Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1909-09-22
WIDOW TAB0R'S HOG,
ey n. QUAD.

tCopyr1ght. lyO9. BY L. =. McCiure.i
When Silas Strong, old bachelor.
bought farm In the outskirts of the
village of Fowlerville and set up his
bachelors hall he was at peace with
all mankind. Two weeks later he was
rushing Ito and fro with pitchfork
in his hands seeking the life OF a
fses For four years the Widow Ia
Dor, down In the village, had owned a
hog. For three years the animal had
been known as "the widows hog" to
distinguish him from the half hundred
other hogs permitted to meander
around. The villagers told tales about
that hog. He was tall and long and
rangy. He was ever hungry. He was
fighter. He was destroyer of gar
dens and the happiness Of the owners
thereof He deserved death by the
hands of gun. ak or club. but he had
been spared because be was owned by
widow.
The widows hog had waited a rea-
sonable length of time and then paid
visit to the newcomer and rooted up
half an acre of potatoes Sias Strong
was slow to anger. but he couldn't
stand that. After vainly trying to
catch the hog he set himself to locate
the owner. When this had been done
be put on his Sunday suit and made a
call. He had the damages figured up
| and knew just what he was going to
say. The Widow Tabor wasn't expect.
ing him, but she was not bit fiustrat-
ed Mr.. Strong had hardly begun his
story of infamy on the part Of the hog
when he was interrupted with:
Dear, dear me, but | am so sorry.
I wish he wouldn't act this way. Mr..
Strong, l have just been making some
elderberry wine. and wish you would
give me your opinion on it."
When he had done so she asked an
other opinion about blackberry jam,
and from that she insisted that he sam
pie custard pie. and when be finally
started home he had forgiven the hog
and had a good opinion of the widow.
These sentiments were not lasting.
Only a week had passed when the
same hog tore his way through stout
fence and did some more roofing.
Silas Strong was stirred to the utter
most by the outrage. The widow and
the hog shared his invectives alike. As
soon as he could get his breath and
breakfast he set out for the village.
He may have been expected. for the
door was opened to him with sweet
smile. and before he could utter q
word the widow said:
II am very glad to see you. One Of
the legs Of the cook stove has fallen
! out, and do wish you'd FIX It for me"
The leg was no sooner in place than
the widow mentioned that she was
afraid the mother" in the vinegar
barrel on the sunny side of the house
was dead, and she took Silas out to
see. He gave his opinion. and then
she asked his advice about keeping
Leghorn chickens instead Of Brahmas,
and the upshot was that he went away
without bringing the thunders Of heav-
en- upon her head. He got as far as to
say that the hog had paid him another
visit. but she changed the conversation
to the coming circus, and he found
himself on his way home in a puzzled
frame of mind. He wanted to forgive
the widow without forgiving the hog,
but as they seemed to be one and in
separable how was it to be brought
about? Silas bothered over this mat
ter for ten days and then got up one
morning to find another battlefield be-
fore his eyes. The widows hog had
made the third unannounced visit He
had rooted up the soil. and he had
chewed up things. He had spared
neither age nor sex 1t was simply a
gigantic case of malicious trespass and
deserved death at once. As Sllas could
not catch him and administer the
death stroke, he took bite to eat and
then started for Liverpool a village
five miles away. As soon as he got
there he laid the widow and the hog
and the trespass before the lawyer.
and when the latter had got the de-
tails he said:
tits the plainest case ever had.
The hog has got to die"
Silas Strong felt an citation as he
started for home. The law was be-
hind him. and the law was to vindi-
cate him. He had given the widow
and her hog chance. but they had
not taken advantage Of It. At the end
of a mile or so. however, this citation
began to lose its edge, and ten minutes
later he was wishing that he hadn't
been so prompt. Durn the hog. but
Mrs. Tabor was a widow She had
given him pleasant greeting. She had
asked his advice. She had fed him
custard pie. She may have been left
that hog as heritage. and she
couldn't be expected to either kill him
or follow him around nights. Silas
was feeling rather ashamed Of his
movements when he came upon fe-
male sitting on the bank Of the high
way and weeping. Standing in the
middle Of the road was an old horse