The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-01-17

Opie Read not long ago had occasion to
make trip through Kentucky, and on his
return was asked for some good story.
ABOUT Breckenridge.
II can give you story, :" said Mr.. Read.
sit is about a hog thief who went by the
name of Tom. Nobody ever caught Tom
stealing hogs but there was 4 firmly settled
conviction in the community that all the
missing porkers were due to this cunning
rascal. Notwithstanding the general be-
lief that Tom was the thief, and for all the
fact that all kinds of schemes were laid to
entrap him, the hogs continued year in
and year out to disappear, but Tom was
never caught.
"A prominent Judge and the owner of a
fine farm, residing near the town where
Tom lived, was out in the yard one morn
ing looking over his stock when he no.
ticed Tom coming down the road. AS he
just then CHANGED to be looking at his hogs
the sight of Tom naturally led him to
speculate upon the safety of his stock.
'Howdy, Tom, said the judge. Fine
lot of hogs, eh?'
Mawnin, jedge. mawBin,' answered
Tom. Deed an dey is, jedge, about de
fines lot o. hogs l evan did see, jedge.
Spec you 5 mighty proud O dem hogs,
jedge.
Well, Tom, for fact 1 do think
heap of these hogs Now 1 want to make
a bargain with you. I'm not abiding TO
anything in particular, Tom. l just want
you to take notice of those three shoats
over in the corner.
- see 'em, jedge, an L spect dey is
bout as fine any shoats l evan did see,
replied Tom, with broad grin.
Well, now, see here, Tom, am going
to give you these three shoats.
'''YOu's gWine ter give dem three
fine shoats, jedge? l mus say, jedge, OATS
monstrous kin
Hold on, Tom, there's a condition. I
am going to give them to you if you will
promise me for sure that you will leave
the rest of the hogs alone Will you
agree?'
Well, jedge,' answered Tom, with a
face as sober and as solemn as the judge
W9er wore upon the bench, 'you's been
good fr'en of mine, an you's done me
heap O. favOrs, jedge, an I'ze gwine ter
agree. But, jedge, and here Tom began
scratching his wool1y head L tell yous
what, I'ze gwine ter agree, jedge, but L re
gwine ter lose meat '''-Chicago Mail.
A Man In the Woods.
She had on what they call half mourn
ing, to signify that six months had passed
since her husband was laid away. She had
stopped TO look at some pictures displayed
by a secondhand dealer on Gratiot avenue,
and he stepped out to say:
Sell you that beautiful steel engraving
and carved frame for only 49, ma am. just
as good as new and never cost less than
$1O''
IL thought I liked it at first, but it
don't amount to much" she replied
Beg pardon, ma am, but please look at
the details. There's farmhouse to always
remind you Of the country; there S a for
est, a meadow, two horses and COW, and
there's
They are very common, - she interrupt
ed.
perhaps, ma'am, but in that house is a
lady-a widow-waiting for the gent who
is coming through those woods to climb
this rail fence just here. You can't see
'em, of course, but they are there, and
he going to propose to her as soon as he
reaches the house. She'll accept him, and
they'll be married in the spring and be
very, very happy"
Two dollars is too much, y she said as
she looked more closely and exhibited
more interest.
But consider, a'am; consider that
he's going to pop the question, and he's
rich and handsome. Cam tell how this
picture may affect your future, you know. ;"
IN give you 81. So" she said as she
took out her purse
& Oh, we'll, I'll have to take it, but it's
an awful shame. Fit for any parlOr in the
land, drawn by an artist who used to milk
this very COW, and in the perspective is one
of the happiest marriages ever made in
this country. Here it is ma am, and aft
+ er the match has been fixed l know you'll
drop in and give me the other so cents ,"
Detroit Free Press