The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1921-11-25
A JOB FOR PIGGY
BY CORA MUTE

G 1891. ~ Aeciars Ns~sssDer Syndicate
As she worked around the room the
nurse demonstrated with Piggy.
why don't you Try 10 like the bas-
ket weaving 50 you can sit out ON
the verarda In the shads. PigUT
Piggy sat In his usual solitary
grandeur. with his eyes closed, and
murmured In a tired voice:
Rave On. little one. rave on. You
bring back fond memories Of Nancy.
me fathers good old goat. after she
had made a meal on his red flannel
shirt
We'll, you had better be fixed up
for visitors this afternoon heard
the superintendent telling someone on
the phone how TO rrach here, and they
had been asking for you"
You're on again. And who would
be calling on met II your muscles
were developed the way your imag-
nation is, you would be meeting this
here Carpenter instead Of Dempsey
Just then the superintendent voice
sounded in the hall. rs Mr.. N.
ready to receive a visitor, nurser'
Piggy sat with closed eyes; none OF
that bunch could pull any OF this
horse-play on him He knew they
were all waiting for his downfall. Al
though a brave soldier with a citation
To his credit, PiggJ's best friends at
the Memorial Home had to admit that
the superintendent order that Piggy
could not join the others on the
veranda was just after his last sar-
castle description Of the art Of basket
weaving. accompanied by a flood OF
vituperation for the doctors who had
allowed him to live when both legs
were taken OF.
In answer to the nurses question,
Aren't you going to speak to your
visitOrT he vouehsafed a Characters
tic grunt. and lifting his eyelids, a
trifie. noted the visitor wore black and
carried a bulky article draped in
turkey tablecloth. As the nurse
withdrew the visitor drew, of the
tablecloth from the parcel and the
room was Immediately flooded with a
canary's joyous song. interspersed
with trflls Of delight at this release
from the dark wrapping
Piggy's eyes snapped open and his
mouth automatically puckered into the
old calling whistle which he had
taught Maggie that summer when he
! broke his leg and had to sit out on the
old piazza with 70 company but his
little lame neighbor and her canary
Only now, he remembered bitterly
instead of a game leg that would be
| all right shortly, he was minus two
, perfectly good legs, and what good
; was a teamster without legs, even IL
' he kept his tongue well oiled and in
! action? As his scowl gathered, his
visitor seemed to lose complete use Of
, her voice. SO II fell on Piggy to open
the conversation
well. do my eyes deceive me? It's
little Maggie"
IT'S me-" came the shy reply. "and
Dannie."
Sure, and big woman you've
grown to be, too. And how's the
folks?'
The girl struggled to speak, but the
big sob which rose checked her.
Finally she explained that the moth
err was gone, and, of course, she
. couldn't hope to keep the children to-
J Gether; they had to go to live with
!. her sister Nora
{ "And now she says that Danny Is
e nuisance; that his singing wakes
h the baby. it's that shrill. And never
J, window can you open without him
n getting a chill, and she's sick of him.
and he's got to go. So l brought him
d out TO you. l thought maybe you
:. could take care of him."
The old spirit Of battle surged into
- Piggy's breast II that woman, with
: her bitter old tongue. thought she
could put him out into the cold, the
bird he had trained to trill and call,
: she had another guess coming. Care
!. ful questioning brought out the fact
that she would be glad to be rid Of
the crippled sister. too. As for the
boys, they only came home for meals
i and to sleep. Piggy gave the matter
few moments careful consideration,
y and then he gave his ultimatum
What you are needing is home
r of your own. Take now that tene.
S ment down by the gashcuse. It's q
" fine, sunny place to raise flock Of
II canaries, and the old mother left me
n the furnishings Of the cd home, and
they're packed in Hogans barn.
There would be plenty Of room for
IL the boys to grow up, and with my
n pension and the bit we could get rails.
II, Ing canaries-you need man to
h. watch the expenses and teach them
n. to sing-we could make out fine"
&C When the overjoyei but still be-
m wildered girl had departed Piggy SEM
for the superintendent and explained
2, I've got me a job. Tn leaving"
q, fhe superintendent and the roman
!, tic nurse immediately. joined hands
y. and danced around the silent figure
!. with ,'osed, eyes. to the tune Of pig
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