9. HUMOR: Pining for a Porker --------------------------------- Thanks to Nancy Lambert [email protected] I've been reading a local history about Eugene Township (Indiana) by Harold L. O'Donnell, which was published in 1963. In one chapter he mentions the Chicago and Eastern Illinois (C&EI) Railroad coming to town, and he discusses the danger it was to livestock. "Livestock in the early day were a constant source of trouble between the railroads and the farmers. Stock would be killed and it was, of course, always the fault of the railroads. In one case a farmer had a hog killed by a train and since he believed himself to have some ability as a poet, wrote the railroad claim agent as follows: My razorback strolled down your track, A week ago today. Your #29 came down the line, And snuffed his life away. You can't blame me; the hog you see, Slipped through a cattle gate; So kindly pen a check for ten, The debt to liquidate. He was surprised a few days later to receive the following: Old #29 came down the line, And killed your hog, we know; But razorbacks on railroad tracks, Quite often meet with woe. Therefore, my friend, we cannot send, The check for which you pine, Just plant the dead; place o'er his head; 'Here lies a foolish swine.' " Karen Mitchell 2002 has been declared "The Year of "Unity". Pass it on. [email protected] US GenWeb Project County Coordinator Huerfano County Coordinator http://www.rootsweb.com/~cohuerfa/index.htm Huerfano County List Owner [email protected] Taos County Coordinator http://www.rootsweb.com/~nmtaos/index.htm Taos County List Owner [email protected]