Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1861-11-01


had the pleasure Of seeing the snake resume
bis horizontal position, somewhat after the
fashion of the tail of comet
On, on they few John forgot the quilt
ing, forgot the girls, forgot everything but the
snake. dis active exercise, The paid partieu-
lar attention to bis ruuDing,) together with the
excessive heat, had brought on the nose bleed
ing, and as be ran, ears erect and bead thrown
back, bis chin, throat, aud shirt bosom were
stained with tho flowing stream.
His first wild shrek bad startled the quilters,
aud fcrth they rushed, wondering if some mad
Indian was net prowling about. By this time
John was within few rods Of the barn, still
running at the top of his speed, his head turn
ed so that be might keep one eye on the snake,
aud with toe other observe what course he
must take. The friendly barn now concealed
him from the sight of the girls He knew
they were 10 the yard, having caught glimpse
of them az they rushed from the house. 4
few more bounds and he would be in their
midst. For a moment modesty oVarcame fear,
and be once more halted. The snake, evident
ly pleased with his rapid transportation, man
Tested his gratitude by attempting to enfold
the legs of our hero within DIS embrace
With an explosive ''oucbi'' aud urged for
ward by circumstances over which be had
no control" poor John bounded on. The
next momant he was in full view of the glrls,
and as be turned the corner of the barn, the
snake came round with Ubtz, somewhat after
the fashion of eoaeh-whip.
Having reached the barn yard, to his dis
may, be found the bars up. But time was too
precious to be wasted in letting dowa bars
Gathering all his strength he bounded into the
air, snake ditto, and as be alighted on the 9th.
er side, his suake-ship's tail cracked across
the upper bar, swapping hike an Indian cracker
Again John set forward, now utterly re-
gardless Of the girls, for the extra tickle from
the snakes tail, as he leaped the bars, Danish
ed all bis bashfuiness and modesty, and again
be had the pleasure of fading the snake 10 a
straight line, drawing steadily at tho hem of
his solitary garment
The house now became tho centre Of at
traction, and around il he revolyed with the
speed Of thought. -Four times in each revo-
luton, as be turned the corners, his snakeship
came around with whiz that was quite re-
freshing.
While describing the third circle, as he
came near the group of Bonder-struck girls,
without removing his gaze from the snake, he
managed to cry out--s'caft a maa!'
The next moment he had whsked out OF
sight, and, quick as thought, reappeared upon
the other eide of the house-"caHa man"
Aud away be wbirled again, turning the cor-
ner so rapidly that the lohis of the snake
sounded half way between low whistle and
The repeated pronunciation of double-o.
Before either Of the girls had stirred from
their tracks, be had performed another revolu-
tion-''cdH mani''
Away be few once more, but his strength
was rapidly failing. Nancy Clark was the
first to recover her presence Of mind, and
seizing hoop pole, she took her station near
the corner of the house, and as John reap.
peared she brought it down upon the snake
With force that broke hts back and hold up,
on John'e garment at the same time.
John rushed into the house and went to bis
room, aud at teatime appeared in bis best Sun
day clothes, but little the worse for bis race,
and to all appearances entirely cured of bash
fulness. That night be walked home with
Nancy Clark. The next New Year they were
married, aud now whenever John feels inclin-
ed to laugh at bis Wifs's hoops, or any other
peculiarly, she has Only to say ssCall man"
when he instantly sobers down.