Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1861-03-20
DICKS IN SUMMER

There is no doubt OF its being true, and it's
good one, if 1 can hit on the right way of
telling il.
Aaron a tall, strapping fellow, near
seventeen. \ ou never saw a more susceptible
youth. Being good looking, the girls were
all easily smtten with him. They used to
flock out to the country on Friday evenings.
Talk of colt There is no such romp as a
town girl turned loose in the country. She
races, she jumps, she climbs the trees, shak-
ing the wild berries. down upon the timerous
beaux beneath her. Oh, she is the most beau
tiful, winning, delightful creature in the
world. Nose much younger than his
cousin; he knew Aaron was taking on about
that naughty lass, May Stelton. And May
in love with Aaron. May, and Troup,
and Sue and Bate, all came out on Friday e.
vening, with Noses sister, Angeline. Nose
got off early Saturday to let Aaron know. A
aron was for running over to his aunt's.
sNo,' says Nose, 'bring the gun; the woods
are full of squirrels. We might kill a dozen
walking the two miles,
The road led along the creek bank. Aaron
in brown study thinking of May. Nose
was looking up in the tree tops and among the
bushes, anxious for a pop at something. 1t
was the sbadest and quietest Of places So
far and no game.
Lets leave the road bit, and go to the
head of the creek said Nose. Its so out of
the way nobody ever disturbS it,
'We'll see something there =
And they did. Let it be July "a.
what is it asked Aaron, aroused little.
Nose put his hand to his ear ss..
sDucks-the biggest kind =
This time of year?'
u see 'em.'
sGiye me the gum
tNo--couldnt think Of it,
Kick, Klack.
'Well, blaze away; they'll fly if you go near
err
sTha buShas ora in tba yvav s,id MoSa
bringing the piece down to his shoulder.
Shoot anyhow = insisted Aaron running up.
sLrs The glris az slcinln1in p
They sat down like snow flakes. They
were white as the petticoats strewn on the
pebbly beach. Their teeth chattered. A long
silence. At last Aaron looked slowly around
at Nose with the meanest sort of countenance.
Noses face, as he returned the glance, was
regular sheep looking one.
Can they find it out =
Il reckon not, if we are sly
Lets climb up the tree ; it leans right over
Them
They crept along like snakes. They reach
cd the tree. Nose being the lghtest, gave
the gun 10 Aaron, climbed far out on a tree
over the creek, and got into a squirrels nest.
Aaron wasn't SO high.
1t was a pretty sight of course. You've
read of nymphs, syrens, etc. d! They couldn't
compare. Hair loose, and floating on the wa
ter arms etc. glstening in the water. Kate
was white snow. Sue was as plump
partridge in pea time, and sat in the waves
like bird in its nest. Troup was slim all o.
yer, with few exceptions.
Aaron promised not to look at Angeline If
Nose wouldn't wink at May. Impossible!
Angeline sported gracefully like native of
the element, and May was a back-eyed houri,
coleUr dc rose, from top toe. They splashed
and padded, and chatted like mad.
The tree began to shake. Aaron had ter
rible back ague, and Nose began to smoke
and burn, commenced at the ears.
There was louder noise than usual among
the unconscious bathing beauties. Aaron
stretched his elongated neck, at the same time
hitchng the gun forward. Unfortunately the
trigger caught in vine, and it went of with
a deafening report. Ii was the climax of the
adventure. Nose tumbed, from excitement,
into the creek, plum right between Sue and
Kate. The gals-they dove badly, strangled,
ran up the bank, their white retreating forms
gazed at by the eyes of the fish hawk that bad
pounced amoung them. They robed in
twinkling, but not one with her right dresSRn.
Aaron dashed into the woods. There was
terrible scream as he ran right into their
midst. All ran in different directions, and
came dropping in one after another at Noses
The boys took long turn into the woods,
and did not get back before night. They said
they had been deer hunting, and hadn't seen
the creek.
The girls appeared 10 belieue them.