“BUSH FAIRY AND HER FRIENDS DO SOME PIGSHOOTING—WITH DISASTROUS CONSEQUENCES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 71, Issue 237, 6 October 1928, Page 23 (Supplement)

“BUSH FAIRY AND HER FRIENDS DO SOME PIGSHOOTING—WITH DISASTROUS CONSEQUENCES

Dear Wendy, Will you please excuse me for not writing in ink. but to tell you the truth I am afraid I might spill it, because I am writing this letter in bed. Will you also excuse me for not writing for such a long time? Well, Wendy, I will tell you about some fun we had here the other day. I had some friends over to play with me and as they were going home, I spied a wild pig, as we thought, and we at once started to chase it. Willie grabbed a spade and Betty ran to get a knife, while I looked on. After a good bit of chasing about the dogs bailed it up in the gorse. Both our fathers were away at work, so if we wanted wild pork we would have to kill it ourselves. At last Mary and Tiria came home, and when Mary saw the pig she 'at oifte sent Betty to get the shot gun and some cartridges. Mary is a girl about 21 years old, and because she had no rifle, she tried to shoot it with a shot gun. She put about two shots into the pig, and one into an unfortunate dog who limped away yelping that much that Mary's attention was drawn towards the dog, and while she was attending to the dog the pig made good his escape into another clump of gorse, and we could not find it. The worst part of it was that Tiria, Willie and Mary were all wet because they were out in all the rain and hail. Next morning we saw great columns of .‘•moke rising up into the air and on going to see what was the matter we were told that they were going to burn the pig out. After Mary had put two more shots into it without killing it you could imagine our surprise when a man sang out and said it was his. We had been so excited that we had not seen half a dozen rings in the pig’s nose. The man, who happened to be a neighbour, killed the pig and gave Mary and mother a piece each, taking the rest home. Mother joined in the cooking and eating part. Don't you think we were lucky, Wendy? If it had been some men they would have made us pay for the pig. My word won’t dad laugh when he hears of our pig hunting, and I guess that all the people who read this letter will laugh, too. Well, Wendy, am I r/.it a duffer for not telling you before that I am in bed with a very sore foot. Wendy, I have already disobeyed the rules. With love.—From “BUSH FAIRY,” Parikino.

Dear, oh dear, how I laughed when I read your letter, my dear. I can imagine the amusement it will cause among my readers, too. The poor dog. I do hope it was not severely injured. I am pleased that the owner of the pig took the loss of his animal so well, perhaps he also saw the humorous side. Your father will be amused. I hope your foot is soon better.—Wendy.