THE INVISIBLE PIG.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1690, 26 January 1888, Page 3

THE INVISIBLE PIG.

A peasant with a cartload of hay stopped at the Kernalersgate on his way to the city of Vienna, when the toll collector asked him if he had anything to “declare.” "Nothing whatever,” declared the peasant. At this moment a suspicious sound, resembling a grunt, proceeded from the depths of the cart. “I will teach you to smuggle in a pig!” exclaimed the official, as he thrust a fork into the hay. A loud squeal of pain was the result. “ Unload the cart!” the collector demanded, and the peasant obeyed, in the presence of a crowd of spectators, who could distinctly hear the grunt of the pig, growing louder as the cart was lessened of its load. The last layer of hay was at length removed—hut no pig! . Speechless consternation —even the collector did not know what to make of it. At this moment a gentleman, who had been greatly amused at the proceedings, tried to escape unobserved ; but several of the spectators saw him, and at once solved the mystery by exclaiming aloud: “ Ha! ha! the ventriloquist, Donner!” The latter bowed, feeling flattered. Unfortunately he was afterwards taken before his betters and charged with practising upon the city officials. In consideration of the humorous nature of the case he was, however, dismissed with a caution.