Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1861-09-12
THE FORCE OF IMAGINATION,
Or Peter Sweigdc6cr's adventure ,cith snak

Some years ago, near the town of Reading,
Burks county, Penn, there lived cosy old
farmer by the name of Sweighotfer-of German
descent, and accent too, as his speech will in
dcatc. Old Sweighotfer had once served as n
member the Legislature, and was therefore,
no fool and as he had also commanded vol
unteer corps of rustic militia he should hardly
he supposed inclined to cowardice. His son
Peter, ives an only son, strapping lad OF seven.
teen; and upon old Peter and young Peter. de.
VOWED the principle cares and tolls of the old
gentenlan's farm now and then assisted by the
cid gcntlemans bouncing daughters-for it is
girls at work in the ields-and upon extra oc.
casions, by some hired hands.
Well, one warm day in aging time. old Peter
and young Peter were hard at it in the meadow,
when the old man drops his scythe and bawls
out,
OH mine Gott, Peter''
What's de matter fadder ? answers the son,
Frightening up and looking at his sire
OH mine Gott Peter, again cried the old
fellow,
'Dundcr' echoes young Peter, hurryng up
to the old man.
Oh! mine Gott. ter shnakc pite me in mine
Iegr
If anything in particular was capable of
frightening young Peter, it was snakes; for he
had once nearly crippled himself for life, by
trampeing upon crooked stick, which clamped
his ankle, and so Mortified the young man, that
he liked to have fallen through himself
At the mention Of snake, young Peter fell
back as ninbly as a wire drawer, and bawled
out in turn
Where ish de shnake 2
Up mine trowss, Pe-tcr-Oh-'
Oh! mine Gott!' echoes young Peter, kill
i'm tadjer, kill i'm =
No no, he kill me, Peter come come
quick git off mine trowss 1!
Blu, Young Peters cowardice ovcrcame his
fila affection, while his fears lent strength to
his legs, and he started like scared locomotive,
to call the bury old Duichman, who was in a
distant part Of the field, to give the old man o
lift with the snake
Od Jake, the farmers assistant came bound
ing along, as soon as he heard the news, and
passing along the fence where Peter and his
boy had hung their 'inscy woolsey' vests Jake
Peters assistance who managed to keep on his
pins, altho he was quakins and trembling like
an aspen leaf in June gale Of wind.
oh mine Gott! Come, come quick Jacob !!
He p'c me all to picces-here up mine leg
Old Jake Was not particularly sensitive to
fear, but few people, young or DID, are dead to
alarm when pyzenous reptyle' is about -
Gathering up the stiff dry stalks of s.alwar
weeds, old Jake told the boss to stand steady and
he would, at least, stun the snake by rap or
two, if he did not kill it stone dead and the
lid man Peter, less 10th to have both his legs
broken than to be bitten to death by snake,
designated the spot to strike, and Jake let him
have The FIRST blow knocked old Sweighoffer
off his trotters, and into haycock erbump
on !! roard old Peter, you proke mine leg,
and the tam >hnake is gone
Ware ware g cries old Jake moving briskly
about and scanning very narrowly the ground
he stood upon.
Never mind i'm, Jacob he p me up. III
20 home
'Pu, on your vest. den-here it i>h,' said the
cid crou, eater. gathering up his boss, aud try
ing to get The garment on his Iumpy back. The
moment old Peter made effort he grew livid in
the face his hair stood on end. like the quils
upon the frightened porcupine'-as Mrs. Par.
ting,on observcd-he shwered-he shook, his
teeth chartered and his knees knocked staccato
accompaniment.
Oh, Jacob, carry me home I'm dead as
nits =
Vat, sh dcre nnoddcr Shnake in your row.
sis 3
'No,-look. Tn swelt up. Mine vest won't
go on nine pack Oh mine Gott! Oh! mine
Go,tr
'Dondcr and blxen" cried old Jake, as he
took the same conclusion, ard with Nigh and
main, lugged and carried the old man some
quarter or half a mile to the house.
Young Peter had Skinned it for home. just
at this stage of tie direful proceedings and so
alarmed the girls, that they were in high
state, when they saw the approach of their old
dad and his assistant.
Old man Peter was carried in, when in came
the old lady, in great hustle, and wanted to
know what was going on.
odd Peter, in the last agonies of weakness,
opened his eyes aud feehly pointed to his leg.
The old woman Immediately ripped up his pan.
falcons, and out fell small thistle top, and at
the same time, considerable of a scratch was
made visible.
Call dis shnake! Bah = says the old wo-
man.
oh but I'm all pizcn; mine vest oh dear
mine vest not come over mine podyn
'Hawi haw! haw = rolred the old woman,
vat fool! You Got Peters vest n!-haw
haw haw"
'Bosh y roarcd Peter. shaking off the icy fet.
ters of death at one surge and jumping up
'Bosh Jacob Vat Il tam fool you musht pc. tc
say DAT | vas shnake pi'e Go 'pout your bust
ness, gals Peter, pring me some peer The
old woman saved Peters life.
I A preacher in Wisconsin. as he was about
to open prayer after tie sermon said, by mis-
take, "Let us drill.'
Mony rarsnns snpnd So mnch time IN critcis