SWINE. 387 



but is ever prepared to give down fun, frolic and comical stories 

 the whole year round. 



The traditions of the past, the hallowed usages of days gone 

 by, all point to the report of the pig committee, as the peculiar 

 and proper vehicle for fun in the celebration of our society. 

 Prosy we dare not be, merry we would be ; but the tricksy spirit 

 who inspires with wit and humor, is coy indeed, and comes not 

 always at bidding, though wooed never so earnestly. Wit, fun 

 and frolic are like dew-drops that sparkle and glitter in the 

 bright sunlight but for a moment ; sprite-like they come and go, 

 whence or whither, no one knows. After an earnest invocation 

 to the deity of fun, that she will grant me a few ideas which 

 may interest or amuse you, I proceed with the subject. 



Historically, socially and gastronomically, the pig demands 

 our careful attention. His connection with commerce, with the 

 cuisine, and even with the great interest of fire insurance, have 

 all made made him an object of particular regard. In the early 

 days of the Celestial Empire, as we learn from the veracious 

 writings of the witty and voracious essayist, Charles Lamb, — a 

 wealthv Chinaman was so unfortunate as to have his dwelling 



^ CD 



destroyed by fire. Prowling around the smoking ruins, and 

 seeking to save some of his valuables which the conflagration 

 might have spared, his hand came in contact with the smoking 

 remains of a poor pig which had perished in the flames ; instant- 

 ly, smarting with pain, he carried his hands to his mouth, when 

 a peculiar flavor greeted his palate, such as the gods (Chinese 

 ones I mean, of course,) might in vain have sighed for ; regard- 

 less of pain, he applied himself once more, and drew forth from 

 the smoking cinders the remains of the pig; carefully brushing 

 ofl!" the ashes, he regales himself with the feast before him, but 

 closely preserved the secret he had learned. In a few short 

 months, however, the taste for roast pig came back so strong, 

 that John Chinaman's house burned down again, and again was 

 a pig found in the ashes. This was repeated so often, that the 

 neighbors grew suspicious, and watched until they ascertained 

 that the reason for the conflagration was the feast that invaria- 

 bly followed. Once out, the secret spread like wild-fire ; every 

 hill-top shone with the flames of a burning habitation, every 

 valley was blackened with the ashes of a homestead, but roast 

 pig was dearer to the Chinaman than home or honor, and still 



