Monadnock Moment No. 161

Era Multi Era 3 - 6: 1763 to 1900

The Pig in the Wagon

The farmers of our region have always worked long hard hours to make their farms a success. More than 100 years ago one local farmer who worked from sunrise to sunset had gone to bed early, as was his habit, so that he could arise with the roosters and begin his chores again the next day.

At about midnight the farmer was awakened from a deep sleep by a knocking upon his door. He made his way to the door where he found a stranger standing in the dark. It seemed that the stranger's pig had in some way gotten out of his wagon and he needed assistance getting the heavy animal back in so that he could continue on his way.

The farmer, who was barely awake, dressed himself and went out into the yard. He helped the stranger load the pig onto the wagon. The stranger thanked him profusely for the assistance and drove away into the night. The farmer returned to his bed and was soon fast asleep.

Early the next morning the farmer arose early and went out to do his chores. As he crossed the yard, he sensed that something was wrong. He was aware that his pig pen was unusually quiet. He looked into the pen and realized that he had helped to load his own animal into the stranger's wagon and had watched calmly as his prize pig had been carried away into the night.