New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-08-07
The snaks-Bitten Dutshman.

| .55YF = -" n y ~ AssVf4A - sbu MS u.
Some years ago. near the town Of Residing,
Berks county, Pennsylvania, there lived cosy
old farmer named Sweighootfer, Of German de-
scent, and accent, too, AZ his speech will indi-
cate. Old man Sweighooffer had once served as
a member Of the Legislature, and was 40 fool :"
As he had long commanded a volunteer corps of
rustic militia, he could hardly be supposed in
chned to cowardice. His boy Peter was his
only son, "a strapping lad of seventeen; and upon
young Peter and old Peter devolved the princi-
pal cares and tolls Of the old gentleman's farm,
now and-then assisted by the old lady and her
two bouncing daughters--for it was very COM
mon in this State to see the women and girls in
the feld--and, upon extra occasions, BY some
| hired hands
| Well, one warm day, in haying time, old
Peter and young Peter were hard at work in
the meadow. when the old man drops his scythe
| and bawls out 10 Oh : mine Gott, PeterI,,
"Wafs de matter, faders'' answered the son,
STRENGTHENING up, and looking towards his sire
I" Oh, mine Gottl" again cries the old man.
Donder!" echoes young Peter, hurrying up
to the old man. Fader, what's de matter 20
es0h, mine Gott! Peter, de shnake bite mine
llegse - -
any thing in particular was capable Of
fr1ghtening young Peter, it was snakes; for he
ne had once crippled himself for life by tramp
ing upon crooked stick, by whicn he broke
l . 1sAnACs 1aN 81 uOEIlucu IuG yUuuSIeT GQaL NE
hKei TO have fallen through himself At the
word snake, young Peter fell back nimbly as
WIRE dancer, and bawled in turn ssWhere is
de shnakes'' :
:. Up mtne trowsis, Peter-oh, mine Gott.,,
oh, mine Gottm echoed Peter, Junior;
| skill him, faderi', $3.50
quick p - -
But the younger Peters cowardice oyercame
his flial love, while his fears gave strength to
| his legs, and he started like scared locomotive
| to call the old, burly Dutchman, who was in !,
distant part Of the field, to give his father lift
with the snake. Old Jake, the farmers assist
| ant, came bungling along as soon as he heard
the news, and passing hg the fence wnereon
Peter and his boy had hung up their Sc insey-
| wooley" vests, Jake grabbed one of the gar
ments, and hurried to the old man, who still
managed to keep on his pins, although he was
quaklng and huttering like an aspen leaf in a
June gale Of wind. 3i2ss
| 90 Oh, mine Gott Come--come quick, Yacob!''
Swat you got, eh shnake ?" 5}
8 Yaw, yaw, Come, come, Yaeob! He bites
| me all to pieces--here-up mine leg
Old Jake was not particularly sensitive to
fear, but few people, young or old, are dead to
alarm when sspizen reptile is making levy.
Gathering mp the stiff, dry stalk of stalwart
weed, old Jake told the boss to stand ready,
and ne would at least stun the snake by rap
or.two, if he did not kill him stone dead and
old man, Peter, less 10th to have his leg broken
than be bitten to death By the viper, designated
| the spot to strike, and old Jake let him have it,
| The first blow broke the weed, and also knocked
old Peter off his pegs on haycock.
On" roared Pete, you have broken mine
| leg, and te tam shnake has got away. -
s'Veres we're I" cried old J AXE, moving briskly
about, and scanning very narrowly the earth he
stood upon.
.. Never mind him, Yacob-help me up-ru
go home''1 Gi i1
6 Put on your vest, den; here it is,a said the
Old kIout-eater, gathering up his boss, and try
ing to get the garment upon his humpy back
Ihe moment old Peter made the effort, he grew
livid in the face-his hair stood on an end sflike
squillsupon the frightful porkempine, - as Mrs.
Partington observes. He shivered, he shook,
his teeth chartered. and his knees knocked
staccato accompaniment rs
"Oh, Yacob, carry me homef I'm so deat as
nits!'' nH
''Vat' 1sh nodder shnake in your trowsis s''
ss No, a-look Pm swelt all up-mine vest
won't go on mine pack Oh, mine God ~
g Tonder and blixin p 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 shade of the dire proceedings, and so
alarmed the girls that they were in high-strikes
when they saw the approach Of poor old dad
! and his assistant. r
Old man Peter was carried in, and began to
die natural as life, when in cometh the old lady
| in great hustle, and wanted to know what was
going on. Old Peter, in the last gasp of agony
and weakness, pointed to his leg. The old wo-
| man ripped up his pantaloons, and out fell a
small thistle-top, and at the same time consid-
cradle of scratch was made visible
ssCall dish shnake' Bah!'' says the old
woman. EaA
''oh! but Pm pizened to deaf, Molly See,
| I'm oil pizen; mine vest not come over mine
pody at ALL
:. Hawl haw! haw!" roared the old woman.
Vat fool You got Peters vest on
Kosh '' roars old Peter, shaking off Deaths
icy fetters at one surge. and jumping up, Va
cob, vat an old fool you must pc to say 1 vas
shnak bit! Go bout your piznes, gals Peter,
pring me some peer"