The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1868-02-29
MISCELLANEOUS.
C.iLL 4 MN:
\ Run ron LIFE.

my tine WIN b disposed TO try laugh viii
do well Io read on.
John Jackson was very industrious, hard
working yOHng man. Of twenty. three years
Being the eldest child aud the only son, he had
always remained nj home, assisting his father
upon the farm. John was very much respected
by every one In the ueighborhood, aud many q
briRhteyed girl had thought she would like TO be
Mrs. John Jackson. hut John was no " lady
man" The fact WAS. John was very bashful.-
lie would rather hoe corn all day than undergo
the ceremony Of m introduction 10 young lady.
Not that John disiked the dear creatures lar
from II. We bclive that he, In common with all
bash'ul, well-meaning men, entertained the very
highest respect aud admiration for them. And
this no doubt the principle cause Of his hash
tulnrss. lie ielt that they we're superior Beings,
aud that be- was unNoTih, 10 associate with them
upon terms OF equality But We cAnno, stop To
inOfalize.
Nancy Clark was the daughter ola very res.
perinble farmer, whosr land Joined the jackson
farm.
Nancy was n pretty, saucy little witch aud she
liked John Jackson When they were children
they attended the same school. and rs be was q
few Years her senior. was usually her champion
Ia going and returning. At last John became
- much Of Young man Is to he kept from school
~ she had been ia past years. John discovered,
too, that he had b,rt growing in stature, aud
IL .rrined as IL he had been growing out OF shape.
Huu ttEs AplSAteu aNhNaN We
did nUi know what 20 do with his hands his
face I,aned him, aud taking all in all he in
clinCd 10 think that he NHs not more Than halt
put together.
Now the truth was John Jackson was really
very hne-lookiug young man, and nothing but
his admiration Of Nancy would have theu sug-
gesiel any such foolish thoughts about himself.
~ novelisis say, IL was a beautiful day 10
( August. The heavens were clear, serene, and
beautiful, aud trees were laden with golden fruit
and the beautiful birds twittered their songs
81 love To- the branches. We were about to say
that earth had Yielded her bountful harvest
al n years grass aud clover, and honeysuckles,
which the noble yeomaary Of Chcsierviile had
gatncTed within their storchouses,' but upon
/ second thought have concluded TO write II thus
The farmers Of Chesterville were done haying."
John Jackson sister had quilting party that
Afternoon bis father had gone 10 get some wheat
ground, and John was left 10 repair some tools
10 be ready on the morrow 10 commence moving
the meadow grass. Suddenly IL occurred to John
that II he remained about the house IN the after
noon, he would be called ia a; :e.l time, aud be
: required 10 do the hOnOTs Of the table To avoid
this, he quietly shouldcrtd his scythe aud stole
away ~ the meadow, halfa tnile distant, fuliy
resolved that he would no: leave there until Il
/ was 50 dark that he could not sec 10 nov at
all, and thus avoid seeing the girls.
The meadow was surrounded on all sides by
a thick forest. which eliectually shut out what
little breeze there might chance TO be stirring
The sun poured It's rays as though the little mead
ow was the focus point where tue heat was con-
ccntrAitd. John moved and sweat-swrat aud
moved, until he was obliged 10 sit down and
cool or Then II occurred TO John that IL he took
| OF his pants be might he much more comforia-
BILE There would be NO impFoprety 10 IT, for be
/ was entirely concealed from observation, and
there was not tie slightest reason TO suppose that
he could be seen by any person.
80 john stripped of, aud with no covering
save his liuen-commonly called n shirt-he re-
sumed his wolk lie was jus, congra,ula;ing
himself on the good times he was having, when
he CHANGED to disturb a huge black snake, gen
uine iwistcr, with a white ring around his neck.
John was no coward, but be was MORALLY
afraid Of snakes. " Seii-pTcscrvalion' was the
first passage that flashed upon John mind
''legs take care Of the body" was the next
! Dropping his scythe. and spinning round ike
top, he was ready 10 strike a 80 gait, when at
that moment his snakeship was near enough 10
hook his crooked teeth IN Johns shirt justabove
the hem. With n tremendous spring, he started
OF With the speed Of Locomotives. Ills first jump
took the snake clear from the ground aud - John
stole hasiy glance over his shoulder, he was
horrided TO End the reptile secured fastened TO
the extremity OF his garment, while the speed
with which nc rushed forward kept the serpent
nj an angle Of ninety degrees with bis body.
Here was quandary. 1.-The stopped, the snake
would coil about his body aud squeeze him 10
death IL be continued the race, he must soon fall
from sheer exhaustion. On be flew, scarce dar-
ing 10 think how his dreadful race was 10 end.
lnsiinctivcly he had taken the direction Of home
aud MS he emerged from the forest feeling Of
security G. mt over him. suddenly flashed across
/ his mind the true state OF aiinirs-his father
| gone--ihe Iuiiing-and worst Of all -ihe girls.
This new horror sent the blood back curdliug
about his heart aud he came 10 dead halt
/ The next moment he felt the body VI the Geld,
| clammy monster in contact with his understand
ings ms though his snakeship only meditated lit
/ let fun by way OF tickling John upon the knees.
This was too much for human endurance.
With yell, such as n man never utieFs save
when 10 mortal terror, poor John again set for.
ward at break-n,ck speed, and once more had
the pleasure Of seeing the snake In bis position,
somewhat after the fashion OF the tail Of y comet.
On, on they flew John forgot the quilting
forgot the girls, forgot everything but the snake
Iiis first wild shrek had startled the quiltcrs,
aud forth they rushed, wondering u some mad
Indian was not providing about. by this time
John was within few rods Of the barn, still
running nj the top Of his speed, his head turned
90 that be might Keep one eye ON the snake, and
with the other obacrvc what course be must take.
| The barn now concealed him from the sight Of
the girls lie knew they were In the yard, hav-
ing caught q glimpse ofihem as they rushed FROM
the bousc. For a moment modesiy overcome
fear, and he once more halted. The snake evil
DENLY pleased with bis rapid transportation,
/ manifested bis gratitude by attempting TO infold
the legs Of our hero within his embrace.
| With an explosive ''oHeh n and urged forward
| by circumstances over which be had NO con-
| troll" poor John bouudedon. The next moment
he was In view Of the girls, aud a. be turned The
corner Of the barn, the snake came round willis
whiz, somewhat afler the fashion of eoaeh-whip.
Having reached the barnyard, 10 bis dismay,
| be found the bars up. But time was too precious
10 be wasted In letting down bars. lie gathered
all his strength bounded into the air. snake ditto
i aud as be alighted ON the other side his snake
ships tail cracked across the upper bar.
The house now became the center Of atirae-
ton, and around Il he evolved with The speed OF
thought -Four times IN each revolution, and be
turned the corner, HE snAkeship came round with
whiE that was quite refreshing.
While describing the third circle, as be came
near the group VI wonder-siruck girls, without
removing his gaSe from the snake, he managed
TO cry out
| 'cALL A NAN 7"
The next moment be had whisked out Of Sigh.
aud quick a. thought reappeared upon the other
''cALL HAEr
Aud away be whirlcd again, turning The corner
90 rapidly that the whln Of the snake sounded
about halfway between low whistle and the re'
pcated pronunciation Of doubled.
Aud before either Of the girls had stirred IRON
her tracks, he had performed another rcvolu-
tlou--
scALL nASr'
Away be dew once more, bat bis strength was
rapidly failing. Nancy Clark was The trsl 10 ~
cover her presence Of mind, and ssizing hoop
she took her station near the corner Of the housr
aud as John rcappeArsd she brought Il down ~.
on The snake with force that broke bis back
and bis hold upon Iohn's garment al the same
time.
John rushed intD The HOUSE, aud 10 bis room,
aud Al lcA-lIne appeafsd In bis btsl Sanday snli,
lookiug bot little ihe woTso for The race, and 10
Ell Appearances, entirely cured Of b.shiulness.-
That night be walked home with Nancy. Clark.
The pcxt New Years lhey were married, now,
Whenever john e inciinsd 70 laugh Il Bis wlis'i
hoope, che hes only 20 cay, ''Onil man, When
he INSTANTLY sObsFs down.