The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-09-25

.WQere TdmSnaChle cottages play GU
hop-scotch over the railroad tracks.
The Wiggs family consisted of Mrs.
Wigs and five children. The boys
were named Jim and Billy, but it was
Mrs. Wiggs's boast that her three lit
tie girls had geography names. First
came Asia. then Australia. When the
last baby arrived. and Billy stood look
ing down at the small bundle, he
asked anXiously: Are YOU goin' to
have it for boy or girl, MAJ" Mrs.
Mrs. Wigs had answered: "a girl,
Billy, and her name is EuTopena."
Hard work and strict economy were
necessary in the little household. Mrs.
Wigs took in washing. Jim worked
at the factory. and the others helped
as best they could.
The direct road to fortune, however,
according to Billy's ideas, could best
be travelled in a kindling wagon. and
while he was the proud rossessor of a
broken-down wagon, sole relic Of the
late Mr.. Wigs, he had nothing to
hitch to it. Scarcely week passed
that he did not agitate the question,
and as Mrs. Wigs often said:
When Billy Wigs done set his
head to a thing he's as good as got it."
Consequently she was not surprised
when he rushed breathlessly into the
Kitchen one evening about supper
time, and exclaimed in excited tones:
Ma, I've got a horse! He was
havin' a fiji on the commons, an they
was goin' to shoot him. an asst the
man to give him to me-"
MY land, Billy! what do you want
with a fit horse?" asked his mother.
"Cause I kpowed you could cure
him. The man said if took him I'd
have to pay for cartin' away his car
cass, but l said all right, III take him
anyway. Come on, Ma. an see him!'
And Billy hurried back to his new pos
session.
Mrs. Wigs pinned shawl over her
head and ran across the commons. A
group of men stood about the with
ing animal, but the late owner had de-
parted.
He's most gone" said one of the
men as she came up. II tole Billy
you'd beat him fer takin' that ole nag
offen the mans hans"
well. l won't" said Mrs. Wigs,
stoutly. BILLY Wigss's got more sense
than most men 1 know. That hoss's
carcass is worth somethin'. I 'spect
he'd bring bout 50 dead an mebbe
more livin'. Anyway, I'm going to
save him if there's any save to him."
She stood with her arms on her hips
and critically surveyed her patient.
"I'll tell you what's the matter with
him" was her final diagnosis; "his
lights is riz. Bill. I'm goin' home fer
some medicine. You set on his head
SOS he can't get up, an nall be right
back in minute
The crowd which had collected to
see the horse shot began to disperse,
for il was supper time. and there was
nothing to see now bCt the poor suf.
fering horse with Billy Wigs patient
ly sitting on his head.
When Mrs. Wigs returned she car.
ried a bottle and what appeared to be
a large marble. This here is a Gallo
mel pill" she explained. Il jes' rolled
bread. Now you prop his jaw open
with a little stick. an I'll shove it in
then hole his head back. while poul
down some water an turkentine outen
this bottle
1t was with great difficulty that this
was accomplished, for the old horse
had evidently seen vision of the
happy hunting ground. and was loatl
to return to the sordid earth. His
limbs were already stiffening in death
and only the whites of his eyes were
visible. Mrs. Wigs noted these dis
couraging symptoms. and saw tha;
violent measures were necessary.
"Gether some sticks an build q frt
quick as you kin. I've got to run oy%
home. Build it right up clost to him
Billy; we've got to git him het up"
She rushed into the kitchen. ani
taking several cakes of tallow from
the shelf, threw them into tin buck
ct Then she hcsitated for moment
The kettle Of soup was steaming away
on the stove, ready for supper. Mrs
iWiggs did not believe in sacrificing
the present need to the future com
fort. She threw in liberal portion O
pepper. and seizing the kettle in OH,
hand and the bucket of tallow in th
other, staggered back to the bonfire.
Now, Billy she commanded, "pu
this bucket of tallow down there il
the hottest part Of the fire. Look out
don't tip it-there! Now you com
here an help ME pour this soup int
the bottle. I'm soin' to git that ol
hoss so het Up he'll think he's havil
sunstrokc. Seems sorter bad +
keep on pesterin' him when he's $
near gone. but this here soup'll fee
good when il once gifts inside him."
When the kettle was empty the sou
was impartially distributed over Mrs
Wigs and the patient. but goodI
amount had got inside" and alread
the horse was losing his rigidity.
Only once did Billy pause in hi
work, and that was to ask:
Ma. what do you think Id bette
name him.
Giving names was one OF Mr.!
Wiggs's chief accomplishments, an
usually required much thoughtful col
sideration, but IN this case. if ther