Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1862-04-24

care OF the body" was the next. Drop
/ ping his scythe and spinning around
like top, he was ready to strike two
foot gate, when at that moment the
snake was near enough to hook his
crooked teeth into Johns shirt Just
above the hem. With q tremendous
spring be started of with the speed Of
locomotive. His first jump took NE
snake clear from the ground, and as
be stole hasty glance over his shoul-
der, he was horriied TO see the reptile
securely fastened to the extremity of
his garment, while the rapidity with
which he rushed forward. kept the ser
pent extended at an angle Of ninety de-
grees 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 fall from
sheer exhaustion. On he few, scarce
daring to think how this dreadful lace
was to end. Instinctively he had ta-
ken the direction of home, feeling Of
security came over him. Suddenly
flashed across his mind the true state
of affairs-his father gone-tbe quill
ting, and worse than all, the girls!-
The next moment he felt the body Of
the cold, clsmmy monster in contact
with his bare legs, his tail creeping
around them in sort Of coZening way,
as by way of tickling John upon the
knees.
This was too much for human en-
durance. With yell, such as a man
never uttered, save in mortal terror,
poor John set forward at break-neck
speed, and once more had the pleasure
Of seeing the snake resume his hori'
zontal position, somewhat after the tale
Of a comet.
On. on they fewl John forgot the
quilting. forgot the girls, forgot every
thing but the snake.
His active exercise, (he paid particu-
lar attention to his running. together
with the excessive heat, had brought
on the nose-bleed, and as he ran, ears
erect, and shirt bosom were stained
with the flowing stream.
His first shrek had started the quill
ters, and forth they rushed, wondering
if some Indian was not prowling about.
BY this time, John was within few
rods Of the barn. still running at the
top of his speed, his head turned so
that he might keep one eye on the
snake and with the other observe what
course he must take. The friendly
barn now concealed him from the sight
of the girls. He knew the girls were
in the yard, having caught glimpse
OF them as they rushed from the house.
1 A few more bounds, and he would be
in their midst. For moment mOdesty
overcame fear, and he halted. The
snake, evidently pleased with his rapid
transportation, manifested his gratitude
by attempting TO enfOld the legs of our
hero within his embrace.
i With an explosive "ouch!" and urged
forward by circumstances over which
he had no control" poor John bounded
on. The next moment he was in full
view Of the girls, and as be turned the
corner Of the barn the snake came round
with a whiz, somewhat after the fash
ion of coach whip.
Having reached the barnyard, to his
dismay he found the bars up. But
time was too precious to be wasted in
letting down bars. Gathering all his
strength, he bounded into the air, snake
ditto; and as he alighted on the other
side his snnkeship's tail cracked across
the upper bar, swapping ike an India
cracker.
Again John set forward, now utterly
regardless of the girls, for the extra
tickle from the snakes tail as he leaped
the bars, bsnished all his bashfullness
and modesty, and again he had the
pleasure of finding the snake in a
straight line, drawing steadily at the
hem Of bis solitary garment.
The house now became the center OF
attraction, and around it he revolved
with the speed Of thought. Four times
in each revolution, as he turned the
corner, his snakeship came around with
whiz that was quite refreshing.
] While describing the third circle, as
he 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 of sight and as quick as thought
reappeared at the other side Of the
J house
"Call manl'
;. Away be whirled again, turning, the
} snake sounded halfway between low
whistle and the repeated pronunciation
Of double-to.
j Before either OF the girls had stirred
from their tracks, he had performed
another revolution.
"Call manp
Away he few once more, but his
strength was rapidly failing. Nancy
Clark was the first to recover her pres
ence of mind, and seizing a hoop-pole,
she took her station near the corner Of
the house, and as John reappeared,
brought it down upon the snake with q
force that broke his back and hold upon
Johns neither garnet at the same time.
John rushed into the house and to
his room, and at tea-time appeared in
/ his best Sunday suit. but little the