1858. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



535 



past history and future prospects. So, after ex- 

 changing salutations with him, and expressing 

 compliments, the signal M'as given at the door 

 that admission 'svas desired into the house of the 

 pig's protector. 



Immediately we heard the sound of footsteps, 

 as of a lady descending a flight of stairs. The 

 door opened. A gentle lady greeted us, and in- 

 vited us up stairs to the apartments occupied by 

 her husband. Piggy thereupon essayed to go up 

 also, but she told him to remain. He had already 

 indicated his desire for a more exalted position, 

 by ascending the stone steps and putting his for- 

 vvard feet upon the threshold. But he stood, 

 looking no little disappointed at the turn things 

 were taking, when the lady directed him to wait 

 below. 



My friend was moved in behalf of the little 

 fellow, who stood silent and sad, as quite broken- 

 hearted ; although in his bitter grief he was not 

 •^ble to cast forth a single pearly tear. He re- 

 quested, as a special favor, that the pioneer of 

 pig-greatness might be permitted to pursue what- 

 ever course his good judgment might dictate. 

 The lady gracefully assented. We ascended a 

 high and steep flight of stairs, when our lady 

 friend, with a very nimble movement, ascended, 

 allowing the pig prodigy to scamper up by her 

 side. The lady started with some two steps from 

 the door advantage of her competitor, and reached 

 the top stair at the same instant it was touched 

 by his hind hoofs. 



He was allowed, for a few moments, to enjoy 

 the liberty of the whole house, to show how well 

 he could behave. Whether in the kitchen or the 

 parlor, he seemed to know how to observe the 

 proprieties of the place. 



This gentlemanly little pig, we were told, 

 weighed the whole of about four pounds, exclu- 

 sive of the weight of his profound wisdom and 

 understanding. The owner puts a high price 

 upon the interest he has in the pig ; so that, fond 

 of money as he is, he peremptorily refused a 

 quarter of a dollar per pound for him. 



It is interesting to farmers to know what 

 princely wisdom may be put into the form of a 

 pig ; and hov/ pigs can be taught and trained in 

 the ways of good behavior. I would that all 

 children, in city and country, were as well in- 

 structed and disiciplined. C. 



Eliode Island, Oct. 2, 1858. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 FAST HOBSES. 



The operations on the race course yesterday 

 (or rather the want of operation there) strongly 

 confirm the impressions that I have entertained, 

 of the inexpediency of these trials of speed. 

 After the imposition that was practiced upon the 

 multitude, of taking their money, for what it was 

 known at the time would not bo exhibited, it is 

 quite astonishing that the crowd should have re- 

 tired so quietly from the field. When it appeared 

 by the letter of Mr. Warren, that he had been 

 notified by Mr. G. that liis horse would not be 

 wanted tliat day — it was very clear, that Mr. G. 

 was playing a trickish game with all that were 

 admitted. So has it ever been, with all the trials 

 of speed that I have ever witnessed. *. 



Od. loth, 1858. 



Middlesex Agkicultural Society. — At 

 the Annual meeting of this Society, holden at 

 Concord, on the 29th of September, officers for 

 the ensuing year were elected as follows : — JonN 

 S. IvEYEs, President ; Geo. O. Brastow, An- 

 drew Wellington, Vice-Presidents ; Joseph 

 Keynolds, Secretary; George Heywood, 

 Treasurer. A new Board of Trustees was also 

 elected. 



BOYS'- DEPARTMENT. 



THE STRUGGLE AND THE VICTOKY. 



"Johnny," said a farmer to his little boy, "it is 

 time for you to go to the pasture and drive home 

 the cattle." 



Johnny was playing ball, and the pasture was 

 a long way off; but he was accustomed to obey, 

 so off he started without a word, as fast as his 

 legs could carry him. 



Being in a great hurry to get back to play, he 

 only half let down the bars, and then hurried 

 the cattle through, and one fine cow, in trying to 

 crowd over, stumbled and fell with her leg broken. 



Johnny stood by the sufi"ering creature, and 

 thought to himself, "Now what shall I do ? That 

 was the finest cow father had, and it will have to 

 be killed, and it will be a great loss to father. 

 What shall I tell him ?" 



"Tell him," whispered the tempter, the same 

 tempter that puts wicked thoughts into all our 

 hearts, "tell him you found the bars half down, 

 and the creature lying here." "No, I can't say 

 that," said Johnny, "for that would be a lie." 



"Tell him," whispered the tempter again, "that 

 while you were driving the cows, that big boy of 

 Farmer Brown's threw a stone, and hurried that 

 cow so that she fell." "No, no," said Johnny ; 

 'I never told a lie, and I won't begin now. I'll 

 tell father the truth. It was all my fault. I was 

 in a hurry, and I frig?itened the poor creature, 

 and she fell and broke her leg." 



So having taken this right and brave resolve, 

 Johnny ran home as if he was afraid the tempter 

 would catch him, and he went straight to his fa- 

 ther and told him the whole truth. And what 

 did his father do ? He laid his hand on Johnny's 

 head and said, "My son, my dear son, I would 

 rather lose every cow I own, than that my boy 

 should tell me an untruth." 



And Johnny, though very sorry for the mis- 

 chief he had done, was much happier than if he 

 had lied to screen himself, even if he had never 

 been found out. 



DO THE BIGHT THING. 



Whenever you are in doubt which of two things 

 to do, let your decision be for that v.'hich is right. 

 Do not waver, do not parley ; but square up to 

 the msrk, and do the right thing. Boy ! when 

 you divide that apple with your little sister, be 

 careful not to keep the largest half for yourself. 

 Young man ! don't sneak out of the basement, 

 door because you wish to escape your father's 

 eyes. Maiden ! let not the most trifling deceit 

 pass current in those little acts which make the 

 sum of your life. 



No matter who you are, what your lot, or where 

 you live, you cannot afford to do that which is 

 wrong. The ouly way to obtain happiness andiil 



