Washington telegraph., 1854-08-02
A Snake-Bitten Dutchman

Some years ago, near the town OF Reading
Berks county, Pennsylvania, there lived a cosy
old farmer, named Sweighooffer-of German de-
scent, and accent, too his speech will Indicate
Old man Sweghoofer had once served as men,
ber of the Legislature, and no ool;' and as he
had long commanded a volunteer corps of rustic
militia he could hardly be supposed inclined to
cowardice. His boy Peter was his only son,
strabping lad of seventeen; and upon young Peter
and old Peter devolved the principal cares and
tolls OF the old genteman's farm, now and then
assisted by the old lady, and her two bouncing
daughteis-for it is very common in this State to
see the women and girls in the ield-and upon
extra occasions some hired hands.
Well, one warm day, in hay time, old Peter
and young Peter were hard at work in the mea-
dow, when the old man drops his scythe and bawls
out:
"Ohl mine Gott, Peter!''
'What's de matter, fader11 answered the son,
Strengthening up, and looking towards lis sire
"Oh, mine Gott,'' again cried the old man.
"Donder," echoes young Peter, hurrylng up to
the old man, 'Fader, what's de matter?'
ooh mine Gott, Peter, de shnake bite mine
legI'
If anything in particular was capable of fright
ening young Peter. is was snakes for he had once
crippled himself for life by trampling upon a
crooked stick, which broke his ancIe and so hor-
rifed the youngster, that he liked to have fallen
through himself.
bly, as wire dancer, and bawled in turn
"Where is de shnake?"
Sup mine trowsis, Peter-Oh mine Gott!',
"Oh, mine Gott," echoed Peter junior 'k!l
him. tadern
"No-a, no-a he kill me, Peter come come
quick.n
But Peter, the younger's cowardice over came
his lia love, while his fears gave strength to his
legs, and he started like scared locomotive to
call the old, burly Dutchman, who was in dis
tant part OF the field, to give the father lift with
tie snake Old Jake, the farmers assistant came
bunghng along, as soon as he heard the news and
passing by the fence whereon Peter ard his boy
had hung up their "linsey woolseyn vests Jake
grabbed one OF the garments, and hurried to the
old man, who still managed to keep on his pins.
although ne was quaking and futtering like an
aspen leaf in June gale of wind
"Oh, mine Gotti come-come quick, YacobI'
'Vat you got, Ell? shnakea1
"Taw, yaw come, come, Yacob! He bites me
all to pleces-here, up mine legn
Old Jake was not particularly sensitive to fear.
but few people, young old. are dead to alarm
when 'pizen' reptile is making a levy. Gath
ering up the stiff, dry stalk OF a stalwart weed,
old Jake told the boss to stand ready and he
would at least stun the snake by rap or two il
he did not kill him stone dead-and old man Pc
ter less 10th to have his leg broken ,han be bitten
to death by the viper designated the spot to strike
The first blow broke the weed and also knock
ed old Peter off his pegs Oh haycock.
"Ohl" roared Peter, you have broken mine
leg, and te tam shnake's got away"
''Vere? vere?" cried old Jake, moving briskly
about, and scanning very narrowly the earth he
stood upon.
"Never mind him, Yacob; help me up, I'll 90
home"
''Put on your vhest. den-here it isr said the
old krout-eater, gathering up his boss, and trying
to get the garment upon his humpy back. The
moment old Peter made the effort he grew lvd
in the face-his hair stood an end, "like euiIls
upon frlghtful perkempine,H as Mrs. Partington
observes. He shivered he shook, his teeth chat
tered, and his knees knocked a staccatto accom-
paniment.
"Oh, Yacob, carry me home! I'm so deaf as
nitsr'
''Vot? Ish nodder shLake in your trowsis.;'
No, a-lookI Pm sweat all up! Mine vhest
won't go mine pack. Oh, mine Gottn
'Tonder and bIlxen!' cried old Jake as he
took the same conclusion, and with might and
main lugged and carried the boss some quarter of
mile to the house.
Young Peter had Skinned it for home at the
earliest stage of the dire proceedings and so a.
harmed the girls that they were in high strikes.
when they saw the approach of poor old dad and
his assistant.
Old man Peter was carried in. and began TO die
natural as life, when in cometh the old ladv in a
great hustle and wanted TO know what was going
on. Old Peter in the last gasp of agony and weak
ness, pointed to his leg. The old woman ripped
up his pantaloons and oat fell small thistle-top
and at the same time considerable OF a scratch
was visible.
Call dich shnake' Bahr' says the old wo.
man.
@Oh, but Pm pizened to death, Molly See,
Pm pzen, mine vhest not come over mine pody
at ALL"
"Haw! hawr roared the old woman. 'vat "a
fool You got Peters vhest on"
'KoshE' roars old Peter. shaking off deaths icy
fetters at one surge, and jumping up, 'Yacob, vat
an old fool you must be, to say l vas shnake bit
Go bout your bishness, gals. Peter, pring me
some beer.o
The old woman saved Peters life