The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-11-19

his voice, Il could have made every
body cheer that pig"
The barn was so still and sunny,
and the hay smelled SO sweet, that
| Bob began to grow drowsy. Soon he
was sound asleep; he dreamed that
Blackie had come back from the fair
with blue bow on his neck so large
that it hid his face.
90 Blackie, you won the prize!"
he cried.
Squeak, squeak" said Blackie.
But he did not sound proud; only
hungry and little peevish. Then all
at once Bob felt something nudge him
softly in the ribs. The nudging grew
harder. He sat up with start. There
was Blackie punching him with an ca
ger little nose. But there was no blue
ribbon round his neck; instead, there
was a piece of rope.
When Bob saw that rope he knew
in an instant what it meant. Blackie
had somehow managed to get away
from Paul. And he knew what that
| meant, too: Paul's best pig was gone,
and he would be heart-broken.
Bob jumped to his feet with such
rush that he frightened Blackie,
who ran out into the barnyard with a
displeased grunt and a fine flourish
of frisky heels.
run if you like, sir" Bob cried
as he dashed after him, "but back
i to that fair you're going, or my name
isn't Robert!'
Blackie must have understood, for
he began to run wildly all over the
lot. This way and that he went,
lodging and squealirg, with Bob fol-
| lowing close at his heels.
Once Bob penned him into cor
ner, but the rascal managed to slip
out; once he managed to grasp the
end of the rope, but it slipped through
| his hands. At length with a squeal
of defiance Blackie turned and raced
through the barnyard gate and down
| the lane.
He had reached the main road be.
fore Bob overlook him. Bob man
aged to get in front of the runaway
and then by jumping first one way
and then the other to head him Off
They kept that up for some time, but
at last, when both were almost out OF
breath, Blackie made one last wild
dash and darted directly between
Bob's legs. Bob grabbed him, and
over went boy and pig in the dust
Bob won the battle. When at last
he struggled to his feet he had firm
hold on the rope. AS for Blackie
he looked subdued and tired
you scamp said Bob. ''Ten tc
one it's too late now for you to have
your chance, but I'm going to risk
it,
| Dusty and breathing hard he sci
off toward the village Blackie fol
lowed meekly at the end of the rope
The pig show was in full swing
Just then the crowd was showed tt
right and left, and a little red-faceC
boy, clasping in his arms a squirming
squealing pig, elbowed his way to the
sawdust ring. Leaning over the rail
he dropped his burden. Paul." HI
painted, there's Blackie."
Bob wanted no better reward thar
the look Paul flashed at him. Blu
he did get even more reward thai
that. He had the pleasure of putin:
Blackie through his tricks-a thor
oughly good-naturcd pig by now, will
ing to do anything for an ar-of corn
And later on in the afternoon h
had the honor of leading out to tn
wagon that. same Blackie, bedecke,
in smart blue bow almost as BIZ
as the bow he had dreamed about.
"You and I are going to divide tn
prize money" Paul said AS they clan
bered into the wagon Because" h
added, 'tif it hadn't been for you, Their
wouldn't have been any prize none
aI ah' Youths COMPANION