Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1871-02-17

John Jackson was very industrious. hard.
working man, Of twenty threo years. Being
the eldest child, and the only son, he had al.
ways remained at home, assisting his father
upon the farm. john was much respected by
every one in the noighborhood, and many
bright.eycd girl had secretly thought 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 rather hoe potatoes all day than under
60 the ceremony Of an introduction to
young lady. No. that he disiked the dear
creaturcs-far from it, We believe that he,
in common with all bashful, well meaning
men, entertained the very highest admiration
and respect for them. And this, no doubt,
was tho principle cause of his bashfulncss.
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 moralize.
Nancy Clark was the daughter of respcc-
table farmer, whose lands joined the jackson
farm. Nancy was pretty, saucy little wcnch,
and she liked John Jackson. When they
were children, they attended tho same school,
and as he was few years her senior, was
usually her champion in the childish disputes
that arose, and her companion in going and
returning At last JOHN became so mach of
a young man as to be kept from school, as she
had boon in past years. John discovered,
too, that he had been growing in stature, and
it seemed as if ho had been growing out of
shape. His feet and legs appeared very
awkward he did not know what to do with
his hands; his face panied him, and, taken
all in all, he was inclined to think that he
was not more than half put together.
Now, the truth was, John Jackson was re-.
ally ino looking young man, and nought
but his admiration of Nancy could have sug-
gestcd any such foolish thoughts about him
self.
AS the novclsts say, it was lovely day in
August Tho heavens were clear, serene
and beautifu-thc trees were laden with gol
den fruit, and the beautiful birds twittercd
their songs of love in the branches. Earth
--(thcrc, we've slid down to the earth once
more such lofty heights, they make our
head dizzy.) We were about to say that
'earth had yielded nor bountiful harvest of
years grass, and clover, and honey suckles,
which the noble yeomanry of Chcstcrville had
garncred within their store houses but up.
on second thought concluded to word it thus:
'The farmers Of Chcstervillc were done hay
ing.
John Jackson's sister had quilting that
afternoon His father had gone to Kcith's
Mlll, to get some wheat ground, and John
was left to repair some tools, to be ready on
the morrow TO commence moving tho mead
ow grass Suddenly it occurred to him that
if he remained about the house in the after.
noon, ho would be called in ut tea time and
required to do the honors of the table 10
avoid this, he quietly shouldcred his scythe
and stole away to the meadow, half mile
distant, fully resolved that he would not leave
there until it was SO dark he could not sec
to NOW, and thus avoid seeing the girls.
The meadow was surrounded on all sides
by thick forest, which effcctually shut out
what little breeze there might be stirring
The sun poured his rays as though tho little
meadow was the focus point where tho heat
vas concentrated. John moved and sweat
sweat and moved, until ho was obliged to
sit down and cool off. Thon it occurred to
him that if ho took off his pants ho might be
more comfortable. There could no ilnpropri-
city in it, as ho was entirely concealed from
observation, aud there was not the slightest
reason to suppose that he could be seen by
any person
! So he stripped of, and with no cover save
4lis linen commonly called shirt-he re-.
;umed his work. lie was just cong:atula.
Wing himself upon the good timo he had hay.
ing, and the lucky escape he had made from
meeting tho girls, whom he chanccd to dis.
3tnrb hugo black snake, genuine twister,
sSith white ring around his nook.
John was no coward, but he was mortally
afraid Of a snake. 'Solf preservation was
the first passage that flashed upon his mind
and legs take care Of the body was tho next.
dropping his soythe and spinning around like
u top, he was ready to strike Il $40 gait,
when at that moment tho snake was near
,pnough to hook his crooked tccth into Johns
ashirt, just above the hem. With tremen.
ous spring, he started off with the speed of