The Russellville Democrat., 1886-02-25

Neither I'is Nor Pupqy.


 A dear friend of mine, who h1s . never-failing fund of anecdotes, was telling the other day how the expression of neither pig nor puppy originated During the know-N othing campaign in Virginia, James Lyons met Henry A. Wise, his kinsman, on the stump. MT. Lyons accused his antagonist of havir:... changed from one party to s.s,s.s..ssssr with ludicrous facility. Wise, in turn, re- torsss1 :s .s::i,d and said further on: In ny neighborhood dwell two farmers. One was hospitable and the other un- sociable. They were differently consti- tuted by nature. The first had an inti- nation that Hon. Abel F. Upshur, then Secretary of the Interior, would spend . day 1t his house while visiting the county. Mir. Upshr was iAordinately fond of roast pig. but his expectsnt host discovered that this dainty was not pro- curable, so far as he know, in time to gratify the appetite of the Secretary. The other farmer happened to hear of this and, in 3 generous moment or dered negro to catch ono of his finest pigs and carry it to his friend The boy did as he was ordered and forthwith proceeded on his journey. Hah way there was public house and Sasnbo stopped to get drink of whisky. Ths bag containing the pig was put behind 6 door for fancied security. Warmed with the liquor, the negro told the whole story of his mission. Some wild fellows heard it and determined to have a bit of fun. They removed the pig from the bag and introduced puppy in it's place.
 The negro shouldered his load, re- sumed his journey, and finally ap- peared with his burden before the de- lighted farmer. who was profuse in thanks. He told the boy to unite the bag and let him see the present. To the consternation of the negro and rage of the farmer the puppy darted out, with 8 lively bark. The negro WIS wrathfully commanded to put the puppy back and go home to his master, who would bs seen later. Reaching the tavern on his return trip, the young scamps who had previously tricked him invited him to drink, and while some of them piled him with whisky, others hastily removed the puppy and restored the pig to his old quarters.
 The negro again took up his bag and trudgod homeward in state of mel low but utter perplexity. Confronted by his master, he told how he had start ed with 8 pig that had turned to 8 puppy and could not account for it short Of diabolical intervention. The farmer swore that there was no puppy about his place, and emphatically or dered the poor negro to unite the bag and let the dashed thing go. Ubeying the order, out rushed the pig, with a grunt of delight at deliverance. The master famed out at the negro for his lying propensities and threatened him with condign reinstatement. The as- tonished darkey flung mp his hands in desperate protestation, wildly ejaculat- ing: q Fore God, massa, when I first started that was pig, and it turned to puppy, and when started again it was puppy and turned to pig! The durned thing can turn to pig or puppy whenever it choosesp'
 Mir. Wise had no occasion to make the application to his opponent. The crowd took it in unanimously and bore the speaker of on their shoulders in triumph. --Auy,lsta (Ga.) Chronicle.