The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-02-06
Call q Man.

,jOlN JACKSON WGS d Hal IL" W h4iIS 4Aoh
of twenty-three. But John was no ladies
man. The TAG. was he was bashidl. lie
would rather hoe potatoes all day than un-
derco the ceremony OF an INTRODUCTION 10
young lady.
Nancy clark was the daughter OF very
respectable farmer. whose land aaloined
the Jackson farm. Nancy was pretty.
saucy. little witch. and she liked John
Jackson. They We're childrentogethera and
attended the same school. AT las.. John
became an overgrown, awkward youth:
soueth.ng-neither q man nor boy, with
shapeless limbs and aching JOINTS.
John Jack sons sister had quitting one
afternoon. His father had gone to Keith
Mills % get some wheat ground. and lett
Jobr. 10 repair some tools. Suddenly 1t oc-
Cured % John that il he remained about
the house iha. afternoon he would be cali
ed in at tea-time, and 70 do the honors OF
the table. To avoid this, he quietly shoul-
1ereo MS scythe and stole away to the
meadow. fully resolved that he would not
leave there until il was so dark that he
coal5 not see 20 NOW, so as to avoid seeing
the girls.
The meadow was surrounded on all sides
by q thick forest, which eifectualiv shut
ort what little breeze there might be stir
ring. John moved and sweat-sweat and
moved, until he was obliged to sit down
and cool off, Then il occurred to John that
il ne took off his pants, he might be much
more comfortable. There could be no i'm
propriety IN it, for lie was entirely conceal
ed from observation. and there was not the
s,;ghtes. reason to suppose that he could be
seen by any person.
So John Stripped of, and with no cover
save his linen-commonly called shirt
he resumed his work. He was Just con-
graduating himself upon the good time he
had made from meeting the girls, when he
chanced TO disturb huge black snake, a
genuine ,wister, with white ring around
IFS neck.
John was 10 coward. but he was mortal
" afraid Of a snake. Dropping MS scvthe
and spinning around like a top, he was
ready 10 str; Ike forty gait, when at that
moment ,ne snake was near enough 10 hook
his crooked teeth into Johns shirt above
the hem. With tremendous spring he
started OF. with the speed OF locomotive,
His first lump took the snake clear from
the ground and as ne stole a haStv glance
over tis shoulder. he was Mortified to see
the reptile securely fastened to the end OF
his garment. while the rapidity with which
he rushed forward, kept the serpent exten-
lied al ar angle u ninety degrees with his
body.
IF he stopped. the snake would col, abou,
his body, and squeeze him to DEATH II he
continued the race, he must fall from sheer
exhaustion. ON he flew, scarcely daring tt
think how this dreadful race was to END
Irstinctively he had taken the direction o
home. a feeling Of security came over him
Suddenly flashed across his mind the true
state OF atsails-his father gone-the quilt
ing, and worse than all. the girls! Tht
mex. lEomen. ne ;elt the cold. clamnv mon
stec in contact with his bare legs, his tai
creeping around them in a sort OF cozenint
way, as fy the way Of tickling John upoI
The knees.
With ye,l. such rs man never uttered
save in mortal terror, poor John set for
ward at break meek speed, aud once mor'
had the pleasure OF seeing the snaks resum
his horizontal position somewhat after tn
tale Of a comet.
On they few! John forgot the quilting
forgot the girls, forgot everything but tn
snake.
His active exercise, had brought on tn
nose-bleed, and as he ran, ears erect, an,
head trown back, his chin, throat and shir
bosom were stained with the tiowin
stream.
His first shrek had started the quilters
and forth they rushed, wondering if som
Indian was not prowling about. By thi
time. John was within a few rods of th
barn, still running at the top of his speed
his head turned so that he might kee
one eye on the snake anu win the ot1t
observe what course he must take. III
friendly barn now concealed him from th
sight OF the girls. He knew the girls WEI
in the yard, having caught glimpse
them as they rushed from the house.
few more bounds. and he. would be
their midst. For a moment .modesty owe
came fear, and he halted. The snake, ev
der.ly pleased with his rapid dtransportatlc
manifested his gratitude by attempting
enfold the legs Of our hero within his en-
brace.
With an'axp,osive ouch" and urge
forward by circumstances over wnlcn
had no control poor John bounded Oh.
The next moment he was in full view
tie girls, and as he turned the corner
the barn the snake came round with a whl
somewhat after tho fashion Of coat
whip.
Having reached the barnyard, to his di
may, he found the bars up. But time w