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

John Jackson was a hard-working
man Of twenty-three. Being the eld-
est child and only son, he had always
remained at home, assisting bis father
upon the farm. John was much re-
spected by every one in the neighbor-
hood, and many a bright eyed girl had
secretly thought that she would like to
be Mrs. Jackson. But John was no
'sladies' man." the fact was, he was
basbful. He would rather hoe Potatoes
all day than undergo the ceremony Of
introduction to a young lady. Not
that John disliked the dear creatures;
far from it. We believe that he, in
common with all basbful and well mean
ing men, entertained the very highest
respect and admiration for them. And
this no doubt, was the principal cause
Of his bashfulness. He felt that they
were superior beings. and that he was
unworthy to associate with them upon
terms Of equality. But we cannot stop
to moralize.
Nancy Clark was the daughter Of a
very respectable farmer, whose land
adjoined the Jackson farm. Nancy
was a pretty, saucy little witch, and
she liked John Jackson. When they
were children they attended the same
school, and as he was a few years her
senior, he was usually her champion in
the childish disputes that arose, and
her companion in coming and going
At last, John became so much OF a
young man as to be kept from school,
as she had been in past years. John
discovered, too, be was growing out Of
shape. His feet and legs appeared
very awkward; he Gid not know what
to do with bis hands. his face panied
him; and taking all in all. he was in
clined to think he was not more than
half put together.
As novelists say, it was lovely day
in August. The sun was clear. serene,
and beautiful, the trees were loaded
with golden fruit, and the beautiful
birds twittered their songs of love in
the branches. Earth-(there, we've
slid down to earth once more, such
lofty flights, they make our head. J
We were prepared to say that "sarth
had yielded bountiful harvest of grass
and clover and heneysuckles, which
the noble yeomanry of Chesterville had
garnered within their storehouses"-
but upon a second thought have con-
cluded to word it thus: "The farmers
of Cbesterville had done harvesting"
John Jackson's sister had a quilting
that afternoon. His father had gone
to "Keith's Mills" to get some wheat
ground, and left John to repair some
tools, to be ready on the morrow, to
commence moving the meadow grass.
Suddenly it occurred to John that if he
remained about the house that after
noon, he would be called in at tea-time
and required to do the bonors of the
table. To avoid this. he quietly shoul-
dered his scythe and stole away to the
meadow, half a mile defiant, fully re-
solved that he would not leave there
until it was so dark that he could not
see TO NOW, SO as to avoid seeing the
girls.
The meadow was surrounded on all
sides by thick forest, which effectually
shut out what little breeze there might
chance to be stirring. The sun poured
its rays as though the little meadow
was the focus point where the heat was
concentrated. John moved and sweat
sweat and moved, until he was obliged
to set down and ceel of. Then it oc-
Cured to John thatif be took of his
pants there could be no improperly in it
for be was entirely concealed from obser-
walton, and there was not the slightest
reason to suppose that he could be seen
by any person.
So John stripped of, and with no
cover save his linen-commonly called
a ashirt-he resumed his work. He was
Just congratulating himself upon the
good time he had made from meeting
the girls when he chsnced to disturb q
huge black snake, q genuine twister,
with white ring around his neck.