Back at the end of depression days times were still hard for some. There was a girl that lived a few miles from here. She was unmarried and pregnant. That was a very bad combo in those days, a lot different then today. She had a little boy that was named Herschel. My dads 2nd cousin John married her and they had 2 kids. John had a brother named Sam and he lived with them also. Herschel was 10 years old and had been shooting a few squirrels, so he knew how to shoot. That fall it was mentioned at the supper table that they was running out of chickens to kill for fresh meat, but it would soon be hog killing time. Herschels' ears perked right up. Herschel said, "I want to shoot the pig". Sam and Herschel was buddies and Sam told him as soon as it got cold enough he could shoot the pig.
After a few frosty nights they finally did start getting some freezing weather. Herschel kept inquiring " Is it cold enough"? "Is it cold enough"? Finally one night Sam told Herschel it would be cold enough in the morning. Herschel couldn't hardly sleep and couldn't wait for daylight to get here. Sam had been showing Herschel on the hogs where to shoot the hog, just above the eyes. They had a log hog house about 10 ft by 14 ft, it was partly still there in my day. Those hog houses would have dust in them very deep.
So there goes Sam and Herschel to kill the pig. Sam told him to slip up to the door so as to not wake them and to pick out a biggin and shoot him just like they had discussed. Herschel slips up there, picks out a biggin and crack goes the little 22. Hogs came barreling out of the house and the dust was so bad they could hardly see. As the dust settled Sam went up and looked in the house and said "HERSCHEL YOU'VE SHOT THE OLD BOAR" !
