The Madisonian. (Virginia City, Mont.) 1873-1915, 1895-11-09
REAL RAZORBACKS.

REAL R~AZORBACkS.
There is a great difference in hogs.
The form, contour and face of the
rounded, sleek sided, short legged
Berkshire and other hogs of high degree
not much resenSle the angular. ra-
2or backed hog common throughout thu
south. The Countenance of the well
bred, we'll cared for species is chubby
and contented looking, the ears small,
the snout inclined to turn up rather
than down. His less fortunate cousin
has a long, narrow face, Immense, flop
ping ears that hang disconsolately over
mis- eyes, and an elongated, pointed
sDout that seems providentlally formed
to aid his earthly explorations. Root,
nog, or die, Is a common saying in
tie country of which this hog is a ma
tive. and the swine seom TO realize the
situation. They have long legs and al
ways run with their shouts close TO the
ground, convenient for unearthing any
shing eatable which may come in thoir
way. They diligently root up the prom
Using morsel of food and gulp it down,
OK apparently faster than ever, grunt-
ing as they go, in search Of something
i0Ore-some favOrite acorn or juicy biz
of grass Or berry root, upon which they
largely depend for subsistence.
Naturally the vast amount of imper-
ative exercise they take ranging through
Ghe woods efcctuaily prevents their tax
ing or much superhuous flesh, and the
hair on their narrow backs is as rough
and coarse as that of the we'll bred hog
is smooth and glossy. The majority OF
them are Of q dingy white color. per-
maps spotted with black. and when a
white coated one, ~scantily covered with
hair, has pale eyes. bound around with
pink, and very light eyelashes, protrud'
ing beneath his dropping ears, he is as
ugly q living object al can b. imagined.
The little pigs are moderately pretty
when young, but not in the least like
che plump, little. chubby faced baby
Berkshire, and long before thsy have
arrived at the age when they are called
"'shotes" they have become ungainly
and common looking. The negroes have
great faith in the ability OF tho hog to
survive any amount of neglect and still
live to provide sausasss and pork stew
tor the winter season. At certain sea
sons, when the ''shotes' can do no dam.
Ag to the maturing crops, IL is neces-
cary to confine them until the fields are
bare once more aad will admit Of their
ranging at will.
in the course Of a walk once, a small
negro boy and girl were found seated
on top Of the fence which surrounded q
pen, finging corn to two hogs within
the Enclosure, The ruds feeding trough
was as dry as il no liquid had ever
dampened it, and this ca a hot summer
afternoon. inquiry a. to when the pris-
oners had last hai water given them
elected no response from the shy lltt!a
~.shote m1nders. After some inquiry
and explanation that the pigs would
like water the boy consented TO go to
the house, Soma distance off. for q buck
ct, after bringing which the children
went to the spring, IL a little hollow III
the woods behind the pen. ana procured
water for the thirsty creatures. 1t Is
needless to say that they drank it with
avidity. This pen was in an open field.
with not q single Bit Of shade near. II
had belonged to An humble establish
ment, the house and barn of which haT
been moved to some other tract of land,
and the owner Of the hogs had utilized
the pen Just wher5 /, was. the distance
from his dwelling. which was plenti
fully supplied with we'll water. reuder
ing it most i~ncouyenieuS TO attend tc
the wants Of the animals.
The pen could easily have been moved
as the fence around it WAS made o
movable caiha placed zigzag fashion Q,
purpose that it mtghs b. changed from
place TO place, but evidently the com
fort Of the ''shoeas" was not regarded q
of much tmportanoa. Later. q small
slim figure, in q sosnt. homespun dress
faded and torn, suddenly emerged from
,a:narrow path whioh opened upon tn
xoad, and q childish voice said tiKnidly
"::Do you want soma bsadachs blossom
u.a'am7'a little black hand hoidin,
eoQt D bunch OF dsiioats pink flowers
with perfume moro powerful thar sweet
The acceptauoe Of this Offering sesme'
to thaw ous. her reserve, and ths littl
girl volunteered the information tia
she: and Yankee, hsr brother. ''aime,
80 dash water to Dc hog cherry sbenin.
IN the days Of the old rsgtus ia
crops oil fenood in. and 5hs hogs
and cattleiSs VIII. wers SLOWED to .oan
- will through the fastne sses Of tn
Swamps and Hmbsred tracts. Ot.eu