Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1862-07-04
VOL. Xiv.
CALL MAN.

! soB he had ALWAYS remained at home, assisting
his father upon the farm. John was much re-
spected by every one in the neighborhood, and
many q brighteyed girl had secretly thought
that she would like TO be Mrs. Jackson. But
John was no "ladies' man" The fact vas, he
was bashful He would rather hoe potatoes all
day than undergo the ceremony Of an intro
duction TO young lady. Not that John Dis
liked the dear creatures; far from 1t. We be-
lieve that he in common with all bashful and
well meaning men. entertained the very high
est respect and admiration for them. And this,
no doubt, was the principal cause of his bash
funess lie felt that they were superior beings,
and that BE- was unworthy to associate with
tlem upon terms OF equality Bat we cannot
stop to moralize.
Nancy Clark was the daughter Of very re-
spectacle farmer. whose lard adjoiued the
jackson farm Nancy was a pretty, saucy
little witch, and she liked John Jackson
When they were children they attended school,
together and as he was a few years her senior he
was usually her champion IN the childish dis
putes that arose, and her companion in coming
and going. At last, John became so much
Of young man as to be kept from school,
as be had been in past years John discov-
cred that, too, he was growing out of shape
His feet and legs appeared very awkward; he
did not know what to do with his hands, bis
face panied him, and taking all in all, be was
inclined to think that he was not more than
half put together.
As novelists say, 1t was lovely day in Au-
gust The sun was clear, serene, and beauti-
ful, the trees were loaded with golden fruit,
and the beautiful birds twittered their songs
of love in the branches. Earth-Qhere, we've
slid down to earth once more; such lofty flights
they make our head dizzy We are pre-
pared to say that ''earth yieled beautiful har
vest of grass, clover and honeysuckles, which
the noble ycomanry Of Chesteryile had garn-
cred within their stare -hOnses"-but upon the
second thought have concluded to word it thus:
The farmers Of CLesteryille have done har
vestiug"
John Jacksons sister had quilting that af-
ternoon. His father had gone to "keilhs
Mills" TO get some wheat ground, and left
John to repair some tools, TO Je ready on the
morrow, to commence moving the meadow
! grass Suddenly it occurred % John that if
/ he remained about the house that altern Ion, he
would be called in at tea-time and required TO
do the honors Of the table. TO avoid Ills, he
/ quietly shou6ercd his scyihe and stole away to
the meadow, half a mile distant, fully resolved
| that he would not leave there until it was so
I dark that he could not sec to NOW, so as TO a
void seeing the girls
| The meadow was surrounded on all sides
! by q thick forest, which cfftctualy shut out
! what little breeze there might chance TO be
stirring The sun poured lis rays as though
| lie meadow was the focus point where the
heart was concentrated. john moved aud
sweat-sweat aud moved, until he was obliged
| to sit down and cool off Then it occurred to
John that if he took of his pants, he might be
much more comfortable. There would he no
improprety in it, for he was entirely concealed
from observation, aud there was not the Slight
est reason to suppose that be could be seen 10y
any person.
So John stripped eff and with no cover save
bis linen commonly called shirt-he resum-
ed his work He was just coRgra ulaiing him
! self upon the good escape he had made from
meeting the girls, when he chanced to disturb
/ huge black snake, genuine twistcr, with
| white ring around bis neck
| John was no coward, but he was mortally a
| fraid Of siake "SclEpreservation" was the
/ first passage. that flashed across his mind
legs take care Of the body" was the next
Dropping his scythe and spinning around Ike
/ a top, be WAS was ready TO strike a forty two
| gait, at that moment the snake was near enough
to hook his crooked teeth into ohu's shirt just
aboye the Lem With tremendous spring be
started of with the speed Of a locomotive
His first Jump took The snake clear from the
| ground. and as lie stole husty glance over his
shoulder, be was horiif4d to see the reptile Sc
curely fastened to The extremity of his garment,
while the rapidly with which be rushed for
ward. kept the serpent extended at an angle Of
ninety degrees with his body.
! Here was a quandary. If be stopped, the
snake would coil about his body, and squeeze
him 10 death; if he continued the race. he must
/ fall from sheer exhaustion. On he few, scarce
daring to think how this dIeadiul race was to
end Iustinctively be had taken the direction
of home; a feeling of security came over him.
Suddenly flashed across his mind the true state
of affairs-his father gone-the quilting and
worse than all, the girls The next moment
he felt the body Of the cold, clammy monster
in contact with his bare legs, his tail creeping
around them in soft cozcning way, as If by way
of tickling J Ohm upon the knees.
This was too much for human endurance
With yell, such as man never uttered, save
in mortal terror, poor John set forward at
breGkneck speed, and once more had the pleas
ure Of seeing the snake resume his horizontal
position, somewhat after the style of tail of
a comet.
On, on they flew John forgot the quilting,
forgot the girls. forgot everything but the
suake.
His active exercise, Che paid particular at
tention to his runniug) together with the exces-
siye heat had brought On the nose-bleed, and
as he ran, cars erect. and head brown back, his
chin, throat and shirt-bosom were stained with
the flowing stream.
His first shrek had startled the quilters, and
forth they rushed, wondering if some Indian
was not prowing about. BY this time, John
was within few rods Of the barn, still running
at the top of his speed, Lis head turned so that
be might keep one eye on the snake aud with
tho other observe what course he must take
The friendly barn now concealed him from the
sight Of tue girls. lie knew the girls were in
the yard, having caught glimpse Of them as
they rushed from the house. a few more
bounds and be would be in their midst. For
; d moment modesty overcame fear, and he halt
ed The snake, evidently pleased with this rap
id transportation, manifested his gratitude by
attempting to enfold the legs of our hero with
, in his embrace.
With an explosive "ouch!" and urged for
ward by circumstances over which he had no
| control" poor Jehn bounded on. The next
moment he was in full view of The girls, and
as he turned the corner of the barn the snake
r came round with whi8 somewhat after the
| E,sbion nf a noach vhin