The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-07-07
THE WIDOW AND HER THREE
PIGS.

PIGS.
There was once upon time poor wild
ow who lived alone in acottage, and had for
her only possession three pigs. They were
gauns, bony animals, almost as large as
Shetland ponies; and they lived in rude
sty outside the widows cottage.
One morning, having had no food for a
whole day, the widow sharpened her
knife, and went out to the pig-sty.
"Snout," said she to the largest pig, II
am forced to kill you, for I have had no
food for whole day"
"Wait, good mother, till I am little
fatter," said poor Snout
"Then 1 might wait till Doomsday,"
said the widow, "for have nothing to
fatten you on. The nearer the bone the
sweeter the meat" And, 30 saying, che
opened the door Of the pig
"Turn me out in the forest for a day,
good mother" pleaded Shout. "There I
shall find my own living, and enjoy my
last day on EARTH"
h"WelI, Shout, you have always been q
good pig; and will give you one day
more to live. But mind the keeper does
not catch you; and come home early, be-
fore am in bed"
Shout promised all these things, and
trotted off. In the evening he came back;
and, sticking on his huge snout, the wild
ow saw splendid diamond pin.
Crowned heads
Choose soft beds"
said she, taking it out and putting it in g
little box.
Next day, nearly ravenous for want Of
food, having only had berries the day be-
fore, she took her knife and again went
to the pig sty.
'Longtail," said she to the second larg-
est pig, "turn and turn about. Prepare
yourself to-day for death"
"Spare me, sweet motherT cried Long
tail. "Spare me this day, and let me ram
BILE in the forests. I shall be better eat
ing after hearty teed."
'Longtai],' cried the widow, II am
nearly dying of hunger; yet, as you have
always been good pig, l will give you
this day." Then she opened the door.
and Longtail trotted out.
When he came home, the widow noticed
beautiful diamond ring firmly fastened
ON his tail.
Good luck does not always come In at
the front door," said she, and put the ring
in the box with tbs pin.
The next day she was about to kill
Broadears, the smallest pig; but he, like
the others, begged 30 piteously for day
in the forest that the widow gave in
again.
When he came home, she found very
valuable diamond bracelet hung over his
left ear.
II shall make pretty purse from this
hogs ear" said the widow, putting the
bracelet with the ring and the pin. TO
morrow set off to the city, and sell these
jewels"
Next day, grevious were the squeaks
from the pig -sty as the widow approached,
but, INSTEAD Of putting the pig to death,
she flung open the door Of the sty, and
told them they were free to 20 where they
liked, for they had made her fortune in
their forest rambles. The three pigs
grunted with Joy, and ran of as fast as
their legs would carry them.
The widow, too, fastened to the city,
and, presenting the treasures at the lar
gest jewelers. she could see, asked what
he could give her for them.
Large bait tempts large fish, she said
to herself, "and every one knows small
thieves are the biggest. did quite right
to come here"
The jeweler looked at the diamonds
with interest; and, asking the widow to
wait for his return, he ran into the street.
He came back with two of the king
guards, and bade them take the widow
into custody.
"She has offered me for sale our dear
princess's jewels" said he. Surely, she
must know something of her Royal High
ness's fate"
Then the widow heard for the first time
that the kings only child had just been
stolen away, and that the jewels che had
offered for sale were those the pril cess
had worn on the day she was lost.
The widow told her tale, but she was
not believed; and the judge ordered her
to be shut up in dungeon and tortured
till she would confess the truth.
Left alone in her dismal cell, the widow
sat down and wept; but, at last, drying
her eyes, she said swell, we'll,
i've done my best.
To Providence I'll leave the rest"
and fell asleep.
At dsybreak she heard a great noise
outside the window; and, climbing on to
the stone table which stood under it, she
could just manage to see into the gutter
OF the street, for her dungeon was below