Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1879-06-26


long time secretly admired Mabel,
and although he had never betrayed
it, his sister had guessed his secret
and resolved to bring about Il match
between the two, but just how to do
it SIZE did not know.
1t happened in July, the anecdote
am now III shape to relate. Ger
tude had invited u number Of girls !
to quilting party, Mabel among |
the rest. She told John THAT they
were coming, and added;
"Now, John, for my sake, do
come in to tea this afternoon. You
know all the girls that will be here,
and"-
"But Gertrude, that patch Of TIM
othy by the north wood must be cut
and as jim has gone home to stay
over Sunday, l shall have to cut it,"
And so, much 10 Gertrude7S cha
grin, he took his scythe over his
shoulder after dinner, ana started
for the patch Of timothy. But he
fingered around the orchard until he
saw the plump figure Of Mabel Clark
coming, aud then heaving sigh he
started for his work.
The patch of timothy referred TO
was a newly cleared piece of land,
nearly surrounded by woods, and so
full of stumps and long piles that it
was impossible to use the machine.
Here we will leave John moving
and return to the party.
1t was very warm dag, so the
girls had moved the chairs out
doors in the shade Of some large
naples, and there they sat chatting,
Joking and laughing as only q party
of light-hearted giIlS can.
Meanwhile John had moved seYe-
raj times across the patch, and it
began to be terrible hot, The sun
poured its rays down with great in
tensity, and the thick wood on all
sides kept off any breeze that might
be stirring. John was more than
hottie was fairly boiling and as
thirsty as an old topper. So John,
thinking that no one could possibly
see him, sat down on log and took
off his shoes and pantaloons, and
then, with his long gingham shirt
and wide-rimmed straw hat and his
seeks, resumed moving. lie had
moved twice across the piece, and
was picking out the tall grass around
an old log pile, when right beside
him he SAW pair of blue racers.
John was no coward, but he was
mortally afraid Of snakes. If he had
been warm before, he was a lump Of
ice now. With a dash of his scythe
he cut of the mead of one Of them,
and the other one raised his head
and dlrtcd toward him. John drop
ped his sycthe, turned and jumped
just as the hooked teeth of the snake
caught above the wide, firm hem Of
the rear end of his giugham shirt.
lie cast one look behind him and
saw his dreaded enemy-streaming
out like the pennant from steam
ship-and thinking only of the ter.
rible fate that awaited him if he
stopped, bounded toward the house
with the speed Of an express train.
On, on he ran through the north
meadow and orchard, and rs he
neared the house the thought of the
party flashed on his mind. Bat there
was no other way, and so on be ran.
He dashed dowl past the west end
of the house, and as he rounded the
corner the whole party Of girls met
his view.
"Call a man - he yelled, and then
turned the corner. So great was his
momentum that the snake swung
around and Iuck him On his bare
legs like the sharp sting Of a rawhide
whip.
The girls screamed and jumped.
and the quilt went over on the
ground. The vision sped around
the corner, and once more came the
cry:
"Call a man."
No quicker did he disappear
around the corner of the house than
he would appear at the other corner.
Every time he turned the corner he
would receive 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 -
The frightened girls rushed for
the house and hal hardly got inside
the door as John flew past it with |
the shout
"Call q man -
Down across the road he went,
leaping the gate at bound, and as
he cantered through the flock of hens
scattering them in all directions, the
shout rose loud and clear
"Call a man -
Around the barn, back again to
the house, went the strange pair,
and as the gate was again leaped,
came the cry, this time Of
''For Gods sake, call man ~
AS he again disappeared around
the house Mable Clark ran oUt Of
the door, and seizing a stick some
four feet in length, stationed herself
at the corner, with the cudgel elevat-