Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1888-08-01
MIKES PET Pig.

| MIKES PET PIG.
4 DaeI t. The Death, and . Dinner That
| Made Mickey Cry.
ny ED. MOTT.
Tom Counor was the blacksmith over
the hill. Mickey Finn was in the habit
Of running on errands for Tom, and so,
| when Providence sent q litter Of pigs
into Toms sty, he picked ont the small
est, scrawniest, most measley looking
pig in the litter and gave it to Mickey.
Of course, the boy was delighted, and
he ran home with the squealing little
porker under his arm. Now, ii there
was anything Of which Mrs. Finn was
fond il was fresh pork, especially when
It WAS young and tender. But she had had
considerable experience with animated
pork in her day, and after looking at
Mickey's acquisition with the eve Of a
connoisscur she decided that the chances
Of the pigs ripening into plump hams
and jnicy chops were very slim. The
economic question having been disposed
Of, Mrs. Finn evidently saw no value in
the pug nom an ornamental or senti-
mental standpoint, for she said:
Now, Mickey, ye take that rack O.
bones, wild no mate on its back. = Tom
Conner, an tell him he might be up q
better business nor shown off his bones
and bristles on We. Fax he might as
we'll be givin' ye sthoye CRATE. LUX
at TIL tail iv th' boneenl Musha, thare's
no more twist to it than there is in a
hoe-handle!'
@But, mother, / don't want TIL pig &
ate | want = play wild him!"
PLAY wild q pig, is it! God save us
Mkt yell want TO be playing wild Feen-
ans calf, 30 We will. Oh, but you're a
looney by; ye're out iv ye're sivifn small
sinses. Play Wild pig! Och, did /
iver hear the hkesl Play wild q pig !
Mebbe ye'd be putin pants on him an
feedin' him wild spoon, agar. It's q
quare lad ye are, mo by, wild ye're ould
divvil goats and that black crow a has
shiny beads in his head. Well, well,
IN ] wantin' t make ly'yer iv We, stead
" dirty snake charmer or mauthering
vagabones as We will he av We don't stop
foOlin' wild animals! So, there. Now,
Mickey, take that pig back q Tom Connor
an tell him t give ye wan wild pork on
his ribs an fate worth picklin' on him.
Now run, run ava"
Mickey picked up the pig tenderly in
his arms and went away over the hill.
His heart was heavy; but Tom Conner
cheered him up.
Mickey said he, ayou an I will
make pen for the porker forninst tn
forge, an you can gather little grass
and sthuff fer him. Mebbe he'll get
fat. Then yer motherll be glad t hay
him. Well call the porker Darby"
The pen was built, and Darby was
duly installed therein. Under the
fostering care Of the blacksmith and
little Mike the porker grew in size and
plumpness, and endeared himself to
Mickey by his many winning ways.
The pig became broad of back and
strong Of limb. Darby's ears began to
drOop upon his neck, and he was very
fond Of being scratched between them
with piece Of old iron. And 90 the
days fed quickly by, filled with the JOY
Of content. There was no presage in
the cir Of coming disaster; no kindly
prophetic spirit to warn the boy and the
unsuspecting blacksmith Of coming sor-
row.
Perhaps IT'S better that the veil
which hides the future from inquirins eyes
Should not b. rent,
sa e. spsao.ek with awful crash
Of rivon elements.
But while the May days were slipping
away into the eternities Mrs. Finn had
not cen idle. Her boys extravaganza
praises Of Darby had awakened her
cupidity anew. Often while Mickey
was ~ school Mrs. Finn took sly trips
over the meadows TO the sty. On each
Of these occasions she took with her
some choice morsels which were calcu-
lated TO increase Darby's girth, and to
make his iOwls droop with fairness. Alas,
however, Mn. Finn entertained none Of
thce6 6ne sentiments Of unselfish love
Tor Darby which animated her son. She
could zee no poetry ID the corkscrew
curl Of Darby's tail - he grunted with
pleasure while gnawing last years cab
baGe stump, Her Amer sensibilities had
becn roughened by the sandpaper Of
misfortune. Each pound Darby gained
meant mot added grace and finely
nodded proportion TO her, but rather
suggested the salty pork barrel and the
sixxling frying-pan.
During Ill this time Mickey's old
srsy-bearded billygoat was suffering the
torments Of unrequited affection. Day
BY day the billy saw Mickey go by him
on his way 10 the pigpep. But once in
three long weeks did little Mike stop
and Rambol with the goat as he had
boen wont TO do ii the sweet old DAYS
before the coming Of the hated Darby.
Tho goat seemed 10 be aware that the
affections Of his master we're waning
away from him like the twilight Of an
autumn day. He didn't pine and druop
= : lees heroic spirit would have done,
hat quietly waited, evidently knowing
thAt 81 tho fullness Of time revenge
should be hi.
Only : Mttle hollow IN Stumpy Field
separated Darby and the goat. One
morning While yet tho grass was bend
ing bene61h diamonds Of dew, the goat
ealne 0ut 81 his bArrel and stretched
III laes He looked on over the valley
y fhs mists fleeing mp the rugged
niaes ~ GnAke Hin. He saw the faint
Aush q ~ east gradually deepen into
= vtvid bluah a zoe color. He watched