I BUY MY PIGS 11 



" Well, I suppose it will be a bit expensive," I 

 replied, "but if a man is going to be a farmer, 

 even an amateur farmer, he might as well do the 

 thing right, and unless you begin right you won't 

 go very far. Now, a few years ago," I continued, 

 "I went in a bit for fancy pigeons and squab- 

 raising, and although I did n't make any money 

 on the venture, I picked up a lot of information. 

 And let me tell you this, Daniel, Runts are. the 

 largest, quickest-growing, and easiest to fatten of 

 any breed of pigeons, and I believe there is good 

 money in Runt pigs." 



Daniel threw back his head and laughed 

 loudly, then leaning forward, with a shrewd 

 twinkle in his eye, he said : - 



" Well, old man, you are more of a farmer than 

 I thought. Now if you are determined to have 

 Runts I will tell you something. I did n't intend 

 to let any one know, but I have a pair of Runts, 

 beauties too, that I will let you have. They come 

 a bit high, because, as I suppose you know, a 

 Runt pig is not nearly as common as other breeds 

 of pigs. You can have a pair of any of my other 

 pigs for twelve dollars, but for the Runts I shall 

 have to charge you eighteen." 



" Well, Daniel," I replied cheerfully, " if that is 

 the best you can do, here is your money" ; and 

 I handed him the money. 



"Well, hold on," he cried ; "don't you want to 



