The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-07-31
THE PIG'S PENNY.
T was the pig did it.

he squealed, and the less he seemed to
like his pen.
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 a
time getting him homer
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 quiet
ly past any good opportunity to thrust
his snub-nose into something.
Ben worked, and so did the pig.
"Hullo! What's thatPn
The pig had turned up clod Of earth
with something sticking on it, and Ben
sprang forward to pick it up.
"It's centr'
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.
81 never saw cent like that before.
L can't even read what it says on it."
"What have you found, Ben, my
boyP"
"Guess it's kind of a 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 book, and that
was wonderful sort of man for any
man to be.
1.-The pig found it? 1 declare! 1
guess I'll have to buy it of YOU
Don't you s'pose it II pass?'
"Well, yes, it might; but it II only
buy cents worth I'll give you more
than that for it,
Going to melt it over and make a
new cent of it?''
"No, Ben, not so bad as that. I'll
keep it to look at. It's very old Ger
man coin, and Pm what they call a nu
mismatist.h
Ben listened hard over that word for
a moment, and tried to repeat it.
'Rumismatics-I know; it's a good
deal like what father says he has some
times. Gets into his back and legs"
''Not quite, Ben; but it makes me
gather up old coins, and put them in a
Slttoo NdDC, anu lOOh dU lAClH.
'Father's worse'n that; it takes him
bad in rainy weather"
"Well, Ben, I'll give the pig or you,
just as you say, quarter OF a dollar for
that cent"
Ben's eyes fairly danced, but all he
could manage to say was, Eyes, sir.
Thank you, Sir. Guess L will"
'There it is. Ben. It's q new one. 1
don't care much for new ones. Whatll
you do with it!''
Ben hesitated only moment, for he
was turning the quarter over and over,
and thinking of just the answer to the
'Squire's question.
''It's puppy, sir. Mrs. Malone said
| might have it for quarter, and father
said couldn't buy it unless 1 found
the money"
9TH be the pigs puppy, then? All
right; but you can't make pork Of
him."
The pig was driven home in a good
deal of hurry, without another chance
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.
"Got him, have you?'
Ben had to explain twice over about
the old cent and the Squire.
"Oh, the pig did it. Well, Ben, l
don't see what we want of another
dog; though that is real pretty one.
Too many dogs in. this village, any
how"
The next day Ben's father went to
town with 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 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 car
rage with lady in it was pulled up in
the street beside it.
Is that your puppy, my boyP'
Eyes, ma am"
"Will you sell itp Iwant one for my
little boy"
"It's real nice puppy"
"What will you sell him forp"
| Ben did not feel at all like parting
with his new pet, but he knew very
well what his father thought about it.
Still, it might save him the puppy if he
asked tremendous price for it.
I'm take five dollars. ma am"
"Bring him to me, then. It's just
such dog as thought of buying"
1t seemed to Ben a good deal as if he
were dreaming; but he did rs he 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.
"Why, Ben, where's your puppy"
"There he is, father"
"Why, if that amt five-dollar bill!
You don't say sou
Ben explained, and added, 1.-The pig
did it, father"