Scandinavian American. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1945-1958, 1945-12-01

wee piggy. IheSe they tenderly
cared for. "Julegrisen' (the
Christmas pig) is to the NorWe-
gian what the Christmas turkey
is to us. Where they got food
enough for this pig, I really don't
know. But folks didn't ask many
questions in those days. There
was so much that was unlawful.
that it was best to let the cheer
full '1awbreaker" go his way with
out asking questions. l figured
that what l didn't know didn't do
anyone any harm. And what a
hard-struggling family did to
sumggle a little food into their
piggy's wee belly was no one else's
concern. Even if it was practically
forbidden by law" to feed a pig,
that same pig was expected to
have reached a certain weight be-
fore it could be butchered. I do
know that they did gather a lot
of grass for it. Burning-nettles
cooked with bit of chop was also
a part of its diet. And where
might the chop come from? 1t
was probably purchased for a
pretty price and then sneaked
home as if it had been stolen.
Little piggy grew bigger day by
day How proud they were of it!
When the potatoes came in Au-
gust, the increase in weight was
more noticeable. But the still kept
feeding it grass. AS yet they did
not dare to go too hard on the
potatoes.
October l came. They packed
up and moved to town again, TAX
ing with them raw and canned
fruits and vegetables, four hens,
two roosters and the pig. In one
corner of the laundry room in the
basement, my uncle had boarded
up a g. x6' pen. Four feet above
the floor he had nailed some
boards to serve as roof. From
this to the ceiling he had stretched
wire netting. Inside this divi-
sion he made a roost. Mr.. Pig &C.
cupied the first floor. while the
chickens dwelt on second.
Had we told auntie in 1889 that
she would some day be housing
pig in her basement, she would
have been offended. Such a life.
Necessity is the mother of in
vention" One day when l called
on them, I found auntie in the
laundry room washing clothes.
The pig grunted, the hens cack-
led and auntie thoroughly enjoyed
it. Mr.. Pig spent only two months
there, but the chickens remained
all winter. ..
In order to get permission to
bring the pig to town, my uncle
had to submit the names of Is
householders who We're willing to
give him their garbage from the
kitchen. During October l worked
only a few blocks from them. I
asked permission to give all scraps
to my unele's pig, and she willing
ly consented. So l saved all kitch-
en- garbage, even salty herring
scraps and breadcrumbs.
During the last few weeks Mr..
Pig was fed get fat quick" diet.
This went hard on the potatoes.
Yes, We wanted FAT pork. Short
age of butter and other fats had
taught us to eat and relish the
fat on the pork outlets. They had
to apply for permission to butcher
before they could venture on such
an undertaking. All their meat
and fish books for the following
year had to be forfeited. But they
figured that the pig was worth II,
because there was very little fresh
fish TO buy and scarcely any meat,
so the hooks weren't of much
value.
Christmas was, In this home.
celebrated in much the same man
ner as in the good old days, The
main course of the meal was
"r.ebe" tpork rihsl. They also
had "Surkaal' lsauerkraut good
gravy and vegetables. During
these years canned fruit or n fruit
pudding was the most common