Squinty could hear them talking about hunting the hens' eggs, and
feeding the little calves and sheep, and riding on the backs of horses.

Then, one day Squinty looked up out of the pen, and, leaning over the
top board he saw the farmer, the boy and another man.

"Oh, Father!" exclaimed the boy, "do let me have just one little pig.
They are so nice!"

[Illustration: "Oh, Father!" exclaimed the boy, "do let me have just one
little pig."]

"A pig!" cried Father. "What would you do with a pig in our town? We are
not in the country. Where would you keep a pig?"

"Oh, I could build a little pen for him in our yard. Look, let me have
that one, he is so pink and pretty and clean."

"Ha! So you want that pig, do you?" asked the farmer. The boy and his
father and sisters were paying a visit to the farm.

"Yes, I want a pig very much!" the boy said. "And I think I'd like that
one," and he pointed straight at Squinty. Poor Squinty ran and tried to
hide under the straw, for he knew the boy was talking about him.

"Oh, see him run!" cried the boy. "Yes, I think he is the nicest pig in
the lot. I want him. Has he any name?"

"Well, we call him Squinty," the farmer said. "He has a funny, squinting