16 FARMING IT 



but they seemed to grow perceptibly from one day 

 to another, and little by little I began to regain 

 my assurance and to talk a bit. 



But, alas for my confidence, I had not yet seen 

 the last of my trouble as a porciculturist, for one 

 morning the three members of the Board of Health 

 stalked into my office and sat down ponderously. 



" Squire," said one, after portentously clearing 

 his throat, " be ye aware that ye air a-vilatin' the 

 regilation of the Board of Health in keepin' 

 pigs ?" 



I was astounded, and gaped at the three gen- 

 tlemen with open mouth. 



" Why, heavens and earth, gentlemen, can't a 

 man keep pigs in a country town on a three-acre 

 piece, when they are kept as clean as fresh straw 

 and dry beds can make them?" I shouted in 

 astonishment. 



"No, squire, they can't, s' long's we're on the 

 Board," he stoutly affirmed ; " and what's more," 

 he continued, "I'm s'prised 'at you sh'd try tew 

 dew it, squire, when you know the law." 



"Has any complaint been made?" I queried. 



"No complaint's been made by nobody," re- 

 plied the chairman. 



"Have you examined the premises?" I asked 

 again. 



"Yes, squire, we've looked 'em over keerful, 

 an' we're bound to say ye've kep' 'em neat 'n } 



