The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1873-11-27

| uH'S snuC Vut All OrepIe tnaJ mlHhJ
chance TO be stirring. The sun pour-
ed Ms rays as though the little meas
dow was the focus point where the
heat was concentrated. John mow>
cd aud swaziland sweat and NOW.
ed until he was obliged to SIT down
and cool off. Then it occurred to
John that were he TO partially dis
robe he might be more comfortable.
There would Ice no improprie,y in it,
as he WAS entirely concealed from
observation, and there was not the
slightest reason to suppose that he
could be seen by any person. So
John did as his desire Tor comfort
had dictated, and with no covering
save his ltnen-commonly called n
shirt-he resumed his work. He was
just congratula,ing himself on the
good time he was having, when he
chanccd TO disturb n huge black
snake, q genuine twister, with white
ring around its neck. John was no
coward, but was mortally afraid of
snakes. MISREPRESENTATION" was the
first passage" that flashed upon
Johns mind. "Legs, take care Of
the body" VAS the next. Dropping
his scythr, and spinning round like a
top, he was ready for 2.4O gait,
when at that moment his snakeship
was near enough to hook his crook
ed teeth in the garment above men,
toned, Just above the hem. With
tremendous spring, he started off
with the speed Of locomotive, lcav.
ing scythr, clothing and the meadow
far in the distance. His first iump
took the snake clear from the ground.
and a. John stole hg>ty glance over
his shoulder, lic was horrticd 10 find
the reptile securely tasted To the en-
trcmity Of his garment, while the
speed with which he rushed forward
kept the serpent at an angle of mines
~ degrees with his body. IIcrc was
a qnandary. Ii he stopped the snake
would coil about his body aid squeeze
him Ia death; # he continued the
race he must soon fall from sheer cx.
hans,i"n. On hc flew will, incrcas.n /.
speed his lately acquired appendagc
still flying III the breeze, and he
scarce daring to think how this
dreadful race was to end. Instincts
i've he had taken the direction OF
home, and ~ hc emerged from the
forest Il feeling Of sccuriiy came over
him, bu, still onward he rushed. -
But suddenly flashed across his mind
the true state of affairs; his father
g"nc-thc quilting-and worst of
all-Me girls! This new horror sent
the blood back, curdling about his
heart, aud he came To dead halt.
The next moment hc felt the body
OF the cold clammy monster III con-
tact with his bare legs, as though
his snakrship only medi,ated liule
fun, by way Of tickling John upon
the knee. This was too much for
human endurance. With a yell, such
~ man never uttcrs save when ~
mortal terror, poor John again set
forward ut brcakncck speed, and
once more had the pleasure of seeing
the snake in his position, somewhat
af,er the fashion of a tail of a comet.
On, on they flew! John forgot the
quilting, forgot the girls, forgot
everything hut the snake.
His first wild Shrek had startled
the quilters, and forth they rushed,
wondering if some wild Indian was
pro~ling about. BY this time John
was within a few rods of the barn,
still running at the top Of his speed,
his head turned 80 that he might
keep one eye on the snake, aud with
the other observe what course hc
must take. The barn now concealed
him from the sight Of the girls. lie
knew they were in the yard, having
caught n glimpse of them a. they
rushed from the house. For moment
modcsty overcame fear, aud once
halted. The snake, evidently pleas
ell with his rapid transportation,
manifested his gratitude by attempt,
ing to enfold the legs Of our hero
within ins embrace.
With an explosive "ouch!" and
urged forward by circumstances
over which he had no CONTROL" poor
John bounded on. The next mo,
ment brought him in full view of the
ptrls. and as he flew around the cor.