The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1892-06-03
4 SH1RP YANKEE.

Uncle Jerry Munger is an old farm
er who is celebrated in our part of the
country for his stinginess, miserly
habits and guile. No one ever gets
the better of him in bargain, and he
has a crafty way of evading all the
laws of man and of nature. For in
stance the other day the miller saw
him soaking his shelled corn in water
What do you do that for p asked
the miller.
"Saves grinding" said Uncle Jerry.
"Ain't you afraid the good of the
corn III go off in the water ?" asked
the miller, angry at being defrauded
of his grist.
81 calk'late to make the critters
drink the WATER drawled Uncle Jer-
ry.
But the time came when every one
thought he had met his mate. Hiram
Pickett owed Jerry $50, and Hiram
was lazy, povertystricken 'longshore
fisherman, who never paid his debts.
Hiram" whined jeremiah, almost
bursting into tears, that ere $50 is
all I've got to look to to pay my taxes
and insurance and all my winter e1
penses. Why, Hiram, | reilly don't
know which way to turn. Amt there
anything you could sell SOS to pay
me -
mo, there amt t." said Hiram.
you've got a pig"
Eyes, N l mean to keep him, too"
I'm bound to have that ere money
or it's equivalent, said Jerry, and
he took the sheriff to Hiram's hut.
There was nothing inside or outside
of the little cottage where Hiram liv-
ed that could be seized by law except
the pig.
The large and noble form OF this an
imal was reposing i'll company with
one of Hiram's ragged children on "a
heap of seaweed i'll an outer apart
ment of the house. 1t was the finest
pig that Jerry had ever seen, of short
nosed Yorkshire breed, fed on the
crumbs that had fallen from the tab
les of the rich. 1t led wild, green
wood life, roaming in orchards and
cabbage gardens till it was as desir-
able pig as any that had ever grown
fat on mast and acorns in Il Virginia
forest.
Take the pig cried Jerry;
"You can't" said Hiram, 1.-The law
allows the poor man one swine, which
no body can't attach"
IF he'd had two pigs" said the
sheriff, you could have attached one
of them
A few days later Hiram was going
home with an eelspear and a crabnet
over his shoulder. He passed Jeremi-
abs house and saw the old man lean
ing over the gate.
You needn't stink out of my way
like that, Hiram," said Uncle Jerry
meekly. 81 haven't nothin' in you
Hiram, nor don't bear no umbrage on
account of that bill, Hiram. Pay me
when you've a mind. l know you've
a good many mouths to feed, and Il
hard time to get along with that fam
lily of yourn. You be poor man."
"That's fact" said Hiram.
81 have been wondering how l
could help you. | know fishing is
poor now, and cells is skurce, and
CLAIMS don't dig as they used to, and
Hiram, I've changed my mind about
that bill. Let it stand over till
spring"
"All right" said Hiram.
"And I'm going to make you a pre-
sent. I've got lot of little pigs.
can't sell 'em and l can't afford to
keep 'em. Now, Hiram, I'm going to
make you present OF little pig.
Hiram hesitated. Were not the
gifts of Jerry dangerous gifts Do
men gather grapes of thorns, or pigs
of thistles?
Il dunno ez l kin du jestice ter tn
pigs" he said.
Jerry brought the pig and showed it
to Hiram. 1t was a very small pig.
~"Lordy massy p said Hiram to him
self, "Jerry's getting sort O. old N
childish, giving Christmas presents at
this time o. year"
He took it home.
"Myr' said his wife scornfully
"'tain't with six n quarter cents.
Better look out, Hi. Jerry's up to
some mischief
They put it in the pen with the big
pig and the little one looked smaller
than ever.
l need not go on with my tale.
Hiram was then the owner of two pigs
and the law allowed the creditor to
attach one of them.