Alexandria Daily Advertiser

A FABLE.

John Albion and James Columbus, two neighbors, had been repeatedly engaged in quarrels, which occasionally mounted to such a height, that they threatened each other with blows. The chief cause of contention between them, arose from their pigs; which being of the same breed, size and color, could not be distinguished, and each therefore often claimed what belonged to the other. While they were in this angry mood, it so happened, that Francis Gaul, a noted bully, the terror of the whole country, heard of it; and immediately dispatching a messenger to James Columbus, ordered him to proceed to blows at once, as he was resolved. the dispute between them should be terminated in no other way, than by fighting. Columbus hesitated at first, whether he should submit; but at length, partly through dread of the furious temper of Francis Gaul, who had threatened, in case of disobedience, he would seize and carry off every thing that belonged to him, and partly to gratify an old grudge, he contrived to manage matters. so as to inflame the quarrel about the pigs, until they fell to blows in good earnest. After worrying and teasing each other to pieces, Gaul took them both in hand. and beat and mauled them to that degree, they were never afterwards able to quarrel about pigs, or any thing else.

[Poulson.]