Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-12-19
DAILY SHORT STORY
FIVE BLACK HOGS.

Franklin TO Glendale she had not yet
got settled IN her new habitation when
boy came after her. driving FIVE
black hogs, and they We're left wallow-
ing in a mudhole in front of the post
Office. Glendale had no ordinance for
bidding hogs of any color from run
ming at large on the streets. but within
an hour public opinion had decided
that the widow was piling it on too
thick. One hog, or even TWO. might
have passed muster. but TO flood the
town with five all at once was going
beyond the limit.
1t wasn't long before the widow was
made to feel that public opinion was
"agin' her. She waited for callers. but
none came The widow was puzzled
over her reception and waited TO as
certain the cause, and her hogs follow
ed the same line. When. however, both
finally woke up to the fact that they
We're socially taboOed strong policy
was at once adopted. The public had
been in the habit of making short cut
across the widows front yard. She
fenced up the path. The public, or
portion of il, had been used to drawing
water at her well. She put stop to
il. She repaired the holes in her fences
to keep children out. ordered the town
to remove its road scraper from het
barn and nailed up signs OF '"No Tres
pass" on all her harvest apple trees.
The widows hogs followed in the
widows footsteps. When they realized
that it was a fight TO a finish they pre-
a.
holes. they took up their lodgings at
night i'll the driest places, they were
first oh hand when the grocer threw
out stale Goldfish or added eggs, they
kept watchful eyes on the back door Of
the butcher shop, and they soon found
every hole in every garden fence.
There was trouble. of course. The fifty
other hogs in town did not humbly go
way back and sit down On the CON
trary, they tried to make things lively,
and grunts and squeals arose from
every corner of the town night and
day. In union there is strength, and
10y sticking together the five black hogs
were soon boss of Glendale. The wild
ow was diguified. impudent and indie
pendent; her hogs were impudent, bel
ligerent and victorious.
Things went on this way for two
months. The widow had been cut by
society. but seemed TO be getting along
all right, and her hogs had been the
subject of much conversation. but
were thriving apace. Then Deacon
Graham met Squire Johnson in front
of the postOffice one day and complain
ell that one of his hogs had come home
bitten it off. Along came Eno.h Speed
well. owner OF the sawmilI and he
complained that one of his hogs had
come home to drop dead and another
to be Il cripple for life. The.widow's
hogs again.
The widow was waited upon by
committee, who announced that her
hogs We're considered dangerous to
life and limb. and she was asked TO
suppress them. She firmly refused.
She said her five hogs shoulds run the
streets of Glendale as longt as any
other hog remained.
Meanwhile the number OF crippled
swine aroung town continued to in
crease. Hogs went forth in the MORN
ing In the pride of their strength, but
returned at sunset on three legs and
bearing the scars of battle and defeat.
All but the five were becoming thin
aud discouraged and inclined to sui
eide, and it was the unanimous opinion
that heroic measures must be resorted
TO. The town board wouldn't pass an
ordinance restricting hogs from roam
ing at large. because the town board
itself owned hogs, but it was looking
for law or something TO fit the case
of the Ave and leave the other fifty
out. when Deacon Grahamicame to. the
front.
He had been thinking the matter
over for several days, andJhe felt sure
that there was but one thing to do.
Without acquainting any, one of his in
tentions he called on thetwidow to say:
'.Widder, I've been aiwidower for
four years.
Yes
You've been a wilder for fve."
Yes"
I'm with two or three thousand
dollars, and so are you"
"Well?'
I'm duggoned lonesome, and,I guess
you are the same"
Perhaps"
Widder, L don't see why that hog
question can't be settled right here"
''HowF'
BY our gfttin' married. II we was
married I'd own the hogs, and I'd make
pork OF 'em in two days. It's kind O.
sudden-iike and has takeniyour breath
away. and I'll give you a'week to an
swer in. Meanwhile yousgit ready for
callers. because every woman in Ellen
dale will be here before two days have
passed
A week Later the deacon came for his
answer. and before the widow had time
10 say word he observed:
Il took the liberty of siruttin' them
hogs up in my pen this mornin'. but OF
course il you amt goin' TO say''Yes' ]
kin let EN- out ag'in. They iook:mighty
nice in the pen. and