Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1870-12-17
L%ArGHlBtE SSIEE STORY

lard-working man, If twenty-three
ears. Being the eldest Child, and the
,uly son, he had always remained at
lome, assisting his father upon the
arm. John was much respected by
very one in the neighborhOOd, and
many q hIight-eyed girl had secretly
.hoguht she would like to change her
name to Mrs. John Jackson. But John
was no ladies man. The fact was,
John was very bashful. He would ra-
lher hoe potatoes all day than undergo
the ceremony of an introduction to a
Young lady. Notsthat John disliked
the dear creatures-far from it. We
believe that he. in common with all
bashful, well meaning men, entertain
Ell the very highest respect and admit
ration for them. And this, no doubt,
was the principal cause of his bashiul-
uess. 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 NOR
aliIe.
Nancy Clark was the daughter oi a
respectable farmer, whose lands al"
Joined the Jackson farm. Nancy was
a pretty, saucy little girl, and she iIkci
John Jackson. When they W&e cnli-
dren they attended the same school,
and as he was a few years her senior
was usually her champion in the child
ish disputes that arose, and her COM
panion in going and returning. Al last
John became so much of a young man
as 10 he kent from school, rs she had
been in past wears. John discovered
that he had been growing in stature,
and il seemed as il he had been grow
ING out of shape. His feet and legs ap-
reared very awkward lie didn't know
what do with his hands; his face panied
HIM, and, taken all in all, he was ~
clined to think he was not more tlStu
half put together.
Now the truth was, john Jackson
was really 4 fi~neslooking young man,
and nothing but his admiration oi Nan-
cv could have suggested any suelr TOOL
ish thoughts about himself.
As the novellsts say, 1t was & fOfeiy
day in August, the heavens were clear
serene md beautiful; the trees We're
alden with golden full, and the beau
iful 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 dil-
wi We were about to say that earth
had Welded he b0untiful harvest OF a
vear's grass, and clover, and honey
,uckles, which the noble yeomanry OF
baskerville had garnered within their
store-hOuses,N but ~uponsecond Thought
concluded to word it thus "The farm
crs of ChestervilIe were done haying."
John Jackson's sister had q quilting
HAT afternoon. His father had gone
TO keith,s Mill to get some wheat
ground, and John was left TO repair
some tools u be ready ON thc morrow
10 commence moving the meadow
grass. Suddenly it occurred to John
that if he remained about the house ia
The afternoon, he would be called in at
the tea time and required TO do the
hopors uf the table. 10 avoid this he
quietly .houldered his scythe and stole
AWAY to the meadow, half mile dis
taut, fully resolved that he would not
leave there Until il was 50 dark that he
could not see 10 NOW, aud thus avoid
seeing the girl. =,
Inc meadow was surrounded on Ill
-ides by a thick forest, which ettectIl'
ally shut out what little breeze ther,
might be stirring. The sun poured II
rays though the little meadow was TIN
focus noint where the heat was con
ceutrated. John moved aud sweat
sweat and moved until he was obligel
10 sit down and cool off Then it oc
cured to John that If he took OIL hi
PANTS he might be more comfortable
There could be nOimpropriety in it, 70
he was entirely screened from observa
lion, and there was not the slighteS
reason 10 suppose that he could be see
by any person.
so John stripped of, andwith no coy
cr save his linen-commonly called
shirt--he resumed his work. He Wa
lust congratulating himself upon Il
GOOD time lie had haying, and the luck
escape he had made from meeting Ii
girls, when he CHANGED 10 disturb
huge black snake, q genuine tWiste
With n white ring around his neck.
John was no coward, but he ",
mortally afraid ola snake. "Sel
reservation" was the first 'passagt
hat flashed upon Johns mind, 81
LEGS take care Of the body was Il
next. Dropping his scythe, and spi
ming round like a top, he was ready
strike a $40 gait, when at that M
ment the snake was near enough
hook bis crooked teeth into JOIN
shirt, just above the hem. With Il
mendous spring, he started off with
speed of a locomotive. His first jun
took the snake clear from the grouI
and us John stole q lIasty glance oy
Ms shoulders, lie was Mortified to ii
the reptile securely fastened TO the c
uremity ofhis garment; While the spe
with which he rushed forward kept |
serpent extended at an angle of nint
degrees with his body.
Here was q quandary. Ii lie stopl
The snake would coil about his DO
and squeeze him to death If he G.
tinued the race he'd soon fall fromsh
exhaustion. On he flew, scarcely d
ing TO think how his dreadful n
woulden 1nstinctively he had
ken the direction Of home, when
feeling Of security came over hi
suddenly flashed across his mind
true state Of the affairs-his fat
gone-the quilting, and worst Of
fhe girls! This new horror sent
blood back cuTdling about his neck, ;
he came to dead halt. The next
ment he felt the body of the cold, Ga
my monster in contact With his bs
Fegs, his tail creeping around them
a sort of an Ouziilg way, Is though
snakeship only meditateda little
by way Of tickling John upon
knees.
This was too much for human en-
rance. With y yell, such ns 4 y
never uttera save when In mortal
ror, poor John again SET forN arr
breaksneck pace, and once more
The pleasure f seeing the snakgresl
his horizontal position, somewhat q
the fashion Of a.comet,
On he few! John forgot Tie q