A Day No Pigs Would Die

A Day No Pigs Would Die Summary | Plot Summary

Robert is a Shaker boy, a member of a religious sect that no longer exists today. He tells his story in his own words, sweet and straightforward, as a preteen would do, about a life in Vermont that is simple and plain. Although he is only thirteen by the time the book ends, Robert takes his place in Shaker society and indeed in the world outside, as a grown man.

Robert undergoes a "coming of age" as he unfolds the adventures and misadventures of the year or so before he becomes a man. Robert works much harder than many young people do today. His father, whom he calls Papa, teaches his son through everyday things, such as doing his chores each day. Some of these teachings are profound, such as a person being born to do a "mission;" Robert's mission at present is doing the chores. Papa's mission is slaughtering meat, in particular, pigs, and he does this unpleasant job willingly in order to support his family and serve the community. Papa's other teachings are merely folk beliefs, such as the idea that lodging a pig close to a milk cow will curdle her milk. At this point in his life, Robert doesn't question many of his father's teachings, although on occasion he balks against certain Shaker prohibitions, such as not being able to have a good time on Sundays. From the outset, the reader will notice that Robert occasionally lets slips with a swear word, which Papa frowns upon but occasionally lets pass.

Robert goes to school after he does his chores. He doesn't mind school but he doesn't like it so much, either. His parents insist that he go, especially Papa, who forthrightly owns that he cannot read and write. He wants to make sure that Robert learns, so his son can have opportunities he has missed. For example, his father cannot vote because he cannot read and write. When Robert misses school, Papa reminds him that he must attend because he must know how to read and write in order to succeed in society.

Most of this story centers around a Robert and a pig. As the book opens, Robert finds himself smack in the middle of a life-threatening adventure. He skips school one day, upset because one of the students has mocked him for his plain Shaker clothing. He happens upon a cow in labor, unable to deliver her calf. At the risk of his clothes, his comfort and at one point his life, he helps the cow give birth to twins and also relieves her of a painful goiter in her throat. After Robert is found, rescued, and properly healed, Mr. Tanner, who owns the cow and calves, rewards Robert with a piglet.

Robert calls his pig Pinky and he loves her dearly. As people often say of pigs, Pinky turns out to be a great pet, intelligent, and responsive. Robert takes her everywhere with him, including doing chores and exploring the countryside. Together the boy and pig go frog hunting to get frog legs for dinner. When the barn cat has kittens, Robert holds Pinky up so she can observe the special event. When Robert's Aunt Mattie makes a futile attempt to tutor the boy in English, she concludes with a superb dead-pan, "Next time I'll teach the pig."

Robert keeps a record of everything his pet pig eats and drinks, which is plenty. As she grows, Robert looks forward to having her bred so she can provide the family with additional income from the babies. The reader observes along with Robert as a prize boar is brought in, more than once, to mount Pinky, and although she allows him to mate with her, she does not immediately conceive. However, together with neighbors, Robert and Pinky go to the County Fair, where Pinky takes first place as the Best-Behaved Pig. Everything seems to be going well for Pinky, Robert, and his family, until his father tells him a dreadful secret: he is dying.

From that moment of revelation, Robert feels a pall hanging over him, and things start going wrong. The harvest is scarce that year, and money is, too. Pinky turns out not to be able to breed, so she becomes a liability instead of an asset in the family economy. Papa cannot seem to have much success in hunting and food is scarce. Everyone knows the inevitable; Pinky must be slaughtered and eaten. Robert assists his father with this heart-breaking chore, a certain sign that he is maturing into a young man.

Not long after, Papa passes away. By this time, Robert has already faced serious challenges suitable for a man, and now he must take the next step, becoming the man of the house. As the book ends, the reader is convinced that he will do a good job at it.