The Forrest City times., 1891-05-01
PIGS IN THE CLOVER.

tc. The flames leaped and roared up the wide-mouthed chimney, sending back cheering warmth, which, although the spring was well advanced. gave an air of comfort to the otherwise chilly apartment.
 All his life-or at least as much of it as he could remember-had been made miserable by housekeepers. and not until meek and modest Amanda Brown had become an inmate of his home had he known a resting place for the sole of his foot
 One had been independent and high strung and would not allow him the slightest authority in his own estab- lishment.
 Another had been caught carrying away sundry packages of tea, coffee and sugar to her friends. to say noth- ing of the homespun table linen and other articles of domestic value which she had boldly pilfered.
 And still another was so untidy that the whole home looked like curiosity shop before she had been one week under its roof; and the meals which she sat upon the table were nauseating in the extreme and as indigestible us a rubber shoe.
 But now there was a most decided change. From garrct to celar tho old farmhouse had been thoroughly leansed and renovated. and as Farmer Talbut said. it shone like new pin"
 Amanda Brown was a plump. rosy checked maiden of 40 summers. Farm CT Talbut we'll knew that he had secured a prize in the way of house. keeper. and he intended to keep her, if kind treatment made her willing to remain.
 Many mans heart has been reached through his stomach. and Farmer Talbut's heart was in warm sympathy with his organs of digestion. He was bachelor and it was his intention to remain SO to the end of the chapter. His experience in tho housekeeping line had convinced him what life would bo if he were tied to woman forever; and he had made up his mind. long ere this. that nothing in petticoats could ever dominecr over him so long as he was in his right mind.
 He was about 50 years of age. and possessed enough of this worlds goods to keep him comfortable for life.
 But 1t should hero be mentioned that aside from his aversion to women. he was n kind-hearted man.
 However. after Miss Amanda Brown appeared upon the scene his feeling soon underwent decided change.
 Perhaps. after all. he thought. women were not all alike; at least. Amanda was widely different from most of tho women of his experience. and somehow she had knack of making everybody around her so comfortable.
 One afternoon Farmer Talbot came rushing to the door. and in an excited voice called to his housekeeper:
 Mandy. Mandy. The pigs are in the clover and here isn't a man with in a mile of here! Do come and help me"
 Throwing her apron over her head. Amanda hurried of to the clover field. where two half-grown pigs were mak- ing sad havoc by tramping down the patch. of which the farmer had all the spring been justly proud.
 To encourage the intruders to make their way out with us little trouble as possible. he let the bars down and tried to drive them to the opening. but there is nothing so obstinate and ex- asperating as a couple of young pigs, and they rushed squealing by the open- ing without as much as a glance.
 Round and round wont the pigs, squealing and grunting Ut every step; and round and round went Farmer Talbut puffing and wheezing in hot pursuit with Amanda close at his heels.
 At last, stopping short in the center of the field and mopping the sweat from his flushed face he exclaimed. in despairing voice:
 its no use. Mandy; the pesky little things won't go out until they get ready, so we might us we'll go back to the house."
 Let us try once more. said Aman- da; you go this way, and I'll go that and we'll head of the critters"
 So saying. they started in opposite directions. with the pigs squealing just ahead.
 It was laughaole sight to see the pigs and their pursuers us they all rushed excitedly toward the open bars. As the animals drew near the opening the foremost cue turned as though to rush back into the field. As he did so Amanda sprung forward. II she could only seize the foremost pig and push him through the opening she knew the other one would soon follow.
 With a wild spring she swooped down upon the offender. who. with a prolonged squeal, slipped cunningly beneath her grasp, and Amanda. losing her balance. fell headlong into the arms of Farmer Talbut, her nose strik- ing against his ample shirt-front with such force tha, the blood rushed from it like claret from broken bottle.
 "Ohl oh! oh," caied Amanda. Il reckon my nosc Is broker
 Don't faint Mandy-oh. please don't I'm very sorry it hurt you so." said the sympathetic farmer, still hold ing her In his arms and carefully wiping the blood from her upturned face.
 Il am not a-going to faint" said Amanda with little spirit, "but oh. 1t did hurt sol" and tho tears came to Amanda's eyes at the thought of the in- fury to her poor nose.
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