The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1863-11-04
An Amusing Skrtth.
GALL A MAN.

OF twCntN-thrcc. Bong the eldest Guild
and only son, he had always remained at
home assisting his father upon the farm.
John was much respected by every one in
the ncighhorhood, and many u brightcycd
girl had secretly thought she would like to
be Mrs Jackson. Bat John was no ladies
man" The fact was, he was baSiiul. He
would rather hoe potatoes all day than uu.
dcrgu the ceremony OF All Introduction to u
young lady. Not that John dislkcd the
dear creatures; far from it. We believe
that he in common with all bashiul and
well-mcaniug men, entertained the very
highest respect and admiration for them.
And this no doubt was the principal cause
of his bashtuncss. He felt that they We're
superior beings. and that he was unworthy
to associate with them upon terms OF equal
itv. But we cannot stop to morali2e.
Nancy Clark was the daughter of very
respectable farmer, whose land ad iuincd the
Jackson farm. Nancy was pretty, sauCy
little witch. and she liked john jackson.
When they were children they attended the
same school aud as he was II few years her
senior, he was usually her champion III the
childish disputes that arose, and her COM
panion in coming and going. At last, John
became SO much of u young man as to I've
kept from school, as she had been in past
years. John discovered, too, he was grow
ing ont of shape His feet and legs ap-
peared very awkward he did not know
what to do with his hands his face panied
him, and taking all in all, he was inclined
to think he was not more than half put
together.
As novclists say, ii was a lovely day in
August. The sun was clear, serene and
beautiful; the trees were loaded with gold
en- fruit, and the beautiful birds twittcrcd
their songs of love in the branches.
Earth--(thcrc. we've slid down to earth
once more; such lofty flights they make
that earth yielded u bouutilul harvest of
grass and clover, and honcySucklcs, which
this noble ycomanry of Chcstcrvillc had
garncrcd within their sturchouscs but
upon Il second thought have concluded to
word it thus: "Thc farmers of Chcstcrvillc
have done harvesting
John Jackson's sister had n quilting that
afternoon. Ills father had gone To " Keith 5
Mills" to get some wheat ground and lett
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 afternoon, he would he called i'll at tea
time, and required to do the honors OF the
table. TO avoid this, he quietly shouldcred
his scythc. and stole away to the meadow,
half mile distant. fully resolved 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 y thick forest, which ctlcctually Slut ont
what little breeze there might chance to bC
stirring. The sun poured its rays as thongl
b. ~. ,tta
where the heat was concentrated. John
moved and swcat-swcat and moved, until
he was obliged TO sit down and cool off
Then it occurred to John that if he took OH
his pants he might be much more comtorta-
bic. There could he no improprcty III it,
, for hc was entirely concealed from ohSCr'
vation, and there was not the slightest rca
SOD to suppose that he could be seen by
t any person.
SO John stripped off, and with no cover
save his liuen-commonly called Il shirt
he resumed his work. lie was Just con.
graduating himself upon the good time he
had made by avoiding the girls, when he
Glanced to disturb huge black snake, u
genuine twister, with white ring around
it's neck.
John was no coward hut he was mortally
afraid of n snake Scf-prcserN alton u
was the first passage that flashed across
his mind, and legs take care of the body
was the next Dropping his scythe and
spinning around like top, he was ready tc
strike twotorty gait, when at that mo
ment the snake was near enough to hook
his crooked teeth into Johns shirt, just
above the hem. With tremendous spring
he started off with the speed of ocomo
tive. His first jump took the snake clcal
from the ground, and rs he stole hasty
glance over his shoulder, he was horriicd
to see the reptile securely fastened TO the
end Of his garment, while the rapidity Will
which he rushed forward kept the serpent
extended at an angle Of ninety degrees witt
. his body.
Here was quandary. If he stopped
the snake would coil about his body and
= squeeze him to death; if he continued tho
race, he must fall from sheer exhaustion
1 On he flew, scarce daring to think how this
A dreadful race was TO end. lnstinctvcly he
t had taken the direction Of home II feeling
, of security came over him. Suddenly
D flashed across his mind the true state o
, affairs father gone the quilting, and
: worse than all, the girls The next mo
ment he felt the cold, clammy monster il
; contact with its bare legs, his tail creeping
4 around them in a sort of cOZening way, aS
t by way of tickling John upon the knees.
5 This was too much for human endurance
, With a yell, such as man never uttered
J save in mortal terror, poor John set forwarC
1 at brcak-ueck speed, and once more had the
S pleasure Of seeing the snake resume hi
5 horizontal position, somewhat like the tale
c of a comet
b On, on they flew! John forgot the quilt
a ing, forgot the girls, forgot everything bu
, the snake
= His active eYcrcise-hc paid particular
), attention to his runnimg-together with th'
P excessive heat, had brought on the nose
bleed, and as he ran, cars erect and hcaD
thrown back, his chin, throat and shirt
j bosom were stained with the flowing
e stream.
y His brst shrek had started the quiltors
l. and forth they rushed, wondering il som,
5 Indian was not prowliuS about, BY thi
l time JuhE was within few rods of th,
barn, still running at the top Of his speed
his head turned so that he might keep on
eye on the snake, and with the other oh
d serve what course he must take. Tn
friendly barn now concealed him from th
: sight Of the girls. lie knew the girls wer
" in the yard, having caught a glimpse o
them aH they rushed from the house,
few more bounds, aud he would bo i'll thei
Il midst. For moment modcsty ovcrcam
Il fear, and he halted. The snake. evidentl
pleased with h $ rapid transportation, man
e ifestod his gratitude by attempting TO en-
fold the legs Of our hero within his em