Year: 1868

fiction, which will furnish any apology it
may need for It's introduction into polite
literature We do not know its origin:


AS noyelists say, It IVES beautiful day
in August The heavens were clear.
serene, and beautiful, the trees were laden
With golden fruits, and the beautiful birds
twittered their songs Of love in the
branches. We acere about to say that the
'"earth had yielded her beautiful harvest
of years grass and clover; and honey
slickies, which the noble yeomanry of
Chesterville had gathered within their
store-house," but upon a second thought
have concluded to write it thus: ''The
farmers of Chesteryille were done har-
vesting."


john Jackson's sister had quilting
party that afternoon his father had gone
to get some wheat ground, and ohm was
left TO repair some tools to be ready on
the morrow to commence moving the
meadow grass. Suddenly it occurred to
John that if he remained about the house
in the afternoon he would be called in at
the time, and be required to do the hon
Ors at the table. To avoid this he quiet
ly shouldercd his scythe and stole away
to the meadow, half mile distant, tally
resolved that he would not leave there
until it was so dark that he could not see
to NOW at all, and thus avoid seeing the
girls. Tns meadow was surrounded on
all sides by thick forest, which etfectu-
ally shut ont what little breeze there
might chance be stirring. The sun pour
ed down its rays as though the little
meadow was the focus point where the
heat was concentrated. John moved
and sweat sweat and moved until he
was obliged to sit down and cool off.


Tken it occurred to John that if be took
off his pants he might be more comforta-
bic There would be no impropriety in
it, for he was entirely concealed from op-
servation, and there was not the slightest
reason to suppose that he could be seen
by any person. So John stripped of,
and with 10 covering save his linen
commonly called a shir.-he resumed his
work He was Just congratulating HIM
self on the good time he was having,
when he chanced to disturb huge black
snake, Il genuine twister, with 4 white
ring around his neck. John was no COW
ard, but he was mortally afraid of snakes.
"Selfpreservation" was the first spas
sage" that flashed upon Johns mind.
''legs take care Of the body" was the
next. Dropping his scythe, and spinning
| around like q top, he was ready to strike
a 2:4O gait, when 1T that moment his
snakeship was near enough to hook his
crooked teeth in Johns shirt just above
the hem. With tremendous spring he
started off with the speed Of a Iocomo-
tive.


His first jump took the snake clear from
the ground, and as John stole a hasty
glance over his shoulder, he was mortified
to find the reptile securely fastened to
the extremity of lis garment, while the
speed with which he rushed forward kept
the serpent at an angle Of ninety degrees
with his body. Here was quandary.
If he stopped, the snake would coil about
his body and squeeze him to death; if he
continued the race, he must soon fall from
sheer exhaustion. On he flew, scarce
daring to think how his dreadful race WAS
to end. Instinctively he had taken the
direction home, and as he emerged from
the forest feeling of security came over
him.. Suddenly thought flashed across
his mind the true state of affairs; his
=. father gone-the quilting-and worst Of
all, tie girls. This new horror sent the
blood back curdling about his heart, and
he came to dead halt. The next mo-
ment be felt the body of tie cold, clam
my monster in contact with his bare legs
as though his snakesEip only meditated
little fun, by the way Of tickling John
upon the knees. This was too much for
human endurance With yell, such as
man never utters,- save when i'll mortal
terror, poor John again set forward at
break-neck speed, and once more had the
pleasure of seeing the snake in his old
position, somewhat after the fashion Of
/ the tail of comet On, on they flew
John forgot the quilting, forgot the girls,
forgot everything but the snake. His
first wild shrek had started the quilters,
AND forth they rushed, wondering ifSome
mad Indian acas not prowling about. BY
this time John was within feso rods of
the barn, still running at the top of his
speed, his head turned so that he might
keep one eye on the snake, and acith the
other observe achat course he must take.
The barn nosg concealed him from the
sight of the girls. He knew they acre
in the var having caught q glimpse OF
them as they rushed from the hdhse.-
For moment modesty overcame fear,
and he once more halted, The snake
evidently pleased aoith his rapid transpor-
tation, manifested his gratitude by at
tempting to enfold the legs OF our hero
acithin his embrace.


With an explosive ''ouch :" and urged
forward by circumstances over which he
had no control" poor John bounded on.
The next moment he was in view OF the


GIRLS, and as lie turned the corner Of the
barn the snake came round with whiz
somewhat after the fashion Of coach


whip. Having reached the barnyard, to
his dismay he found the bars up. But
time was too precious to be wasted IN let


ting down bars He gathered all his
strength, bounded into the air, snake dit


to, and as he alighted on the other side


his snakeship's tail cracked across the up


per bar,


The house now became the center q
attraction, and around it lie revolred with
the speed of thought. -Four times IL
each revolution, as he turned the corner