The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-04-10
MICKEY FINN'S DARBY"

Tom Connor was the blacksmith over
the hill. Mickey Finn was in the habit
OF running on errands for Tom, and so
when Providence sent n litter of zig :,
into TOMS sty, he picked out the small
est, most measly looking pig in the lit
ter. and gave it TO Mickey.
OF course the boy was delighted, and
ran home with the squealing little porker
under his arm.
Now, if there was anything of which
Mrs Finn was fond it was fresh pork.
especially when it was young and ten
der. But she had had considerable ex-
perience with animated pork in her day,
and after looking at Mickey's acquisition
with the eve of connoisseur she de.
c'dad that the chances Of the pigs ripen-
ing into plump hams and juicy chops
were very Slim
Nov, Mickey, you take that rack o
bones wild no mate on it back t Tom
Connor, AN tell him he might better be
up { better business nor shown off his
bones an bristles on ye. Fax, he might
~ well be givin' ye u shtove crate. Luz
at tn tail iv tn boneen! Musha, thare's
no more twist to it than to u hoe
handled"
"But. mother. l don't want til pig t
ate. want I play wild hint"
play wild II pig, il it, God save us!
Mkt yen want to be playin' wild Fee
mans calf. so ye will. o., but you're II
looney L'y; ye're out iv yer sivin small
sinses. Play wild pig! Och, did
liver hear the likes! Play wild pig!
Mebbe yed he putin pants on him an
feedin' him wild spoon, agra. It's IL
quare lad ye are. ne by, wild yer ould
divil goats an that black crow as has
shiny beads in his head. Well, well, an
Iwantin' Z make ly'yer iv ye 'stea iv
dirty snake charmer or mautherin
vagabones as ye will be nv ye don't
shlop foolin' wild animils! So, thare.
Now, Mickey take that pig back t 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 1om Connor
cheered him up.
Mickey" said he, you an I'll make
pen fer the porler foreninst tn forge.
an you can gather little grass and
stuff fer him. Mebbe he'll get fat Thin
yer mother'll be glad thav' him. We'll
call the porker Darby.
The pen was built and Darby was duly
installed therein. Under the fostering
care of the blacksmi 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 drop upon his
neck, and he was very fond of being
scratched between them with piece of
old iron. And so the days fled quickly
by, filed with the joy of content.
But while the May days were Slipping
away into the eternities Mrs Finn had
not been idle. Her boys extravagant
praises Of Darby had awakened her
cupidity anew. Often while Mickey
was at school Mrs. Finn took sly trips
over the meadows to the sty. On each
of these occasions she always took with
her some choice morsels which were
calculated to increase Darby's girtl, and
to make his jowls drop with fatness.
Alas! however, Mrs Finn entertained
none of those fine sentiments of unselfish
love for Darby which animated her son.
She could see no poetry in the corkscrew
curl of Darby's tail as he grunted
with pleasure while gnawing last
years cabbage stump. Her finer
sensibilities had been roughened by
the sandpaper of misfortune. Each
pound Darby gained meant not added
grace and proportion to her, but rather
suggested the salty pork barrel and the
sizzling frying pan.
During all this time Mickey's old gray
bearded billy goat was suffering the
torments of unrequited affection Day
by day the billy saw Mickey go by him
on his way to the pig pen. But once In
three long weeks did little Mike stop
and gambol with the goat as he had
been won't to do in the sweet old days
before the coming Of the hated Darby.
The goat seemed to be aware that the
affections of his master were waning
away from him, "like the twilight OF an
autumn day.
Only q little sunlit hollow in Stumpy
Field separated Darby and the goat.
One morning, while yet the grass was
bending beneath diamonds OF dew, the
goat came out of his barrel ard stretched
his legs He looked of over the valley
at the mists fleeing up the rugged sides
Of Snake Hill He saw the faint hush
in the east gradually deepen into
vivid blush Of rose color. Then he IN
dulped In little practice butting.