The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1888-09-01

then white with rage; tried to laugh, but
could not, and finally said:
every funny, Miss Jennie, very funny,
indeed"
During the merriment Miss Jennie
whispered few words to me, and l said:
IL do not see anything funny, colonel;
you offered repeatedly to back Verdant
against anything in the state; Miss Jennie
takes you up, and am empowered by her
to draw up articles of agreement, and de-
posit the 81 900 in any ones hands you
may suggest"
The colonel was staggered for amoment,
but recovered himself and said:
"Well, if it is serious, let her go. I ap-
point Tom Carswell, here, for holder, and
will increase it to $4,000 if you or any one
want to go the limit"
Our host jumped into the pool, "rll take
81 600"
Carswell said: II guess my thousand is
as good as another's."
George Hoyland took another, and in
creased mine to $4,000. Articles were
drawn up, signed, and for the next few
days fun was rampant, every one trying to
find out what Miss Jennie and were after
with that pig. The colonel held aloof.
Verdant had regular exercise, and nothing
further was done.
Notwithstanding the rigid surveillance
we were subjected to, we succeeded in
keeping it secret. We all retired to rest
about II p. M, and every morning at day
break tap would come at my door, and,
dressing quickly, l would find cup of
coffee and Miss Jennie awaiting me down
stairs.
Peek-a-boo was one of those long, lank,
hungry, scrub porkers that drover will
tell you can run like the wind when they
like. We fed him once day on bushel
of corn; he was placed in a crate with
sliding door of bars, he saw the corn dump
ed into trough, and was then carted,
hungry and squealing, to the 300 yard
limit. Here the word ego" was shouted,
the door opened and piggy went down the
homestretch like fash of porcine light
ming.
Even the first day he went straight
along without an error; and after spell of
twelve days he was phenomenon; say
Ego" open the door and away he would
start; commence pouring the corn into the
trough as he came nearer, and he spurted
in the last fifty yards like professional
pedestrian. Then he was taken back to his
stye, and by the time the household awoke
to the duties and pleasures of the day,
Miss Jennie and 1 would be completing
our toilets little later than the rest.
Greatly to the colonels annoyance, some
one put prominent advertisement of the
race into the papers, and friends from far
and near came round to see the fun.
House and grounds were thrown open to
the public, and the place was thronged
with eager people to see Miss Jennie's roam
porker Peek-a-boo meet the colonel's bay
mare Verdant.
Betting ran six to four on Peek-a-boo,
the colonel tried tried to laugh, but began,
suddenly, to fancy he was caught in an
awkward trap of his own setting.
At 6 o'clock p. m. the saddling bell rang
out, ladies began to group on the grand
stand specially erected for the occasion.
Again the bell, and Verdant came out
looking like picture. She took short
canter past the stand, and then turning,
passed it again going to the starting post
As she neared the post Peek-a-boo was
carried out in his pen, squealing Justify as
usual, and | noticed the mare lay her ears
back and kick somewhat viciously, as if the
music did not suit her.
"Oh, hol" l thought, "here is new de-
velopment."
The starter asked if we were ready. |
looked up the course and saw the man
with the corn in his arms at the trough.
took hold of the trap door and nodded; the
flag fell, &C., I thundered. Peek-a-boo
shot out with demoniacal squeal, and darted
in among the mares legs. Verdant reared
nearly falling backward, turned round once,
and shot off like rocket to find Peek-a-boo
beat her on her merits, literally outrunning
her, and was munching his corn contented-
ly when she came up.
The colonel swore dreadfully; we offered
to repeat the wager, but he was "froze
out" We won the $4,000, and the colo
mel made an excuse, and left the Valley
House two days later.
Peek-a-boo hereafter is to live in clover;
he is to feed on the fat of the land, and
die natural death; his placid porcine tenn
permanent never to be troubled by fear of
butcher CT shambles; for him the horrible
knife and scalding tub will hold no terrors;
he will see his brothers led out to slaughter;
and will slumher along to good old age,
with the promise, from his fair mistress,
that when he dies his head will be stuffed
and mounted, as the feetest hog in Iowa.
Happy pig
And Miss Jenniei
Ali dear reader, it is most prosaic end
ing. Miss Jennie was happily married
this spring, and my share Of the plumber
went toward buying her wedding present.
She had noticed the strange dislike Yer
dant had to pigs one day when the mare
was leaving the stable for exercise; and on
that knowledge took up the colonels bonn
bastic wager by challenging him to run the
mare in "queer race"
A Simple Cure for Insomnia.