The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-03-01
CHAPTER VIII.



had escaped from Mr.. GOssett and the
patrol. and had gone into the woods. but
what then2 What did he do there? How
long did he stay? There were a thousand
questions they wanted 10 ask. SO the
next time they saw Aaron. and each time
thereafter. they begged him 10 tell them
this and tell them that until. finally. he
said he would take them over 10 the two
mile place some fine day and show them
the White Pig.
Now. en- that plantation, the White Pig
was "A weli-knOwn character. His history
was a short one, but II was enough. \
good many years before that an old sow.
with thirteen pigs following her, cOnclud-
cI 10 90 travelling. She refused 10 come
up 20 bee Jed when the other hogs were
called. Nobody knew the reason. The
hog feeder had a beautiful song 10 call
them with. and strong, mciodiOus voice
with which 60 sing the song-a voice that
could be- heard from one end OF the plan
tation 90 the other But however long
on however loud he might call. the old
sow with her thirteen pigs kept close in
The swamp
Day after day the hog feeder called:
dav after day DE expected them TO come;
and dav after day they failed 20 come.
After 50 long a time he went 10 hunt
them. The old sow he found, bust her
pigs We're missing. Some said the foxes
ana wildcats had caught the young ones,
and some said they had gone wild In the
swamp But when the negroes planted
their watermelon and gOOber patches they
soon found our that not ali Of the pigs
had been caught.
Then great effort was made 10 catch
them. Some were run down and caught
with dogs and some were shot, but one
of the most mischievous Of an was never
caught lie kept out OF the way OF the
guns. and DE ripped open and killed all
the dogs that came within reach OF him.
lie was fleet Of foot and cunning. lie
never came out Of the canebrake except
al night and he was so white and swift
that the negroes came 10 be- afraid OF
him. They said 10 themselves that pig
that could fool the white people and out
run "A pack OF foxhOunds must be some
thing more than a common pig.
Consequently, when they We're going
through the fields at dead Of night. and
heard tho White Pig crunching COOLERS
or chewing sugar cane, or smacking his
mouth over a yam potato. they said moth
ing. and slipped away as fast as they
could. and left him 10 the enjoyment Of
his feast This went on until the waite
Pig grew 10 be strong and dangerous. His
tusks or tushes, as the negroes called
them. were long and sharp. lie could
| XIII as many dogs as could be piled upon
{
/ him he had a great trick Of running until
the dog came close enough, and then
wheeling and ripping the pursuer's hide
open
II came 20 pass that the sport OF hunt
ing the White Pig grew too dangerous to
he INDUCED IN. so he was left 10 roam
so the swamps and canehrakes with 10
one TO modest. IL happened. too, that as
soon as he was left alone the White Pig
Z "a lft.r'rf l.4il
canes sweet potatoes. COOLERS. and other
truck which the negroes were allowed 10
/ raise i'm order 20 make themselves a little
pocket money. For a long time this was
the wonder Of the plantation. and yet
none OF the patches planted by the negroes
were torn up and destroyed. Then, as
everybody got used 20 this state Of things,
/ 81 ceased 20 DE astonishing and was no
| longer talked Of. And some OF the ne
groes even forgot that the White Pig was
still at large ready and willing 10 Kill
! and cripple the biggest pack Of dogs that
could be- sent against him.
This. them was the White Pig that
/ Aaron said he would have 10 show the
/ children. Many and many a time they
| had been told not 20 60 too far from the
/ house for fear the White Pig would catch
| them. They had been taught 10 regard
the White Pig as the Booger-B Bear OF the
| plantation. and they as well as the ne
! eroe= stood greatly in awe of him. the
| more so as they had never seen him. II
| Is no wonder. therefore. that they looked
az one another with some establishment
when Aaron told them that he would have
| 20 take them 10 the two-mile place and
| show them the White Pig.
81 speck he's tired 0f f0Olln' long wild
| u.s. said Drusilla. by way Of explana-
| ton. IAN don't blame him much. kaze
| you all been a-foilerin after him an
! dlng-dougin at him twel be done plum
w0' OUT
you too" exclaimed Buster John.
"N0t me" protested Drusilla. NO. sub,
| ! Amt been g diug-donein' after INK Aon.
! ben a-follerin' after you an. an dat what
/ Misuss toll me ter do Ef / don't do IL.
she'll make me tote water fer nanny ter
wash Size cl0ze wild. an ] know mighty well
| ! don't want ter do dat"
But Aaron. as So turned out. was not
/ Joking 40 alb So. one pleasant morning.
when he saw them playing IN the spring
/ lot be gave them 20 understand that the
/ time. had come for them 10 make the ac-
quaintance OF the White Pig. and Buster
! John said Dee was quite ready. but Sweet
est Susan looked al Drusila and hesitated
/ a little Drusllla looked at Sweetest SUI
san and hesitated a good deal In fact,
she drew back.
Now. / tell you what" she said. "you
all kin 20 on out dar in de swamp an
le' me stay here an den when you come
back kin set down an tell me an out H."
But mamma said YOU were 10 go with
| Us wherever We went Sweetest Susan
reminded her.
Dat what she say" replied Drusilla,
| "yit she amt tell me ter 20 Wild you
! dar Whar dat ar VIII hog is, which he
| done cripple a boss an kilt yardful er
dogs. INK Aon kin TAXA keer er you lots
| better dan what / kin"
Come on" said Buster John 70 Sweet
est Susan. Let her stay II she wants
TO-"
Yes" remarked Aaron. she's big
enough 20 go 10 the field now. We need
| her there right now
This didn't suit Drusilla az all. so she
ran toward the others laughing.
Il wuz des foolin," she said. Il des
wanted ter see what you all gwlne ter
/ do. You may not need me, but I'm gwine
| ANYHOW, an ef de White Pig git ~
vou'u halter answer 10 Mistiss fer it,"
Aaron hitched mule 10 the plantation
cart and in this RIG they made their way
! 10 the twO-miie place. They logged along
| the little-used road. the journey being en-
t nvened by some OF the queer songs that
| Aaron was in the habit OF singing when
he was I'm a good humor. They went
/ nearly 10 the river-the OcOnec-and then
J Aaron turned out OF the plantation road
! and drove straight through the woods and
bushes until they came in sight Of a
biz canebrake Here he stopped. took The
! mule from the cart. and fastened him
/ with z strong tether so that he could
I browse around and nhble the grass and
/ bushes Then he lifted Sweetest Susan 10