The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-06-19
McGREGOR, IOWA, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10, 1861.

have concluded to word it thus: "The
farmers of Chesterville were done haying."
John Jackson's sister had quilting that
afternoon; his father has gone to "keith's
Mill'' to get some wheat ground, and John
was left to repair some tools, to be ready on
the morrow to commence moving the
meadow grass. Suddenly it occurred to
John that if he remained about the house
in the afternoon, he would be called in at
tea time and be required to do the ,honors
of the table. To avoid this, he quietly
shouldered his the and stole away to the
meadow, half mile distant, fully resolved
that he would not leave there until it was
50 dark that he could not see to NOW, and
avoid seeing the girls. ....... a...
The meadow was surrounded on all sides
by a thick forest, which etfectually shut
out what little breeze there might chance to
be stirring. The sun poured it's rays as
though the little meadow was the focus
point where the heat was concentrated -
John moved and sweat-swcat and NOW
cool Of. Then it occurred to John that if
he took off his pants he might be much
more comfortable. There could be no inn
propriery in it, for he was entirely conceal
ed from observation, and there was not the
slightest reason TO suppose that he could
be seen by any person.
So John stripped off, and with no cover
ing save his linen-cemmonly called shirt
he resumed his work He was just con-
gatulating himself upon the good time he
was having, and the lucky escape he had
made from Meeting with the girls, when he
chanced to disturb huge black snake, a
genuine twister with white ring round
his neck.
John was no coward, but he was NOR
tally afraid of snakes. "Selfpreserva-
ton" was the first passage" that flashed
upon Johns mind, legs take care of the
body" was the next. Dropping his scythe
and spinning round like top, he was ready
to strike 2:45 gait, when at that moment
his snakeship was near enough TO hook his
crooked teeth into Johns shirt just above
the hem. With tremendous spring, he
started off with the speed of locomotive
His first jump took the snake clear of the
ground, and as John stole hasty glance
over his shoulder, he was Mortified to find
the reptile securely fastened to the extrem-
ity Of his garment, while speed with which
he rushed forward kept the serpent extend
ed at an angle Of ninety degrees with his
body.
Here was quandary. If he stopped,
the snake would coil about his body and
squeeze him to death; if he continued the
race he must soon fall from sheer exhaus-
ton. On he few, scarce daring to think
how his dreadful race was to end. Instinct
| lively he had taken the direction of home,
and as he emerged from the forest, and be-
gan to catch glimses Of the house, a feeling
of security came over him. Suddenly
| flashed across his mind the true state OF
affairs his father gone the quilting, and
worst of all the girls! This new horror
sent the blood back, curdling about his
heart, and he came to dead halt. The
next moment he felt the body of the cold
| clammy monster in contact with his bare
| legs, his tail creeping ronnd them in sort
OF cozening way, as though his snakeship
only meditated little fun, by way tickling
John upon the knees.
| This was too much for human eudur-
ance. With yell, such as man neve,
utters save when in mortal terror, poor
John again set forward at break neck speed
and once more bad the pleasure OF seeing
the snake resume his horizontal position
somewhat after the fashion of the tail of q
! comet
On, on they few! John forgot tn,
quilting, forgot the girls, forgot everything
but the snake.
His active exercise, Che paid particula,
attention to his running} together with tn,
excessive heat, had brought on the nose
bleed, and as he ran, ears erect and heaC
| thrnu oh h,c, oh, sI>, Il
bosom were stained with the flowing
stream.
His first wild shrek had started tn,
quilters, and forth they rushed, wondering
if some mad Indian was not prowlne
about. By this time John was within ;
few rods of the barn, still running at tn,
top Of his speed, his head turned so that he
night keep one eye on the snake, and will
the other observe what course he mus
take. The friendly barn now concealed hin
from the sight of the girls. He knew they
were in the yard, having caught glimpses Of
them as they rushed from the house. A
few more bounds, and he would be in theil
midst. For moment modestv oyercom,
fear, and he and he once more halted. Tn.
snake, evidently pleased with his rapit
transportation, manifested his gratitude by
attempting to enfold the legs of our hero
within his embrace
With an explosive "0uch ~ and urget
forward by circumstances over which h,
had no CONTROL poor John bounded on.-
The next moment he was in full view O
the girls, and as he turned the corner of tn,
barn, the snake came round with a rhiz
somewhat after the fashion of coach
whip.
/ Having reached the barn yard, to hi.
dis,nay he found the bars up. But tim,
was too precious to be wasted in letting
down bars. Gathering all his strength, ht
bounded into the air, snake ditto, and a!
he alighted on the other side, his snake
ships tail cracked across the upper bar
swapping like an India cracker.
Again John set forward, now unterly re
gardless of the presence of the girls, fol
the extra tickle fdom the snakes tail, as h,
leaped the bars, banished all his bashfulnes!
and modesty, and again he had the pleas
ure Of finding the snake in straight line
drawing steadily at the hem Of his solitary
garment.
The house now became the centre of at
traction, and around it he reyolved with thu
speed of thought. Four times in each re
volution, as he turned the corner, hi
snakeship came round with aohis that was
quite refreshing.
While describing the third circle, as h.
came near the group of wonder-struck girls
without removing his gaze from the snake
he managed to cry out
"cALL A MANI
The next moment he had whisked out O
sight and quick as thought reappeared up