Year: 1879

At the new mine, Little Bay, writes a Newfoundland correspondent of the Montreal Gazette, pig had crept in un- der the floor of a house built on sloping ground, and when the foundation was finally closed in, piggy must have been wrapped in profound slumber, in comfortable bed of shavings which filled up partially the empty space. The house was not finished and remained unoccu- pied during the winter, hence the noise made by the prisoner on his awakening and his struggles to get out were un- heard

 Finding himself in durance vile. the pig, like true philosopher, accommo- dated himself to circumstances, and the inevitable. He wrapped himself in the shavings and went to sleep for the winter. His mysterious disappearance was commented on, but it was supposed he had lost his way in the woods. being of rowing disposition. He was a plump animal and credit to his owner. who intended to turn him into bacon about Christmas, and it was fortunate for him. self that he carried Uidtictln in his own fat, on which he subsisted during the winter: The house was closed in on the 22d of November, 1878, and on that day "piggy was lost to sight" All through the following four months he slept peacefully, perfectly indifferent regard ing the Afghanistan campaign and the Isandula disaster.

 But with the warmth of April sun his energies returned, he rubbed his eyes and turned over. managing to utter soIne feeble grunts. By this time the house was occupied, and the inhabitants were amazed at hearing these mysterious noises underneath the floor of their kitchen. Piggy began to feel the pangs of hunger after his long fast, and his grunts for release became more impera- tive. An opening was made and poor piggy at length staggered forth, the ghost of his former self''-a walking skeleton. His condition drew tears from the eyes of the woman who owned him, who only knew him by the peculiar turn in his tail, which survived the destruc- ton of his tissues. Her joy over the res urrection of the lost pet was touching. The news spread rapidly. The miners gathered from all quarters to view the wonderful pig who had lived for IA days without meat or drink.

 One of them more book-learned than the rest remarked that it reminded him of the seven sleepers of Ephesus," but his observation was profanely scoffed at by the others, as it was felt to be an unwarrantable attempt to dispar- age bue peTIOTIlstuCe OI lIlelT WOnueT1ul pig, of which they had all reason to be proud. Piggy's fortune was made. Presents flowed in upon him. Delicacies unheard of in the dietary of pighood were liberally supplied to nourish him during his invalid condition. Warm compounds of oatmeal and biscuit, fla vored with delicious scraps and tip-bits from kindly housewives, soon began to tell on his condition and swell out his lean Hanks. His story went the rounds of the mines, and everywhere awoke sympathy and enthusiasm. Whether he will be sent on for exhibition in St. Johns cannot say, but there can be no doubt that an enterprising snowman would tidd it paying speculation. The facts, however, are IS l have stated them, and the account I can guarantee as per fectly reliable. Whether hibernating, in the case of pig, is a new fact in natural history l am unable to deter mine