Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1857-04-03
The FORCE OF IMAGINATION. Some years

ago, near the town Of Reading Berks coun-
ty, Pennsylvania, there lived Il cozy old far
mer named Sweighoifer-of German des-
cent, and accent. too, as his sr"""h Will in
dicoto OLD man SwelRhoiior had once
served as n member IN the Legislature, and
was, therefore, " no fool y and rs he had
also long commanded volunteer corps of
rustic militia, he should hardly be supposed
inclined to cowardice. His son Peter was
his only son-a strapping lad Of seventeen
and upon old Peter and young Peter dcvolv-
ed the principal cares and tolls of the old
gcntleman's farm, now and then assisted by
the old lady and her two bouncing daugh-
ters-ior it is very common. in that State,
to SEQ the women and girls at work in the
ficlds-and, upon extra occasions, by some
hired hands.
Well, one warm day in haying time. ,e' |
Peter and young Peter Were hard 'ls hi7
the meadow, when the old
scythc and bawls out
50, mine Gott. Pcf, tadcr answers the
'What,g ,gntening up and looking at his
! HqG
20, mine Gott, Peter = again cried the old
fellow. ,
,Dondcr = echoes young Potter hurrylng
up to the old man. >,
20. mine Gott. der snake bite mine leg
If ANYTHING in particular was capable oil
of frightening young Peter. it was snakes
for he had once nearly crippled himself Tor
! life by trampling upon croOkei SUCK
which clamped his ankle, and so horrlhed the
Young man, that he liked to have fallen
through himself. cu
At the word snake young Peter fell back,
nimbly as a wire-drawer, and bawied out
in turn
Where is der snaker
I'm nv trowsis, Peter-O, mino Gott
%, mine Gott = echoed Peter junior
kill him, fader kill him
.No-a, no-a, he kill me, Peter come
come quick-get off my trowsis y
But Peter the younger cowardice over,
came his Hlial affection, while his fear lent
strength to his legs, and he started like q
scorod locomotive to call the old burly
Dutchman. who was in distant part OF the
field to give his father q lift with the snake
+ Old Jake, the farmers assistant, CANT
bounding along as soon as he heard th'
news, and passing along the fence whereoi
Y Peter and his boy hung their llnsey wool
sew vests. Jake grabbed one OF the gar
n ments, and hurried to the old man Peter
q who still managed to keep on his pms, al
f though he was quaking and trembling Ink
II an aspen-leaI IN June gale of wind.
l. %, Mine Gott Come, come quick, Jacot
If lie bite me all to pieoes-here up my leg
- Old Jake was not particularly sensitive
is fear but few people, young or old, are dea
Is 70 alarm when a 'pizenous reptile is abou
ID Gathering up the stiff dry stalks Of a sta
4, wart weed, old Jake told the boss to stan
h. steady and he would at least stun the snal
8, by rap or two, if he did not kill her ston
I'D dead and the old man Peter, less 10th
s, have his leg broken than to be bitten
IL death by a snake, designated the spot
lie strike, and old Jake let him have it, III
he first blow broke the weed and knocked
~ Sweighotfer off his pegs, and into hayco'
re Goblin.
TT 90! roared old Peter, you broke mi
m leg, and de snake gone
is SVerel yerel cried old Jake, movi
So, briskly about, and scanning very mario"
the ground he stood upon.
err Never mind him, Jacob; help me up.
Of 60 home
in Put on your yhest, den. here it is, 81
ry- the old crout-eater, gathering up his b
ry- and trying to get the garment upon
sts lumpy back. The moment old Peter mi
raj his effort, he grew liyid in the face
ern hair stood on end, like the quills upon
tn frightful porcupine,' as Mrs. Parting
,ry, obseryes--he shiyered-hc shook-his te
lta, chattered-and his knees knocked Hd'
the accompaniment
his %, lacop, carry me home I'm dea'
ZEN nits y
,ep- Vat Ish nodder shnake in your trou
ture ers .
hole 'No-a-look I'm swclt all up,
ives yhest won't 60 on my back. o, q, II
the Gott -
- of 'Dun'der and blixen = cried old Jake
der he took the same conclusion. and with m
the and main the old man, scared INTO
eces wonderful feat OF physical ac'Vlty
p to strength, lugged ana carried the ooss
ugh quarter OF mile TO the house.
J or tQppR FeteF hso shinheu " hpmo ~