Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-08-10

mornin'. and in the shade has he kept ali
day. Niver q hoof of him home to his
dinner, though I've kept his trough full
since IL o'clock. There's picnic there.
The Republicans from West Branch are
havin it, and they have politicians and
eandydates and all other kinds of mates
and good things, and plenty to drink, I'll
be bound. And spaehes, illigant spaches.
with many foine, long word into them,
and loud enough for me to hear at me tub
In the back yard. It's what they call a
barbecue. Tables loaded with iverythinp,
and that's the sscret of the dochtor's stay.
In so long. Trust him for gettin the
best that's goin' Therell not be Re-
pooblican there fuller than himself, if
you place"
IN go over into the grove and find
him. said Fonny, whose curiosity in re-
gard to the ''pollyticians and candidates
had been whetted by the exuberance of
Mrs. McGeary's rhetoric.
Away he went, calling to DR.. Dorritt
cheerily; but no sffectionate grunt re-
sponded. As he entered the grove the
odor OF savory cooking saluted his nos
trils. The speeches were over and dinner
was near at hand
Moving along slowly, feeling that he
was entering important circles, Fonny'
foot struck something metallic On look
ing down he discovered DIR. Dorritt's col
lar, light brass chain with three or four
jinghng pendants. He picked it up,
wondering how his friend had managed
to lose it. He looked everywhere. but saw
nothing of the pig. Politicians-at least
men whom he took to be politicians on
account Of the loudness of their voices
were numerous. Matrons and maidens
in ribbons and fine rigging were there
also; but his beloved four footed friend
was nowhere to be seen.
The savory odors came from some dis
tance west Of tlse long tables, and thither
Fonny went. The people were standing
about some object of interest so numer-
ously that he could scarcely edge his way
through. Being boy. however, he was
not to be dismayed by anything in the
nature of crowd, and at last stood in the
inner circle. A deep trench in the earth
was half full of bright Goals. over which,
reduced to the condition of dressed meat,
hung the forms of q COW. a calf, two
sheSp and two pigs. all roasted to the
most appetizing brown. They were hung
on poles, and had been turned until every
part of them was thoroughly cooked.
This was the barbecue, which Fonny
had been SO anxious to see.
The delicious odor of the steaming
bodies filled the air of the entire grove
Fonny looked at them with eyes like
Such an array Of cooked flesh
would be an unusual spectacle to any one.
1t was startling to him. CHANGING down
the row of crisp bodies. his eyes rested a
on the two pigs and then sud
denly protruded in horror. There-there
over the dreadful bed of Goals was the
form of his pet-his friend Scorched
and blistered as it was the poor boy
it. The head was still at.
tsched. and the left ear had lost a curious.
ly shaped piece in the doctors early
the nose was another mark of identified
ton.
Fonny looked at the terrible sight for
minute or more in agonizing silence.
Then. pointing to the hot and smoking
form Of his pig. he sent forth shrek after
shriek Of anguish.
''Therel therel That is my pet pig
the only pet l have in the world Who
killed him? Nobody had 6 right to kill
him. Oh, shall diei | shall diel My
poor DR.. Dorritt"
This thrilling interruption to the fes-
tivities created immediate CONSERVATION.
The unmistakable anguish in the boys.
voice, the unspeakable woe depicted on
bis face, had an effect on even the hard.
ened consciences of the politicians.
Fonny still held the poor slaughtered
DOCTORS collar in his hand. Between sobs
and groans he told that the pig had lived
1t Mrs. McGearys, pointing out the house
as ne spoke, and had wandered into the
grove merely TO look around; that he and
he alone owned him; that he would have
died himself rather than had the pig sac.
rifced. The laundering butchers who
had done the foul deed were called up and
questioned. They admitted that they had
taken q collar off the neck of one Of the
They identified the collar and the pig; but
although they shared in the general re-
gret, they could not restore the life they
mad taken.
Some Of the younger guests of the pic
nic flew to Mrs. McGeary's and told Of
he tragedy. Over came that lady, boil
ng with wrath, and threatening ITO put
he law on them" She was gifted with
1reat force and fuency of speech, and on
his occasion she did not bride her tongue
N the least. The piece of her mind" to
which she treated the politicians was par
strong, definite and well laid on.
The feminine portion of the picnic
gathered about Fonny and tried to con-
Iole him. Some of them offered to send
him q small pig of promising mental ca
,aeity, which he could lead to greater in
ellectual heights than those attained by
he late lamented DR.. Dorritt; but he
would not be comforted. The men as
iumed that money heals all wounds, and
quickly made him up q purse; at sight Of
t he only walled the louder. TINS was q
,sse of bereavement and heart break, not
Mrs. McGeary swept the money into
Ter apron, saying she would keep it in
rust for him until his sorrow abated.
Then together they sought her cottage.
safe within its humble walls both sat
lown to the luxury of copious tears. The
widow had an affection for the pig, too,
md the sight of the boys sorrow touched
Ter honest heart. She prepared cup of
'tay," her solace for every woe, and
lrged Fonny to drink it. But the boy
vas sick in body and soul. and merely
ssted It, Then the widow darkened her
title bedroom and made him lie down;
md there, after hours of fearful misery,
le fell asleep.-Adapted from Gertrude
iarrison's The Wrong Man, in Belford's
dagazine.
A negro farmer in Dougherty county,
ia.. has succeeded in making excellent
vrup from wstermelons, and thus q new
Sc is devised for the surplus crop.