driven home in a
good deal of hurry, without another
chance given him to root up anOth-
er cent; and when Ben's father came
in from the corn field that night,
there was Ben ready to meet him
with the puppy.
4Got him, have you?"
Ben had to explain twice over
about the old cent and the Squire.
"Oh, the pig did it. Well, Ben, |
don't see what we want with anoth-
er 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 a load of wheat, and
Ben went with him"
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
20 to town with them.
Ben's father was in the store, sell
ing his wheat. and Ben was sitting
ON top of the load in the wagon, a
carriage with lady in it was pulled
up in the street beside it.
rs that your puppy, my boy ?
>'Yes, maa'am. "
''Will you sell it? want him for
my little boy. It's a real nice pup
py. What will YOU sell him for ?"
Ben did not feel at all like parting
with his new pet. but he knew very
well what his father thought about
1t Still; ii might save him the pup
-. if ,he askss..s Tremendous price