, 1852-10-02

son, s'raighInlng up, and looking towards
his sire.
90 mine Goii, Peterl' again cries the
old man.
'Donder echoes young Peter, hurry
Iing up.to the old man. 'Fader, what is de
matter
90, mine GoH! Peter der shnako bite
mine leg!'
If anything, in particular, was capable of
frightening young Peter, it was snakes for
he had once nearly crippled himself for
life by tramping upon a crooked stick, which
clamped his ancle and SO Mortified the
youngster that he liked to have fallen
| through himself.
AT the word saaEe, young Peter fell back,
nimbly as a wire-dancor, and bawed in
turn
Where is de shnake -
'Aup mine trowsis-O, mine GoH!
20, mine NGoH . echoed Peter, junior;
{ kill him, fader, kill.him!'
'No-a, no-a he kill me, Peter conc
come quick-gt off mine trowsis
But Peter the younger's cowardice over
came his flial love, while his fear lent
strength TO his legs, and he started, like a
scared locomotive, to call the old burly
Dutchman, who was in distant part of the
field, TO give the father lln with the snake.
Old Jake, the farmers assistant, came bung-
ling along, as soon as he heard the aelCs,
and passing by the fence whereon Peter and
his boy had hung up their insey wosey ;
vests, Jake grabbed one of the garments,
and hurried TO the old man Peter, who still
managed to keep on his pins, although he
was quaking and hutIering like an aspen
leaf in June gale of wind.
90, mine Colt! Come-comc quick, va
cob =
Vat you got, Peter, eh ; SdanIe2'
'Yaw, yaw. Come, come, Yacob !, He
bite me all to Pieces-here, aup mine leg -
Old Jake was not particularly sengitive
to fear, but few people, young or old, are
dead to alarm when a pj,ea' reptile is
milking a Lery. Gathering up the stiff dry
stalk of a weed, old Jake ted the boss to
stand ready, and he would at least stun the
snake by a rap or two, if he did not kill it
stone dead and the old man Peter, less 10th
TO have his leg brekon than be bitten 10
death by the viper, designated the spot 10
strike, and old Jake let him have it The
first blow broke the weed, and knocked old
Sweighofer off his pegs and into haycock
-cobiml
'o' roared old Peter, you broke mine
leg, and de tame shuake's gone
'Vere We're cries old Jake, moving
briskly about, and scanning very narrowly
the earth he stood upon.
Never mind him, YacOb ; help me aup ;
I'll go home.'
'Pnt on your vhest, den here it is, says
the old crout-eater, gathering up his boss,
and trying 10 get the garment upon his
lumpy back. The moment old Peter made
this effort, he grew livcdin his face,-his
heir stood on end, like quilts upon the
Irightlul porkinhme,' as Mrs. Partington
observes; he shivered-he shook-his teeth
chattered, and his knees knocked staccato
accompaniment.
90! Yacob, carry me home Pm deaf
as nils
Vat; lsh nodder shnake in your throw
shers p
'No,a-look Pm swelt aup Mine
yhest won't go on mine back o. o!
mine Got
'Ton'ner and blixen - cried old Jake,
as he took the same conclusion,' and with
might and main the old man, scared into
a most wonderful feat Of physical activity
and strength, lugged and carried the boss
some quarter to hafa mile to the house.
| Young Peter Skinned it for home at the
earlies stage Of the dire proceedings and so
alarmed The girls tha, they were in high
strikes when they saw the approach Of poor
Cad and bis assistant.
/ Old man Peter was carried in, and began
10 die, natural as life, when in comes the
old lady, in great hustle, and wanted to
know what was going on2 Old Peter in
the last gasp Of agony and weakness, open.
ed his eyes and feebly pointed to his leg.
The old women ripped up the pantaloons,
and out fell small thistle top, and at the
same time considerable OF. a scratch was
visible!
'CalI dis a shnake' Bah? says the old
woman.
20, but Pm pizhened to death, Molly /!
See, Pm all pizhen-mine vhest-O, dear,
mine vhest not core over mine body -
haw nav haW roared the old wo>
men. 'Val fool You got Peters yhesL
on !-haw haw haw
Bosh = roars old Peter, shaking of
Deaths icy testers at one surge, and jump.
ing up. Bosh Yacob, vat a tam ole
fool you mush be, TO say wash shnake bit !
Go bout your bishness, gals. Peter, bring
me some berr.'
The old woman saved Peters life!