The Norfolk weekly news., 1899-12-14


madman. Betsy and her sisters were
truly sorry for him, but he was bring
ing II all on himself, and their sympa-
thies were not ns deep as they might
have been. They ate their potato cakes
and cold ham without undue ostenta-
tion, however, for they really feared
their fathers temper When they had
finished their supper, they stole away
to bed, and Gideon did the same.
1t was In vain that he tried to take
his mind from the gnawipg In his
stomach, and his sleep was broken by
wild dreams, for a starving man will
see visions, be he fool or n mahntma.
At first he dreamed over the wild voy-
age OF 40 days that brought him from
Scotland to the wilderness. The waves
were tossing about him wearily, and
then came the terrible news that chol-
era had broken out among the passen-
gers. Horror piled upon horror until
at last n huge ship bore down upon
them, cut their schooner in two and
impaled Gideon through the stomach
with Its bowsprlt. He awakened with
scream that brought his daughters to
his side, but he sternly bade them re-
turn to bed. After this he slept from
sheer exhaustion and did not waken
again until the ham was being fried
for breakfast. The savory odor Of 1t
was hundredfold more maddening
than on the previous morning. He
stuffed the coverlet in his mouth to
keep himself from groanlng aloud and
meditated on his wish against Phelan.
BY this time he was beginning to doubt
his ability to think Of anything savage
enough to do the wretch justice.
In the early morning Tiger Dunlop's
servant appeared with n huge basket.
my master sent me-" he said, ito tell
you that he has just learned that today
Is the day appointed for Thanksgiving
by the governor and that he is coming
to dinner and will bring few friends
to see Mr.. Mcpherson, and he wants
you to have this cooked for him."
So saying he laid on the table
dressed sucking pig, with loaf Of dry
bread. a bundle Of onions, n bunch oe
sage, little roll Of fresh butter and
peck Of apples.
What sucking pig 1t was! Its little
back was so broad you could have pour
ed cup of water In the hollow Of 1t
without spilling a drop, but 1t was by
no means all fat. When Betsy had ad-
mired the peerless sucking and her
father had dilated on the honor that
was being done to them by the Tiger
and his friends In cominr to have their
Thanksgiving dinner with him. the
other two girls were called from the
field to help prepare for the visitors.
The compliment implied by the dinner
diverted Gideon's mind from his re-
lentless hunger and kept him from no.
ticing too painfully the hurried lunch
that was taken by his daughters.
But his peace was short lived. Betsy
crumbled the loaf Of dry bread. peeled
and chopped the onions, powdered the
sage leaves. and then with the fresh
butter mixed the dressing When the
little cherub was filled to his utmost
capacity, they hung him before great
fire in the open fireplace over the drip
ping pan.
Come" said Betsy to her father.
"Won't you help us by keeping the pig
turningw
1t was cruel. but Gideon could not re-
sist. The cracking was already be-
ginning to give it's smell Alright, and.
though he would fain fly. he was at
tracted toward the chimney. Presently
the onions penetrated the broiling sides
and added their powerful odor to the
torture. Then the daughters, as cruel
as those Of old Lear, hung pot Of ap-
pies on the crane to make apple sauce
and put a great loaf of bread into the
Dutch oven.
What a revel Of odors now filled the
old house! The appetite of an anchor
lite would have been tempted, so what
must 1t have been to the starving Gid
con. who was at all times a hearty
feeder? He had to put forth a great ef
fort Of will to keep his under jaw snap
ped up and to avoid drooling Then his
wretched daughters capped the climax
by putting score or two Of fine pOta-
toes to bake in the Goals. BY this time
Phelan and the wish were forgotten.
Gideon could think Of nothing but the
cracking pig, the potatoes and the hot
bread. and he was almost wandering
with feast that was plentiful even
for those lavish days. Everything was
done to turn. he had an appetite
sharpened by two days hunger, and at
last he jumped from his stool with
cry like n famished wild animal.
Bring me the butcher knife" he
shouted, "and the big horn spoon"
With one slash and savage twist
he wrenched ham from the sucking
and with another stroke disemboweled
1t Of its rich dressing.
1t was In vain that his daughters
told him that the Tiger was coming up
the lane with his friends, Colonel Van
Egmond, Captain Dunlop, Colonel
Prince. Sheriff Hyndman and half
dozen others of equal note in the prov
ince. lie was deaf to everything ex-
cept the Macedonian cry Of his stom'
ach, and when they arrived they were