Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1867-12-24
Call a Mana Snake Story.

apology it may need for its introduc
ton into polite literature. We dt
not know It's origin
As the Noycisls say. /, was /
beaultuI day 10 august The heav-
ems we're clear, serene and beautiful
the trees werc laden with colder
trui;s, aud the beautiful birds twit-
tered heir songs OF love among The
I branches We are about to say thai
"carth bad yielded her beautiful harv.
est Of years grass and clover, and
honcysuckles. which the noble yeo,
marry Of Cnester~iIle had gathered
within their store house." but upon
a second consideration have conclud-
cd to write it thus "The farmers Of
ChesterviIic were done haying."
John JacEsons sister had q quilt
ing party that afternoon his father
had gone to get some wheat ground,
and John was lett TO repair some tools
to be ready on the morrow to com
mence moving the meadow grass
Suddenly it occurred to John that if
he remained about the house in the
afternoon he would be called in at the
time and be required to do the hons
ors at the table TO avoid this, he
quietly shoulderod his scythe and
stole away into the meadow, halle a
mile distant, fully resolved that he
would stay there until it was so dark
that he could not see to NOW at all,
and thus avoid seeing the girls. The
meadow was surrounded on all sides
by thick forest which officially
shut out what little breeze there
might chance to be stirring. The
sun poured down as the little mead
ow was the focus point where the
heat was concentrated. John NOW
ed and sweat-sweat and moved I'm
til he was obliged to sit down and
cool off. Then it occurred to John
that if he took off his pants he might
be more comfortable. There would
be no improperly in it, for he was
entirely concealed from observation,
and there was not the slightest rea.
son to suppose that he could be seen
by any person. So John stripped
off and with no coverings save his
linen-commonly called shirt-he
resumed his work. He was just con-
graduating himself on the good times
he was having, when he CHANGED to
disturb huge black snake, a genu
inc twister, with white ring around
it's neck. John was no coward, but
he was mortaIly afraid of snakes.-
"Self preservation" was the first pas
sage that flashed upon Johns mind
-"legs take care Of the body was
the noxt, Dropping his scythe and
spinning round like top, he was
ready to strike 1:40 gate when at
that momen his snakeship was near
enough to hook his crooked teeth in
to Johns shirl just above the hem.
With q tremendous spring nc started
off with the speed OF q locomotive
His first Jump took the snake clear
from the ground, and as John stole
hasty glance over his shoulder, he
was mortified to find the reptile seca-
rel, fastened to the extremity OF bis
garment. while the speed with which
ne rushed forward kept the serpent
at an angle Of about ninety degrees
with bis body. Here was quanda-
~. II be stopped, the snake would
coil about his body andsqueeze himto
death If he continued the race he
must soon fall from sheer exhaustion.
On he flew, scarce daring to think
how this dreadful race was to end
lns.inctively he had taken the direc
ton OF home, and on emerging from
the forest feeling of security came
over him. Suddenly the thought
flashed across his mind the true state
of affairs -his father gono-the quilt
ing and worst ofall-tbe girls. This
new horror sent the blood back, curd-
ling about his heart, and he came to
q dead halt. The next moment he
felt the body of the cold, clammy
monster in contact with his bare legs,
as though his snakeship only medi-
tatcd little fun, by the way OF ticks
ling John on the knees. This was
too much for human endurance
With a yell, such as man never ut
tcrs save when in mortal terror, poor
John again set forward at a breaks
neck speed, and once more had the
pleasure of seeing the snake in his po-
sition. somewhat after the fashion OF
the tail of a comet. On, on they
flew. John forgot the quilting, for
got the girls forgot everything but
the snake.
His first wild shrek had startled
the ouilters, and forth they rushed,
wondering if some mad Indian was
not proving 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
wifhthe other observe whatcourse he
must take. The barn now concealed
him from the sight of the girls. He
knew that thew were in the yard,
having caught a glimpse of them as
they rushed from the house. For a
moment modesty overcmae fear, and
he once more halted. The snake ev'
identity pleased with this rapid trans
portation, manifested its gratitude
BY attempting to entold the legs Of
our hero within It's embrace.
With an explosive "ouch = and
urged forward by circumstances
over which be had no control" poor
John bounded on The next mo-
mert he was in view Of the girls, aud
as =. turned the corner Of the barr
lie snake came round with u whiz
somewhat after tho fashion Of q coael
whip. Having reached the barr
yard, to bis dismay b. found the bar:
/ mp. But time was too precious TO b
wasted in letting down bars. IL
gathered all his strength, bounded
into the air, snake ditto, and as ht
aligbtod GA the olher side his snake
ships tail cracked across tho upper
bar
The house now became the center
OF attraction, and around il he revoIv
tbAp.-h+