Ballads of the Past.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume XLV, Issue XLV, 18 August 1922, Page 3

Ballads of the Past.

The Auriferous Pig.

"Oh yes!" said Old George, who is nearly four score, " I'm still goin' strong, though I feel a a bit sore When round en my bike I have don? a fair spin; Yet I gat my three meals and have many a grin." And, to show his agility, shuffling bis feet, He did a smart step that was still fairly nest.

" Well, George you're a marvel," said one of the Crowd; And George of the compliment showed himself proud. Then someoce began of sixties to talk, At which the old miner was ne'er known to baulk. Renewing his youth was the veteran's

craze, And thuH sprang this tale of the old digging days.

" There were four of us mining out Bannockburn way, But our partner in Cromwell bad most of the say. He paid our accounts and he banked all our gold. But in time we began to believe we'd be sold; When we found be was shuffling Bnd putting on airs. Whenever we asked for accounts of affairs."

'' He handed us cheques every now and again,

But eo scrap of balance-sheet could we obtain; So we tired of the caper and had a confab, At which we decided we tco could play 'grab.' Next wash-up the gold in our pig-stye close by Was hid for the night—we had need to be spry."

" Not a colour was found, not a.sign of a bag; Tho=e pig 3 must have swallowed it—that was the gag. We all were astonished, but lo and beheld! Every man was agreed that the pigs must be sold. If the gold was discovered wa got no advice, Though each of those pigs fetched a fabulous price. Ikey M'Grath.