Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1891-04-17
ERI'S BURGLARS.
Farmer Stcbb,n us and His Wife Get q
Terrible Scare from Strangers.

Terrible Scare from Strangers.
Farmer Fri Stebbins, fast asleep after
his hard days work in the field, was sud
denly reused 10 scmi-consciousness by a
loud crash. Just what or where the noise
was did not appear, and, after q little vain
listening for further disturbance, the tired
farmer sank again into slumber. A mo-
ment later he was once more rouscd-this
time most thoroughly so-by his wife's
voice whispering hoarsely in his ear: "Eri!
Erie! wake up! There's somebody down
suller trampin' round! Don't you hear
um?"
Fri did hear some one moving somewhere
in the lower part Of the house, and he in
stantly slid out of bed ready to do battle.
Somebody in the cellar! He'd show 'em
a thing or two worth remembering With
these warlike thoughts flashing through
his mind the farmer slipped on his trousers
and stole softly down stairs to the kitchen.
The noise in The cellar sounded very loud
now, but not at all like tramping; rather
it was a combination of scuf1ing and
scratching with a queer stopping sound, as
of some one padding in water.
Fri was takingdown his loaded gun from
its hooks on the wall just as another crash
sounded through the house. This time the
sound was u~nmistakable; IL pan of milk
had been knocked from the table to the
stone floor. The angry farmer cooked his
gun, hurried to the cellar door, threw it
open and then-stopped short.
The bright moonlight streaming in at
the outside door of the cellar showed five
or six half grown pigs making a feast of
the milk, which was streaming over the
floor.
Evi M avian ,,rlnn.tD1l fl,, t+s@
The pigs, which were pastured in the or
chard about the house, had found their
way to the outer door, pushed it open and
entered the cellar. The only thing to do
was to drive them out.
So, putting his gun back on the hooks,
Fri started to eject the intruders.
Now if any one terrestrial q,ladruped is
harder to drive than all others. that quad
ruped is ii pig. However, as the farmer
was experienced in pig driving and thor.
ouGlly in earnest, he soon got rid of all
except one brute that steadfastIy refused
to go. He would charge full toward the
open door, but when within Il few feet OF
it would suddenly dart aside and rush
back to the iarthest corner of the cellar.
When routed from this lurking place he
would repeat his former maneuver with
,'tt'" ot9 III ittAAoli w il'AN lAAI yoE1Cl b1N
amy attempt to stop him.
After three or four such experiences FIR;
began to get excited. He would have beaten
the pig, but he had no weapon of any sort,
AT last, however. he got near the brute
and. raising his foot, kicked hiE, heavily in
the rear. Alas for Eri! he had quite for
gotten that he was barcfooted.
rs Il result he nearly broke all the toes
Of his right foot. The kick, moreover
frightened the poor pig SO bndly that he
suddenly made a bolt up the stairs toward
the Kitchen.
Now it happened that Dame Stebbins
armed with an old boot and carrying &
tallow candle, was just coming to her hus
bands assistance. There was IL fine com
bination of screams, squeakS and grunts
followed by several heavy bumps, as the
the and pig rolled together dow
the stairs and into the puddle of milk
below.
At this lulicrous sight Fri burst into
laughter, whcreupon his indignant spouse
soundly bcr"led him for his hardness Of
heart, declaring that he would laugh if she
We're to break her neck.
While the furmer was Dacifving hi!
angry wife prudent piggy slipped quietly
ont of the Huor and made good his escape
Youths Companion.