Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-07-27
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 a litter of pigs
into TOMS sty, he picked out the small
est, most measly looking pig in the lit
ter, aud gave IL to Mickey.
OF course the bov 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 eye of connoisseur, she de-
cided that the chances of the pigs ripen.
ing into plump hams and juicy chops
were very slim.
"Now, Mickey, you take that rack o.
bones wild no mate on it back Z Tom
Connor, an tell him he might better be
up T. better business nor shown Off his
bones an bristles on ye. Faix, he might
as well be givin' ye a shtove CRATE. LUX
at tn tail iv til boneenl Musha, thares
no more twist to it than to hoe
HANDLED"
"But, mother, don't want TIL pig Z
ate. want Z play wild himl"
"Play wild pig, Is itl God save usl
Mkt yen want to be playin' wild Fee
mans calf, so ye will. Oh, but you're
looney by; ye're out iv yer swim small
siuses. Play wild pig Och, did /
iver hear the likesi Play wild a pigl
Mebbe ye'd be putin pants on him an
feedin' him wild a spoon, agra. It's
quare lad ye are. ne by, wild yer ould
divil goats an that black crow as has
shiny beads in his head. Well, well, am
| wantin' Z make ly'yer iv ye steal iv
dirty snake charmer or mautherin'
vagabones as ye win be av ye don't
shtop foolin' wild animilsl So thare.
Now, Mickey, take that pig back 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 Connor
sheered him up
"MickeyS said he, you an Ill make
pen fer the porker foreninst th forge,
an you can gather a little grass and
stuff fer him. Mebbo he'll get fat Thin
yer mother'll be glad t hav' him. Wen
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 drop upon his
neck, and he was very fond of being
scratched between them with piece of
old iron. And SO the days fed quickly
by, filled 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 morBels which were
calculated to increase Darby's girth, and
to make his jowls drop with fatness.
AlasI however, Mrs Finn entertained
none Of those fine sentiments of unselfsh
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 LiIly saw Mickey 20 by him
on his way 10 the pig pen. But once in
three long weeks did little Mike st y
aud gambol with the goat as he had
been won't to do in the sweet old days
before the coming Of the hated Darby.
Tie goat seemed to be aware that the
affections Of his master were waning
away from him. ~like the twilight OF an
autumn day
Only little sunlit hollow in Stumpy
Field separated Darby and the goat.
0Ae morning, wlnle yet the grass was
bending beneath diamonds Of dew, the
goat came out Of his barrel and stretched
Ills legs he looked of over the valley
e tlie nisfs fleeing up the rugged sides
IL Suake Bill lie saw the faint flush
l.. H. 49, 4