Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1878-10-09


and his socks, resumed moving, iIc
had moved twice across the piece
and was picking out the tall grass
around an old log pile, when tight be-
side him he saw pair OF blue racers,
John was no coward, but no wa,
mortally afraid Of snakes Ifhe had
been warm before, he was u lump oi
loo now, With dash ofhis scythe
he cut of the head Of ono Of them,
and the other one raised his head aud
dartcd toward him, John dropped
his scythe, turned and jumped just N
the hooked teeth OF the snake caught
above the wide, firm hem Of ,he rear
end OF his gingham shirt.
He cast one look behind lin and
saw his dreaded enemy--strcaming
ont like pcunant from n steamship
and, thinking only OF the terrible fate
that awaited him II he stopped, bound.
cd toward the house with the speed Of
an express train
On, on he ran through the north
meadow and orchard, and, as he near
cd tho house, the thought Of the party
flashed on his mind. But there was
no other way, and 10 on he ran.
lie dashed down past tho west end
of tie house, and rs he rounded the
corner the whole party OF girls met
his view.
Wall n man he yelled, and then
turned the corner. So great was his
momentum that the snake swung
around aud struck him on his bare
legs like the sharp sting of a ra~hlde
whip,
The girls screamed and jumped, and
tho quilt went over on the ground
The vision sped around the corner,
and once more came the cry
"Call q man !"
No quicker did he disappear around
the corner of the house than he would
appea, at the other corner. Every
time he turned the corner he would
receive u terrible blow from the cold,
Shiny snake, which would raise him
from the ground at least four feet. and
at every blow he would yell:
"Call a man !"
Tho frightened girls rushed Tor the
house, and they had hardly got inside
the door ny John flew past it with the
shout:
Gall a man y
Down across the road he went,
Ieaping the gate at bound, and as he
cantcred through the flock OF hens,
them in all directions, the
shout rose loud and clear:
"Call a man !"
Around the barn, back again toward
the house, went the strange pair, and
as the gate was again leaped, came the
cry this time of:
"For Gods sake, call Il mar !"
As he again disappeared around the
house, Mable Clark ran out Of the
loor, and, seiziug a stick some four
feet in length, stationed herself at the
with the cudgel elevated above
ner head. On came John, passing
ike an engine, and as he came around
The corner, down went the club, barely
grazing Johns head, but striking the
'acer blow that broke its hold and
pack at the same time.
John concluded it best, not to wait,
,ut gathering his remaining strength
Tor final dash, bounded into the
house, up stairs, and into his room.
An hour later Gertrude tapped at
lis door. "Johu, will you come down
. tea or shall l call a man p
81 will come, Gertrude" was his
in firm tone.
And he did. He made careful
oilet, and there was not feature of
lis face that betrayed embarrassment.
Mabel had extracted a promise from
he girls not to speak Of the episode,
" betray any knowledge of it what
,ver.
Mabel had Johns company homo
hat night and in the glorious Octo-
yer weather there was wedding at
Judge Clark's. 1t was not until then
hat the story came out but John
,ften says to Mabel, 81 am thankful
o Providence that you did not call
man! y
Years ago, when old Elijah was a
ramp, even the birds took pity on him
80, L ..o.,o b;r> =, ,.oo1 on,,o,o ,,,nol |