The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-10-02
ANNEXATION OF CUBY

1t was not a real cabbage patch, but
queer neghborhood where ramshackle cot
tages played hop.scotch over the railroad
tracks. The Wigs family consisted of Mrs.
Wigs and five children. The boys were
named Jim and Billy, but it was Mrs
Aiggs' boast that her three little girls had
geography names. First came Asia, then
Australia. When the last baby arrived, and
Billy stood looking down at the small bun
die, he had asked, anxiously: "Are you gon
10 have it fer a boy or a girl, MAJ Mrs
Wigs had answered: "A girl, Billy, and
her name is Europena."
Hard work and strict economy were ncces
sary in the little household. Mrs Wigs
took in Washing, Jim worked at the factory
Gnd the others helped as best they could
The direct road to fortune, however, ac
cording to Billys IDEAS could best be trav
eed in kindling wagon, and while he was
the proud possessor OF brokendown wag
on, sole relic of the late MrsWigg.. he had
nothing to hitch to it. Scarcely week
,,assed that he did not agitate the question:
and as Mrs. Wigs often said:
"When Billy Wigs done set his head tc
thing hes as good as got it.
Consequently She was not surprised when
he rushed breal HESS y INTO the kitchen one
evening about supper time, and exclaimed, IN
excited tones:
Ma, / We got a horse. He was havin' 8
81. on the commons, an they was goln' to
shoot him, an | asst the man to give him te
me-
My land, Billy! what do you want with
Z fit horse" asked his mother.
"'Cause | knowed you could cure him
The man said if took him I'd have to pay
fer cartn' away his carcass but ! said all
right, III take him, anyway. Come on, ma
an see him" And Billy hurried back to hn
new possession.
Mrs. Wigs pinned shawl over her head
and ran across the commons. group OF
men stood about the writing animal, but
the late owner had departed
Hes most gone" said one of the men
as she came up. Il tole Billy you'd beat
HIM lef takin that ole nag often the mans
hans"
"Well, won't" said Mrs. Wigs
stouty. "Billy Wigs 5 got more sense
than most men know. That hosss carcass
is worth somethin 'spect lie ID bring bout
two dollars dead an mebbe more lvn'
Anyway, I'm goiu to save him if there 5 any
save to him.
She stood with her arms on her hips and
critically surveyed her patient. 'lli tell
you what's the matter with him, was hei
final diagnosis; his lights is riz. Bill, IN
goln' home fer some medicine. lou set on
his head SOS he cant git up, an mall be
right back in minute
The crowd which had collected to see the
horse shot began to disperse, Tor 1t was sup
per time, and there was nothing to see now
but the poor suffering horse with Billy
Wigs patiently sitting on his head
When Mrs. Wigs returned she carried
bottle and what appeared to be large
marble. This here is calolnel pill, she
explained 81 jes rolled the calomel in with
some soft light bread. Now you prop his
Jaw open with little stick, an Ill shove ii
in; then hole his head back, while pour
down some water an turpentine 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 10th to return to the sordld earth
His limbs were already stiiening in death
and only the whites of his eyes were visible
Mrs. Wigs noted these discouragng symp
toms, and saw that violent measures were
Aecessary.
"Ge,her some sticks an build fire quick
as you kin. I've got to run over home
Build il right up clost to him, Billy; we've
got to git him het up
She rushed into the kitchen, and taking
several cakes of tallow from the shell threw
them into in bucket Then she hesltated
for moment The kettle OF soup wac
steamng away on the stove, ready for sup
per. Mrs. Wigs did not believe in sacrl
ticing he present need to the future com
fort. She threw in liberal portion OF pep
per, aud seizing the kettle in one hand and
the bucket OF talow in the other staggered
back to the bonfire.
"Now, Billy" she commanded put tins
bucket OF tallow down there in the hottest
par of the fire Look out don't tip it
there. Now you come here an help me poui
this soup into the bottle. I'm goin to glt
that ole hoss so het up he'll think he's hav
in a sunstroke Seems sorter bad TO keep
en- pcsterin' him wien he's so near gone, but
tins here soupl feel good when ii once gifts
inside him.
When the kettle was empty the soup was
immrtially distributed over Mrs. Wigs and
the pa;Ient- but a goodly amount mad got
inside" and already the horse was losing
his rigIdi'r.
Only once did Billy pause in his work, and
that was luusk:
"Ma what do you think I'd better name
him.
Giving names was one of Mrs. Wigs
chief ACCOMPLISHMENTS. and usually required
nuch thougatlul consideration: bat in TINS
case, if there was 10 be il christening, It
must be at once.
I'D like josraphy name" suggested
Billy. feeling hat ohing was too good to
bc>,ow on hs treasure.
Mrs. Wig. stood with the soup dripping
from her hands. and earnestly contemplated
the horse. Babies. pigs. goats and puppies
had drawn largely on her supply OF late, and
geography names especially were scarce
Suddenly thought struck her;
"I'll tell you what, Billy, we'll call him
Cuby. lisa town heard EN- talkin' bout
at the grocery.
BY this time the allow was melted, and
Mrs. Wigs carried it over to the horse and
nut carl OF his hoofs into the hot liquid,
while Billy rubbed the legs with all the
strength OF his young arms.
"That's right." she said. "Now you run
home an git that piece Of carpet by my bed,
an we'll kiver him up. am goin' to git
them fence rails over yonder to keep the fire
gon.
Through the long night they worked with
their pa lent, and when the first glow OF
morning appeared in the east a triumphant
procession wendell its way across the Cab
bage Patch. First came Il woman bearing
sundw pals, l>ettles and bottles; next came
+ very sleepy little boy leading trembling
old horse. with soup all over his head. tai
low ON his feet and u strip Of rag carpet tied
shout his middle.