Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1890-08-01
AN ESCAPED BOA,

r
Gus were spread out upon the two sides
oil her husbands blacksmith shop, their
wonderful attractions proved overwhelm-
ing
Not only did the school-cbildreu
hnger to pore over them at the expense of
their studies, but the older people of the
village made the spot where the highly
colored announcement was disp.ayed n
gathering place. At last Mrs. Peak her
self felt obliged to look into the matter
The result was that, rs the time for the
show drew near, she broached the sub
iect to her husband.
~ Zek1, she insinuatingly remarked.
-'hears to me most all the animals in
creation air yoin' tt he there | must say
wouldn't mind SEEM on en- fer once in
my life myself"
'Deac'n Pusley's goin' to take his
gran'chil'ren, Mr.. Peak briefly replied
''Iah, now! you don't say so? Well.
t any rate, body don't hat to look on
ter the Objectionable doin's. What do
you think, 'Zekl, bout us coin'?n
amt dom much thinkin," he
warily answered, "but if you've got it
into your cran'um to go, it's more'n
Hheiy we re Soiil :.
"Well, if the rest 90, l don't see
what's to hinder us. l can borrcr Polly
Meekum's chil'ren, if chi'rens what's
necessary. l know they'd like to see 'em,
too, an heerl Elder Phinney say Jest
Yesterday such Il election was reelly an
cddication. 1 know myself I'd never "a
knowed them iumpin' creeturs keeried
their young-uns round with 'em in their
pockets ii | hadn't seen it with my own
eyes when WAS = gal. I'm gittin old,
an I'd REILLY like TO sec one of them
'striciers-boas-things they say wrop
folks up in their tails an squash ZEN to
death fore they swaller EN-"
Cant say my taste runs that wav."
observed Mr.. Peak ''pd ruther see that
four-hea,ied calf than Il hull passed. O
snakes. That's somethin' GURUS"
They went to the circus, or rather to
the menagerie, for Mrs. Peak con
scientiousy refraincd from patronizing
the other portion of the exhibition, and
insisted rigidly upon spending her whole
rNnc about the cages and enclosures
where the animals were kept, though her
husband was allowed to visit the side
show which held the four-headed calf
Mrs. Peak had her great desire graft
fied-shc saw the "stricters"
But she did not foresce what was TO
follow, or probably she would not have
gazed so long upon their huge folds.
The keeper thew into the cage live
rabbit, and she saw the poor creature
crushed and swallowed.
The horrid sight was more than she
had bargaincd for. Her heart was
touched, and her conscience rs well. and
she immediately refused to let Pollys
children remain longer; so Mr.. Peak was
sought for, and they SGT out for home
long before their neighbors had left the
fascinating precinct.
81 didn't kccr for the rest, nohow, s
long s I'd seen thet calf" Mr.. Peak an-
nounced, ms he cheerfully joined his wife,
IAN / hev my s'pcions of thet-thc
thing didn't look one mite nat'ral."
I'D "a liked it Ill 'cept tibet last. I
cant git it outen my head. It's spilled
ii all, she answered, is they rode home
ward
1t certainly had spoiled it, for her state
of mind grew amazingly, and that night
she had visions innumerable, much to
MIR. Peaks discomfort. The next mora
ing she arose burtiened with remorse,
though her husband eudeavored to alIay
it with a bit of philosophy.
81 don't see nary use Of your takn'
tibet critters doin's on yourself, IS long S
you amt done nothin'"
''Bnt / hcv! hadn't orter stirred one
solitary step to tibet circus if the hull
church d went, she groaned
N9That afternoon she was convinced of
it when her husband brought in hand
bill which had been left in his shop, and
which contained the following announce
ment:
AN ESCAPED BOA.
Through the carelesness of one of the keen
ers, snake of the boa species has escaped.
GNliberal reward will be paid to any one no
tlfying the management of its whereabouts
E 81 might "a known it," calculated
Mrs. Peak. "There won't be n duck ner
goose ner nothin' safe till it's found.
I'm goin' right now an see to tibet old
blue hen thet's jest come off. These furs
need arin' awhile longer, anyhow"
She dropped the tobacco stems she was
sorting out to pack the furs away in 'I
wouldn't be one speck s'prised if we
had visitation from it this very night"
''Tain't likely it'll travel mile lest
to see u.s." dryly returned her husband.
you can't tell what tibet thing IL do
Anything thet'l gulp down hull live
rabbit at one swaller'll do most anything.
'xpect somethin. to happen fer goln' to
tibet circus, an sha'n't rest till tibet
critters shct up ag.in."
"Now, Nancy, don't git sot on tibet,
fer you won't be easy till Their does, y he
said, as he went back to the forge, and
resumed a discussion with the shoemaker
upon the function of the camcls hump.
"Zek'l, did you put up the caf2"
Mrs. Peak shook her snoring husband
that night to ask the question. There
was no answer. anyway them chick
ems air safc," she remarked to herself,
abandoning the attempt to waken him.
"Zck'l Peak, I say, wake up!"
1t was full hour later when his
energetic wife cried thus again in his
ears, cutting off snore abruptly, and
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