Among Other Things,
The Pig-Sty, And With It "Old Bess." This Was An Old Sow That We
Had Brought From Boston, And Which Lived To Get Around Cape Horn,
Where All The Other Pigs Died From Cold And Wet.
Report said
that she had been a Canton voyage before.
She had been the
pet of the cook during the whole passage, and he had fed her with
the best of everything, and taught her to know his voice, and to
do a number of strange tricks for his amusement. Tom Cringle
says that no one can fathom a negro's affection for a pig; and I
believe he is right, for it almost broke our poor darky's heart when
he heard that Bess was to be taken ashore, and that he was to have
the care of her no more during the whole voyage. He had depended
upon her as a solace, during the long trips up and down the coast.
"Obey orders, if you break owners!" said he. "Break hearts," he
meant to have said; and lent a hand to get her over the side,
trying to make it as easy for her as possible. We got a whip up on
the main-yard, and hooking it to a strap around her body, swayed
away; and giving a wink to one another, ran her chock up to the
yard. "'Vast there! 'vast!" said the mate; "none of your skylarking!
Lower away!" But he evidently enjoyed the joke. The pig squealed
like the "crack of doom," and tears stood in the poor darky's eyes;
and he muttered something about having no pity on a dumb beast.
"Dumb beast!" said Jack; "if she's what you call a dumb beast,
then my eyes a'n't mates." This produced a laugh from all but
the cook.
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