Putnam patriot., 1909-11-26
WIDOW JASON'S
 UNRULY HOGS.
ine Way the Trouble Between the aeiga5ors HaS Settled
By PAUL c6srW

t9tA aLief ais death With even assere
 "lsaVm than be had shown himself
 possessed of. She was stgl an inc
 brighter side of forty. fair.t look mn
 on and WIS at peace with all her
 neighbors until the one to the eas. of
 her sold our and a stranger meyed in
 lie was a nian of middle age named
 Chishoim. and. being a widower. his
 sister managed the house for him. If
 the Widow Jason was one of those
 who wondered what sort of man he
 was. she was the first to find |, ont
 among Der live stock that year were
 dozen hogs. and 1t was the fault of
 Der hired man that there were holes
 ID the fence through which they
 made their way into the potato field
 or the new neighbor. She had just fip-
 ished her breakfast one morning when
 Chisholm was announced. He had the courtesy to lift his hat and give his name. but he also had the hluntness to add:
 Madam, your internal hogs have rooted up half an acre of potatoes for me. and if you can't manage to keep
 em home I'll shoot every one of 'em,"
 She looked at him and saw that he was above the ordinary and felt that had she been introduced in the conven- tional way she would have been pleas ed to make his acquaintance But his rude greeting angered her, and. being woman with a mind of her own. she at once replied:
 Il can pay for all the potatoes on l your farm. and if you come here to | threaten me you'll ind woman who | doesn't scarer'
 Well, you keep your hogs at home" And you keep yourself in the same place.
 That was the first tilt The fences were mended and the hogs were in de- spair when Il high wind blew a gate l open. and the drove spent the night in the same potato field. Next morning Chisholm drove ten of them home and said to Widow Jason; Madam. there are dead hogs be- longing to you in my field Will you have them removed CT shall l bury them?"
 You ki,led them. did your" she asked.
 T did. told you I would, and did"
 Then I'll have the law on you"
 Go ahead"
 She went to law. and there was a suit. and she was ingloriously beaten. Wonanlike. she felt pretty bitter over It. but at the same time she had to give Mir. Chisholm credit for lack of any bitterness. He stated his case in the mildest manner and even spoke highly of her as neighbor. When she returned home after the lawsuit she said to her hired man:
 Josh. if that man Chisholm comes on my land again l want you to throw him off.'
 "Yes'm. I'll do It." replied the sturdy Josh.
 l. wasn't a fortnight before Chis- holm came He was on his way to the house when Josh headed him of and ordered him back He refused tn 20. and Josh laid hold of hfm to do the throwing act. but found himself licked man In about three minutes. While he sat on the ground with a handful of grass to his bleeding nose the victor passed on to the woman who had witnessed the fracas from the front steps. Lifting his hat. he said:
 Madam. those hogs of yours have been al it again-this time fin my corn field-and I've had to kill another"
 Have you dared 10 kill another of my hogs:" she demanded as her checks famed and her eyes flashed.
 "I have. Shall 1 bury him?"
 "Sir. you are a scoundreir'
 And you are charming widowr'
 She drove to town at once to see her lawyer There was sl0 in the case for him win or lose. and he advised her to sue She sued and got beaten again. The defendant referred to her in the highest terms. but he also proved that her fences were out of re- pair The lawyer saw SIC more in it. win or lose. and advised Josh 10 prose cute for assault and battery. Josh brought his swollen nose and black eye into court and was beaten by sey- eral lengths. He had provoked the encounter, and. if he had got the worst of it. the law couldn't help him.
 It was month before anything fur ther happened. The fences around the hog lot were thoroughly repaired. and for four weeks the porkers had to make the best of their sad lot Then Josh left the bars down one night, and IS the widow was getting breakfast ,be heard the crack of rife. Half an hour later Mfr. Chisholm appeared to say:
 Good morning. Mrs. Jason. Those wretched hogs of yours rooted up my garden last night. and this morning killed another of them. If you want another lawsuit I'll drive you to town in my own buggy" And you-you'vs shot anothsry she gasped.
 II have"
 -Tben I'd like to shoot you. You are the meanesf man fn the state of ohioF' .Yes'm." he replied. with a bow. as l he turned away.
 Widow Jason drove to town to con- sult her lawyer again. There was Slo ! ,n if for him. win or lose. but this time ur Chisholm was arrested for mall rtous persecution In his testimony he l referred 10 the plaintiff as that lady | ,no exniprrec no anifnus whatever. out he also proved that he was the one | ,ersecuted. The widows hogs would | act let him alone She was beaten