Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-01-19

he took How shall ever face him to-
morrow morning
In truth it was Il most perplexing posi-
ton.
"Therc is only one thing TO be done,
said my husband decisively. You must
send and fetch tho pig back Immediate
ly." ..
/ explained with great contrtion that
this was difficult, if not impossible, as he
was probably just then in the very net OF
being roasted, six miles off.
but we must have him somehow or
other. We must eat him-or at least be
able to say we have eaten him. NJ
will be SO disappointed--quite hurt IN
his feelings-and no wonder. How could
you do such n thing?'
1 felt very guilty but still ii had
had to do it all over again, did not see l
could have done differently. And the pig
was safe TO be eaten and enjoyed-by
somebody.
"But not by you which was what
NJ wished Couldn't you manage it
somehow? Why not invite yourself to
dine with your friends-and the pig?'
Alas it was, ms said, six miles oil,
and there was only half an hour to snare,
and we had houseful of frienda uuf-
selves that day
"But the day after Couldn't We drive
over. fetch him back-at least what re-
mains of him-and eat him cold the day
after?"
This was too bright an idea to lose.
Bnt still one difficulty remained. What
was to be said to our kindly friend when
he asked "How We had enjoyed our pig ??
t,, ~, nrr,y, nrninn
81 declare / don't know how to face
him." said my husband, mournfully.
After all his kindness, and the trouble
he took, and the pleasure he hadin pleas
ing YOU The first question he is sure to
ask is. How did your wife like her pig !?
| What in the world am / to say to him!
| Crushed with remorse, | yet suggested
that "the plain truth" as people call 1t,
is usually found not only the right thing
but the most convenient. However, tins
merely feminine wisdom was negatlveo
by the higher powers, and it was agreed
that our donor should only be told thai
the pig was not to be eaten till tomorrow
on which tomorrow we should drive ovel
and fetch what remained of HIM, 30 as Il
be able TO say, with accuracy, that we mac
eaten him and found him good.
This was accordingly done. The fata
moment passed-how, | did not venture
to inquire-my husband renppcared n
home, and we took Il pleasant drive, an'
presented ourselves for afternoon tea a
our friends house. They were too hos
pitable to look surprised or to wonde
what we had come for.
| After few minutes polite conversation
we looked Mt one another to see whic!
should make the confession and put tn
request.
"The--the little pig?" said T. at last
in great humility.
"Oh, the little pig has been cooked an
eaten. He turned out great success
Some of the family enjoyed him immense
ly."
"Then-is he quite finished p l asked
with meek dependency.
II will ring and inquire. No, thin
there is fragment left of him, becaus
my brother thought You ought to be ask
ed to dinner to-day to eat it.
"Well, if | might take it home wit
me, were it only few mouthiuls. W
have special reason. My husband wi
explain"
Which he lid, pouring out the Who'll
story Of my sins--first, in being so foo
ish rs to say / liked pig, then i'll accep
ing it, and lastly in giving it away.
"And if you had seen how pleased VI
was, and the trouble he took about it all,
was always the burthen of the story, II
| felt MS if ! never could lift my hca
again.
But my friends only saw the com
phase of the thing. They burst into
, chorus of laughter.
ut is as good as play. You ougl
to write Il second Essay on Roast Pig
t to transcend Elias. Comfort yoursel
r You shall still have your pig, or, at le"s
e what is left of him."
C She rang the bell, and gave her orde
, to the politely astonished footman, wilt
after Il few minutes, brought back a mo
e Medea-like message.
s "Plcase, ma'am, cook says there's Ii
. head left, and one of his legs, and
b. small portion of him still remains IL
- cooked, if the lady would like to tai
f that home"
}, "No. no, no. said my husband, hast
ly. 1.-The least little bit will do-a me
IL fragment. Just to enable her to say 81
? has eaten it. She likes it she was on
l heard to say that little pig tasted exat
- ly like baby
l Under the shout of laughter which IL
IL lowed this unlucky communicate
n (Which was, alas, quite true), | made L
Il retreat. But Just as / was getting III
l. the carriage, one of the family came I'll
ming hastily out.
y "S1top II minute you have forgot
10 something. You have left behind y
n your little pig"
2. What a narrow escape Not until t
al basket was safely deposited Mt my +,
ID did | feel that had conquered fate, ga
to ed my end-and my pig and, what "
re the most important element in the matt
" had avoided wounding the feelings of l
friend.
)" So We ate him-the pig, men-
to least one Of his members. Very d,
~ cious he was, fully justifying Elias co
mendation of him, or rather of his ra
c. He was also fully appreciated by n II
~ tual friend of the donor and ourselv
~ who happened to dine with us that di
We and upon whom we impressed the nee
lie sity of stating publicly that she had eat
IN this identical pig i'll cur house.
Peace to his names Let him not p
It. ish unchronicled, for he was n beaut
id but let his history be recorded here
story without. plot, or Il purpose, OF
moral Except, perhaps, the trite G
that truth is best How much or Ii
re little of it has reached my friend kn
H. not, but when he reads this in print, p
haps he will feel that his kindly gift '
y. uot altogether thrown away,