The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-04-10


that he was free goat no longer bound
by the calling clothes line. Tho billy.
having satisfied himself that he was not
captive, ambled over to Darby's pen. The
pig was asleep He, however. was ,on
awakened There was batterig ram
Mt his gate Once, twice, thrice did
that inplacable catapult hurl itsel
against the frail pen. Then the hem.
lock groaned in pain; it cracked, it
broke. Darby sprang to his feet and
'quealed in fright. The hoofed demon.
with blazing eyes and ragged bangs full
of hemlock splinters, was in the pen.
Now, what avails thy sleek and FOUNDED bulk,
porcine Sytarite2
Better FAR II thou but hadst the gaunt and
hollow flank.
The washboard ribs, thy lcanness as of yore!
Then began an awful struggle. Urged
by the billy. Darby was forced out into
the field and bow led over and over down
the hill. The billy attended strictly to
business. No sooner did Darby get on
his feet than he was called on in most
iorcible manner to lie down. When
Darby had once more got his trembling
legs under him he made one supreme cf.
fort and ran up the hillside. His ascent
was materially assisted by the goat But
Darby was going toward the lime quarry!
In headlong, laundering flight Darby
rushed madly on. The bushes fringing
the brink of the precipice were parted
by the maddening rush of 35 pounds Of
animated pork. A faint squeal rent the
air of the beautiful May morning there
was dull and sickening thud on the
rocks below, and
Lfeless but beautiful Darby Law.
Before Mickey missed Darby his unc'e
drove up to the door and invited him to
make short visit to oPonckhockie. After
her son had gone and the breakfast
dishes were cleared away, Mrs. Finn
went to the sty to have look at the pig.
There the awful reality dawned upon
her-the wrecked sty, the freed goat,
and the missing pig. But when she
found Darby in the quarry she made no
moan. In fact. she smiled aud bore the
body home in her strong arms.
The next morning Darby was tried by
fire and was not found wanting. for his
jacket assumed a rich brown color and
the savory smell that rose from the oven
was sufficiently appctizng to make the
tongue of gourmet palpitate in his
mouth. Then Darby was put on big
plate and placed in the oven. There
were n number of guests at dinner that
day, among whom were Mrs. Murphy,
Mrs. Cronin, Mike WelsI's wife, Patsey
Colrigan's lass Nancy, and the one
legged accordion player "as tinds tn
railroad switch an waves tn rid flag
whin thare's a COW on the thrack. "
just MS the guests sat down ut the
table Mickey returned, but his mother
gave him II plate in the kitchen for GER
tain prudential reasons.
Darby was indeed beautiful sight,
ornamented with sprgs of celery and
with brand new corn cob in his
mouth. If he was lovely in life, he
certainly presented very toothsomn
appearance in death. Mickey drumn, d
impatiently u on tie kitchen table with
his knife handle. because, being the
younger, he had to wait until all the
rest were served. But at last a biz
piece # tenderloin was placed before
him. To his shame. he it said, he aciu-
ally neglected the potatoes on his Plate,
and asked for second piece of Dlr y
before he touched the potatoes.
1t is with deep regret that the occur
renee is recorded. but Mickey's plate
was filled third time, and in this in
stance it was choice cut from the plu p
liam of his little protege. After he had
been filed to repletion, after the but
tons of his vest had been relieved of
dangerous pressure, lie leaned back in
his chair with grease Oh his face and a
peace with all the world look in his eyes
Then his mother turned to him and said:
Mickey, did ye like til dinner?"
"Yis, mother.
wont ye hav' another little bit aft
tn neck--jist trfie, dear!"
mo, mother, dear; couldn't ate it;
I'm full "
"Well. darlint, ye won't be freckened
if tell ye somethin'?"
mo, mother, | will not
"Well, that piece O rib. an that bit
aft tn ham, ye're afther ATTN KEN off
your Darby!"
If bombshell had fallen at Mickey's
feet he could not have been more
| startled. He leaned forward and big
tears ran down his cheeks and mingled
with the gravy in his plate. Then he
laid his head down upon the table, and
wept as if his heart would break
Ernest Jarrold.