The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1870-12-09
A LAUGHABLE SNAKE STORY.
Gall a MAN.

years. Being the eldest Child, and the
only son, he had always remained at
home, assisting his father upon the
farm. John was much respected by
every one in the neighborhood, and
many bIight-eyed girl had secretly
thoguht 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-
ther hoe potatoes all day than undergo
the ceremony of an introduction to a
i young lady. Not that John disIiked
the dear creatures-far from it. We
believe that he, in common with all
bashful, well meaning men, entertain
ed the very highest respect and admi-
ration for them. And this, no doubt,
was the principal cause of his bashfll-
ness. 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
alize.
! Nancy Clark was the daughter Of a
respectable farmer, whose lands ad-
Joined the Jackson farm. Nancy was
a pretty, saucy little girl, and she liked
John Jackson. When they were chill.
| dren they attended the same school,
and as he was q few years her senior
was usually her champion in the child
ish disputes that arose, and her COM
paniOn in going and returning. At last
John became SO much Of a young man
as to be kept from school, as she had
been in past years. John discovered
/ that he had been growing in stature,
and it seemed as if he had been grow
! ing out of shape. His feet and legs ap-
! peared very awkward he didn't know
what do with his hands; his face pained
/ HIM, and, taken all in ali, he was iu>
clined to think he was not more than
! half put together.
! Now the truth was, John jackson
| was really fine~lOOking young man,
and nothing but his admiration of Nam
| cy could have suggested any such fool
! iSh thoughts about himself
AS the nOvelists say, it was lovely
day in August, the heavens were clear,
serene and beautiful; the trees were
laden with golden fruit, and the beau
tiful birds twittered tEeir songs Of love
i'll the branches. Earth there we've
slid down to earth once more such
lofty flights, they make our head diz-
Zy.J We were about to say that 'earth
had yielded her bOuntiful harvest of a
years grass, and clover, and honey
SuckleS, which the noble yeOmanry of
Chesterville had garnered within their
store houses" but upon second thought
concluded tO word il thus: "The farm
ers Of Chesterville were done haying."
John Jackson's sister had q quilting
that afternoon. His father had gone
TO keith's Mill to get some wheat
ground, and John was left 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 in
the afternoon, he would be called in at
tl,n kao 4. l.
hOnOrs OF the table. To avoid this he
quietly shOuIdered his scythe and stole
away to the meadow, half a mile dis
taut, fully resolved that he would not
leave there until it was so dark that he
could not see to NOW, and thus avoid
seeing the girls.
Tne meadow was surrounded on all
sides by thick forest. which effectu-
ally shut out what little breeze there
might be stirring. The sun poured its
rays though the little meadow was the
focus point where the heat was con-
centrated. John moved and sweat
sweat and moved until he was Obliged
to sit down and cool OF. Then it Oc-
CURED to John that if he took off his
pants he might be more comfortable.
There could be no imprOpriety in it, for
he was entirely screened from Observa-
ton, and there was not the slightest
reason to suppose that he could be seen
by any person.
So John stripped of, and with no COW
er save his linen-cOmmonly called
shirt-he resumed his work. He was
just congratulating himself upon the
good time he had haying, and the lucky
escape he had made from meeting toe
girls, when he chanced to disturb a
huge black snake, a genuine tWister,
with white ring around his neck.
John was no coward, but he was
mOrtally afraid of a snake. Self
preservation" was the first passage"
that flashed upon Johns mind, and
legs take care of the body" was the
next. Dropping his scythe, and spin
ming round like top, he was ready to
strike 2:40 gait, when at that mo-
ment the snake was near enough to
hook his crooked teeth into Johns
shirt, just above the hem. With a tre-
mendOus spring, lie started off with the
speed of a locomotive. His first jump
took the snake clear from the ground,
and as John stole a hasty glance over
lis shoulders, he was Mortified to find
the reptile securely fastened to the eX-
tremity of his garment; while the speed
with which he rushed forward kept the
serpent extended at an angle Of ninety
degrees with his body.
Here was a quandary. If he stopped
the snake would coil about his body
and squeeze him to death if he con-
tinued the race he'd soon fall from sheer
exhaustion. On he flew, scarcely dar-
ing to think how his dreadful race
would end. Instinctively he had ta-
ken the direction of home, when a
feeling of security came over him.
Suddenly flashed across his mind the
true state of the aftairs-his father
gOne-the quilting, and worst of all,
the girls This new horror sent the
blood back curdling about his neck, and
he came to a dead halt. The next mo-
ment he felt the body of the cold, clam
, my monster in contact with his bare
I legs, his tail creeping around them in
sort of an OOZing way, as though his
snakeship only meditated little fun,
by way of tickling John upon the
knees.
This wss too much for human endu-
rance. With a yell, such as a man
never utters save when in mortal ter
ror, poor John again set fOrW ard at
break-neck pace, and once more had
| the pleasure Of seeing the snake resume
! his horizontal position, somewhat after
| the fashion of comet.
On he flew! John forgot the quilt
| ing, forgot the girls, forgot everything
| but the snake.
His active exercise (he paid particu-
lar attention to his running,) together
with the excessive heat, had brought
on the nose bleed, and as he ran, ears
erect and head thrown back, his chin,
| throat and shirt bosom were stained
with the flowing stream.
His first wild Shrek had startled the
uuilters, and forth they rushed, Won
| dering if some mad Indian was prowI-
1 ing about. BY this time John was
within fe = rods of the barn, still rum
ming at the top of his speed, his head
turned SO that lie could keep one eye on
the snake, aud with the other observe
what course he must take. The friend
Iy barn concealed him from the sight