Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-07-20
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"F'iddlesticks!" said the old COW.

"Fiddlesticks!" said the old COW.
you'll find it true when / come
back" Billy Pig warned her, and off
he trotted across the meadow. In
the distance he could see a farm
house.
"Ooof! Ooof!" parked dog, and
Billy Pig began to run as fast as he
could in the opposite direction. Be-
fore he knew it he was out in an open
place where shiny rails were stretched
along the ground. Billy Pig had once
seen railroad track in back of the
farm where he lived so of course he
knew just what the shiny rails were
for.
"Hel!o" called squcaky voice, and
Billy Pig looked up to see a whole car
full of pigs, peeking out between the
boards at the side of the car.
Hello" said Billy Pig. very much
fattercd at being spoken to by pigs
who rode around in a car
Where are you going?" asked one
of the pigs.
I'm going TO have great adven-
ture and find my royal mother" Billy
Pig replied.
You'd better come along with u.s."
the pig suggested.
But Billy Pig couldn't Jump into the
car no matter how he tried.
That's too bad" said the pig. "But
il you'll walk in the direction of the
city I'm sure you'll have an adven-
ture."
Billy Pig thanked him and started
off down the tracks. After he had
walked so far that he could lust see
the car way back in the distance, he
began to wonder when something ex-
citing would happen.
He didn't have long to wait, though.
for up the track came a great fierce
engine with smoke coming out of its
top. Billy Pig was so scared that he
began running around in a circle. The
thing ept coming closer and closer
until it was almost upon him. With
a big jump he left the track just as
the engine rushed by.
For a minute Billy Pig was too
frightened to realize where he had
landed When he did look around he
began to squeal louder than ever. For
where do you suppose he was?
He had jumped off the track into a
big hole and he couldn't get out. He
tried to climb up first one side and
then the other. It was no use. He
was down in big hole and there he
had to stay.
Soon it began to grow dark and
Billy Pig felt very hungry. He Won
dered what they were having for sup
per at homo, and whether his mother
missed him. Then he began to cry.
He cried and cried until he fell asleep.
All night long he dreamed that he
was living in a beautiful yard where
there were nice fresh apples and corn
for him to eat. Then just as he was
about to begin the lovely meal he
woke up.
"Oooh!" Billy Pig squealed, for he
realized that he was still down in the
big hole and the hungriest pig you
can imagine.
"Oooh," he squcaled again.
Must be pig down there" said a
gruff voice. Suddenly long arm
reached down the hole and pulled Billy
Pig out by one foot.
Fine young roasting pig, this" said
the voice.
At that Billy Pigs heart jumped
so that he slipped out of the big hand
that held him. and ran off as fast as
ever he could. He seemed to run
miles and miles before he was sure
that he was not being chased. Then,
because he couldn't think of anything
else to do. he continued to run in the
same direction.
Suddenly the most wonderful thing
happened. Billy Pig saw a big fence
and just on the other side were his
little brothers and sisters and his
mother eating breakfast. Under the
fence Billy Pig squeezed as fast as
he could.
His mother was so glad to see him
that she gave him great big pile Of
potato skins without even stopping to
scold him. I really think, however.
that there was no need for her to
scold, for he was the happiest little
pig in the world at being home again.
Perhaps you're wondering if he ever
did have his great adventure. To tell
the truth, Billy Pig never ran away
after that--or at least he hadn't the
last I heard.