The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1907-04-10
EN THE

The domestic hog, grunting lazily
about his pen, is as harmless a crea-
ture in appearance as can well be
imagined. In their wild state, ac-
cording to travellers, hogs are fierce
and cruel, unrelentlng IN their fury,
and will attack men when reused.
Circumstances occasionally arise
which show that this wild strain has
not been wholly lost, even in the
most obese porker.
Mark and Carl Perkins, two Chi
cago boys, aged eleven and fourteen,
while spending their vacation last
summer on their Grandfather Triggs'
farm in Central Wisconsin,, had an
experience with hogs which they will
not soon forget.
Among the many delights which
the farm afforded, the one which
gave the boys the most pleasure, dur
ing the early part of the summer, was
picking wild strawberries in a pasture
a half-mile from the house. The
most convenient route to this field
was across the hog pasture, a ten
acre lot which lay between the
strawberry pasture" and the house.
On these berrying trips they were
often accompanied by Mack, a farm
dog of uncertain breeding, with the
color and intelligence of G. shepherd
dog and the heavy jaw and persist
ency of bulldog. The boys had
taken strong fancy to the dog, and
he in his turn appeared to like the
society OF youth, after long associa-
tion with Grandfather Triggs.
One forenoon, the week after their
arrival, they started for strawber-
ries, carrying with them two tin pals
and lunch which their grandmother
had put up for them.
Boys" their grandfather called
after them, "see if there are any
gophers in those traps l set on the
hill! The little pests are going to
kill all the grass if l don't manage
to get rid of them somehow"
The boys went to the place indi-
Gated, and found the traps, nicely
hidden, but no gophers.
Il guess it's too early. They
haven't come out yet," said Carl.
The boys went on to the strawberry
pasture. After their pals were filed,
they sat down to rest, and suddenly
remembered that they were hungry.
They brought out their bread and
jam and cold chicken.
Lets go back by the traps" said
Carl, after they had finished their
lunch. There might be a gopher in
one now
The traps were near the centre of
the field. When they were near them
they heard pig squeal. The squeal-
ing grew louder. well, that's
queer" said Carl. "It must be hurt"
Maybe it's lost" suggested Mark.
They could hear hogs all over the
pasture grunting in response to the
squeals of the pig.
Come on, Mark" cried Carl. "I
see it. It's in trap!" He began to
run, holding the pals carefully so
as not to spill the berries. Take
them," he said, handing these to
Mark. while 1 get it out. Its leg
may get broken"
He stopped to bend the spring, but
the pig made such franctic efforts to
escape that it jerked up the stake
which held the chain and hobbled
away. with the trap clinging to its
foot.
Carl, I'm afraid of the hogs!"
cried Mark.
They were indeed acting stangely.
They were running toward them from
all quarters of the pasture, uttering
a noise that was more like a roar
than grunt.
"Hogs?" said Carl, scornfully.
Hogs won't hurt you. See, / can
drive them away with this stick"
He picked up a stick and raped a
hog smartly over the back. The ami
NAL squealed and ran to one side.
Mark" was reassured. His conf
dence in his older brother was un-
limited. Together they set out after
the crippled pig, chasing it hither
and thither, in and out of the drove
OF excited hogs. Finally Carl caught
the end of the chain and stopped its
progress. at which the pig squealed
more wildly than ever. The old hogs
were making a deafening uproar
b round them. Even Carl began to get
nervous.
You'd better get out!" he shouted
to Mark. Run and climb over the
fence"
Shall take the berries?" asked
Mark.
While Carl hesitated, snout
struck the back of his leg, and he
heard his trousers rip.
Run quick!" he cried, and the
next instant was knocked down.
4 babel of hoarse grunts and the
swapping OF tusks surrounded him,