Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-12-10
FORCE OF IMAGINATION.

FORCE OF' lMAtlN AIloN.
Some years ago, near the town of Reading,
Berks county, Pennsylvania, there lived a
cozy old farmer, named Sweighofer-of Ger
man descent, and accent, too, as his speech
will indicate. Old man Sweighoffer had once
served as member in the Legislature, and
was, therefore, mo fool ) and as he had al
50 long commanded volunteer corps of rus
tic 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 devol-
we'd the principal cares and tolls of the old
gentleman's farm, now and then assisted by
the old lady and her two bouncing daughters
for it is very common, in that State, to see
women and girls at work in the felds-and,
upon extra occasions, by some hired hands.
Well, one warm day in haying time, old
Peter and young Peter were hard at it in the
meadow, when the old man drops his scythe,
and bawls out
90, mine Gott, Peter"
whats de matter, fader." answered the
son, Strengthening up and looking at his sire.
%, mine Gott, Peter" again cried the old
fellow.
sDonderv echoes young Peter, hurrying
up to the old man.
%, mine Gott, der snake 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 trampling upon crooked stick, which
clamped his ankle, and so horrifd the young
man, that he liked to have fallen through
himself.
At the word snake, young Peter fell back,
nimbly as wire-drawer, and bawled out, in
turn
sWhere is dere snake?'
sUp my trowsis, Peter-O, mine Gott !
20, mine Gott! echoed Peter, junior
kill him, fader; kill him. y
sNo-a, no-a, he kill me, Peter; come
come quick-get off my trowsis!
Put Peter the youngers cowardice over
came his flial affection, while his fear lent
strength to his legs, and he started like a
scared locomotive to call the old burly Dutch
man, who was in distant part of the field,
to give his father lift with the snake.
Old Jake the farmers assistant, came
bounding along as soon as he heard the news,
and passing along the fence whereon Peter
and his boy had hung their 'linsey-wolsey'
vests, Jake grabbed one of the garments, and
hurried to the old man Peter, who still man.
aged to keep on his pins, although he was
quaking and trembling like an aspen-leaf in
aJune gale of wind.
20, mine Gott! Come, come quick Jacob.
He bite 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 'pizeuous' reptile is about.
Gathering up the stiff dry stalks of stal.
wart weed, old Jake told the boss to stand
steady, and he would at least stunn the snake
by rap or two if he did not kill her stone
dead and the old man Peter, less 10th to
have his legs broken than to be bitten to
death by snake, designated the spot to
strike, and old Jake let him have it. The
first blow broke the weed, and knocked old
Sweighoffer off his pegs and into hayeock
Goblin.
sOn roared old Peter, you broke mine
leg and de snakes gone?
zo,o % or;,1 old IoGo mnvIno
briskly about, and scanning very narrowly
the ground he stood upon.
Never mind him, Jacob; help me. I'll
gohome.'
Put on your vhest, den here it is, said
the old krout-eater, gathering up his boss
and trying to get the garment upon his lumpy
back. The moment old Peter made his ef-
fort, he grew livid in the face-his hair
stood on end, slike the quills upon the fright
full porcupine,' as Mrs. Partington observes
he shivered-he shook-his teeth chatter
ed-and his knees knocked stacco accom-
paniment.
20, Yacob, carry me home. I'm dead as
q nit =
sVat Ish nodder shnake in your troush-
ers|
.No-a-look I'm swet all up! Mine vhest
won'tg on my back. O, O, mine Gott"
tDunder and blixden ! cried old Jake, as
he took the same conclusion, and with might
and main the old man, scared into most
wonderful feat of physical activity and
strength, lugged and carried the boss some
quarter of mile to the house.
Young Peter had Skinned it home at the
earliest stage of the dire proceedings, and so
alarmed the girls, chat they were in high
state when they saw the approach of the
good old dad and his assistant.
Old man Peter was carried in, aud began
to die, natural as life, when in comes the
old lady in great hustle, and wanted to
know what was going on. Old Peter, in the
last gasp of agony and weakness, opened his
eyes, and feebly pointed to his leg. The old
woman ripped up the pantaloons, and out