The record-union., 1897-10-21
THE WIDOWS PIG.

The cutoff road between Pomona and
Covlna after running through the pic
turesque Holienback Hills slowly winds
its way down into the little settlement
of Spadra, little burg given up to the
raising of hogs, corn and alfalfa
l was enjoying the beautiful view
which can be had from the road as it
winds it's way in sinuous curves to the
valley below when my attention was
attracted by a lone woman in wild pur-
suit OF a nebellious hog.
The pig was small but agile; the
old woman would nearly succeed in
having it in her grasp when the pig
would double on its tracks. and with
a squeal of defiance dart off in another
direction, with the old woman in wild
pursuit.
Seeing me she stopped. and coming
up. said:
Stranger. will We help catch this
year bawg?"
Being always ready TO help a female
in distress, I tied my horse to blue
gum tree and joined the old woman in
the chase
For matter of fifteen minutes, with
the old woman shouting words Of en-
coura cement, chased the hog over the
surrounding country, and at last sue
ceeded in cornering the hog In small
ravine and seized him.
Stranger" said the old woman, as
she mopped her face with her sun bon
net, I'm pow'fully obliged to ye.
I'm q lone wilder, an won't fergit We
in my prayers" :"
Now that the pig is caught, what
shall I do with it?'' said I, tired of
holding the squirming porker by the
leg.
Stranger, thet thar pig has got ter
go down yander to my shack, an if ye
would do me the favor to tote hit down
thar l would be pow'fully Obliged ter
ye"
Seeing that I was in for it, should
cred the pig and started for the house
that the woman had pointed out.
we had not gone far when we were
confronted by an old man with gun
and three dogs.
Hog stealin', eh?" he cried. as he
threw his gun forward.
THE pig belongs to this woman"
began
Belongs nothing" yelled the old
man as he danced around. Guess I
know my OF hog when I see hit!'
I turned to the old woman to have
her confirm my STORY, when, to my
/ surprise, I found her sitting on the
ground crying.
4 night ez we'll own up" said She
between sobs. "tain'r my hog"
Il tole ye So" said the old man, as
he giared at me.
I was beginning to feel uncomfort-
able, and wished the whole thing was
was in warmer cline.
I'm a lone widder, with six chill
dren." walled the old woman, IAN
they wuz starvin'."
'sThen this pig belong to this party?"
said I, sternly.
Il reckon it does, stranger, but I'm
! a lone wilder
Lone widder be hanged" shouted
/ the old man. This yer is a plain case
yer both up"
''Sae herei" cried I. growing desper-
ate what do you value this pig at?"
Stranger, thet's a powerful good
pig" he began.
''Well, we'll, what is he WORTH"
Stranger. I've been offered SO fer
Here's the money, and, madam, here
is the pig" said T. unloading the pig
on the old woman with a sigh of re-
| lief 'and the next time that you
find your family starving apply to the
proper authorities
That evening while I was telling my
adventures to the hotelkeeper in Po-
mona, where I stopped for the night,
he burst out laughing.
Was the old man a red-headed old
coon?"
He was"
"And was the old woman cross-cyed,
and did she have a wart on the end Of
her nose?"
'She did,
You've been taken in That was
old Bill Snaggs and his wife, and the
hog is one that they keep trained for
| the purpose of catching tenderfeet.
You ore the third one that they have
caught the past week. l reckon it
pays better than raising hogs for the
market New York World
|