Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-11-03
Gruffy

Gruffy was very small pig with a
very loud squeal and very curly tail.
No wonder he was all squeal and tail
He had five brothers and sisters, all
stronger than he. Whenever Father
Smith filed the trough with milk. the
rest of the family pushed and jostled
poor Gruffy until he couldn't get near
to drink one drop.
Oh, But he grew hungrier every
day His poor little stomach was so
empty that his sides almost touched.
His ribs seemed to rattle when he ran.
g faint no use foolin' with that
pig said Farmer Smith to his little
daughter Mary, who had come with
him to watch the animals feed Hes
goin to die"
ooh, give him to me, daddy! I'll feed
him and teach him to do tricks just
like the circus pig | saw at the fair"
So Mary got gruffy. She fed him
big bowlful of milk three times a
day Later he had fresh vegetables
from the garden. Every few days the
little pig was scrubbed until he was
pink and white. He grew fat and hap
by and followed his mistress every
where just like dog. When Mary sat
down On the grass to read, Grutfy
would sit down on her skirt.
Now pigs are very smart. If teach
er is kind and patient. they can be
taught to do anything that dog can
be taught to do. Gruffy learned to do
many tricks which Mary made him do
every day before he could have his
dinner. He was at last so used to per-
Sc, hnt hav he
he would start in to show off his &C
complishments without even being
asked. Whenever there was company
Gruf1y was asked into the house to
entertain the guests.
AT last school opened. Mary had to
shut up the pet in the woodshed and
run down the road to the country
school With the rest of the children.
Poor Gruffy. He put one shrewd
little blue eye to crack in the door
to watch her go. He squealed until the
great tears ran down his long snout
But Mary did not come back TO him.
Then he began to root big hole in
the eaithern floor under the wOodshed
wall. When il was large enough he
crawled through and down the road
he went with many happy gruff. The
pretty pink ribbon which Mary had
tied about his neck that morning float
ed in the wind.
He grew tired as he neared the
school house door. He stopped to lis
ten Didn't he hear Mary's voice? The
door stood ajar. so. with bound, in
marched the unbidden guest straight
down The front aisle. Mary was doing
an example on the blackboard near
the front platform When he saw her
Gruffy squealed with delight. The
children all laughed, cheering the bold
new pupil with the pink ribbon bow.
But Mary's pet was used to audi
ences at home. He felt by his stom.
ach time piece that it was about time
Mary brought out the midday bowl of
milk. So up onto the platform he
scrambled and sat up, meekly tolding
his hoofs before him as if to say:
I'm a very good little boy. Will
YOU please give me nice green
applet"
Quick as a wink he rolled over sew
eral times. At last he climbed up onto
a low empty chair and put his head
between his legs as If to pray.
AT lhiS tne ledCHei iouiu uel voice
Twill the owner of this wonderful
animal please take him home?"
Mary rose timidly.
Please. Miss Rose. the pig belongs
to me-
After that Gruffy came to the door
with Mary every day until he grew
too fat to waddle to school after his
mistress.