The suburban citizen., 1901-09-28

The Wiggses lived in the Cabbage
Patch. 1t was not real cabbage
9atch, but a queer neighborhood
where ramshackle cottages played
4hsp-scotch over the railroad tracks.
The Wigs family consisted of Mrs.
Wiggs 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 1t for boy or a girl, map Mrs
Mrs. Wigs had answered: "a girl,
Billy, and her name is Europena."
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
DE Travelled in a kindling wagon, and
while he was the proud possessor of a
broken-dOwn wagon, sole relic Of the
late Mr.. Wigs, he had nothing to
hitch to It. Scarcely a 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 horse! He was
havin' a fit on the commons, an they
was goin' to shoot him, an l asst the
man to give him to me-"
''My land, Billy! what do you want
with a fit horse" asked his mother.
"'Cause 1 knowed you could cure
aim. The man said if l took him I'd
have to pay for cartin' away his car
lCass, but 1 said all right, I'll take him
anyway. Come on, ma, an see himr'
And Billy hurried back to his new pos
session.
Mrs. Wigs pinned a shawl over her
mead and ran across the commons. A
group of men stood about the wrlth-
ing animal but the late owner had de-
parted.
"He's most gone" said one Of the
men as she came up. Il tole Billy
you'd beat him fer takin' that ole nag
often the mans hans"
"Well, 1 won't" said Mrs. Wigs,
stoutly. Billy Wiggs's got more sense
than most men I know. That hoss's
caEGass is worth somethin'. 1 'spect
he'd bring bout 50 dead an mebbe
more liyin'. 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 mall be right
back in a minute"
The crowd which had collected to
See the horse shot began to disperse
for it was supper time, and there was
nothing to see now but the poor suf
fering horse with Billy Wigs patient
ly sitting on his head
, When Mrs Wigs returned she car
ried bottle and what appeared to bt
large marble This here is a calo
mel pill" she explained, II jes' rolled
the calOmel In with some soft ligh
bread. Now you prop his jaw oper
with little stick, an I'll shove It in
then hole his head back, while l poul
down some water an turkentlne outer
this bottle"
1t was with great difficulty that thi
was accomplished for the old hors,
had evidently seen a vision Of tn,
happy hunting ground and was loatl
to return to the sordid earth. Hi
limbs were already stiffenlng in death
and only the whites of his eyes wer,
visible. Mrs. Wigs noted these dis
couraging symptoms, and saw tina
violent measures were necessary.
"Cether some sticks an build a fir
quick as you kin. I've got to run owe
home Build it right up clost to him
Billy; we've got to git him het up"
She rushed into the kitchen, an
taking several cakes Of tallow fror
the shelf, threw them into a tin bucB
ct. Then she hesltated for a momen
The kettle Of soup was steaming ava
on the stove, ready for supper. Mr.
Wigs did not believe in sacrlGcln
the present need to the future con
fort. She threw in a liberal portion {
pepper and selling the kettle in on
hand and the bucket Of tallow in th
other, staggered back to the bonfire.
\ Nov Billy" she commanded, "pu
this bucket Of tallow down there I
Nthe hottest part Of the fire. Look on
don't Up it-there! Now you com
hEe an help ne pour this soup int
the\pottlt PmNgoln' to git that oI
hossNeR he up he'll think he's havll
a sId%RRk'. Seems sorter bad I