Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-07-08
BILLY PIG ~
~
"Fiddlesticks!" said the old COW.

I "Fiddlesticks!" said the old COW.
you'll find 1t true when 1 come
back" Billy Pig warned her. and off
| he trotted across the meadow. In
the distance he could see a farm
house.
"Ooof! Ooof!" barked a dog. and
! Billy Pig began to run as fast as he
could il 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 a railroad track in back of the
farm where he lived, SO of course he
| knew just what the shiny rails were
for.
"HeIlo" called a squeaky 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
battered 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 a 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
If 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 just 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 FOO
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 limb up first one side and
then the other. 1t 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 home, and whether his mother
missed him. Then he began TO cry.
He cried and cried until he fell asIeep.
All night long he dreamed that he
was living in a beautiful yard where
there were nice fresh apples and corn
for him 10 eat. Then just as he was
about TO begin the lovely meal he
woke up.
"Oooh!" Billy Pig squeaIed. for he
realized that he was still down in the
big hole and the hungriest pig you
can imagine.
"Oooh"' he squealed again.
Must be pig down there" said a
gruf voice. Suddenly a 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 thinl. 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
'ence Billy Pig squeezed as fast as
ne could.
His mother was so glad to see him
hat she gave him great big pile of
potato skins without even stopping to
'cold him. I really think, however,
hat there was no need for her to
Icold, for he was the happiest little
Dig IN the world at being home again.
Perhaps you're wondering If he ever
lid have his great adventure. To tell '
he truth, Billy Pig never ran away 7
Lfter that-or at least he hadn't the :
asst I heard.