Year: 1871

little air there might be stirring.
The sun poured out its rays as
though the little meadow was the
focus point where the heat was
concentrated. John would NOV
and sweat-swcat and moved, un-
til he was obliged to sit down and
cool off. Then it occurred 10 John
that if he took off his pants, hav-
ing on no drawers, it would be
more pleasant and be much more
comfortable to him. He thought
there could be no improperly in
it, as he was entirely concealed
from observation, and there was
! not the slightest reason to sup
pose that he could be seen by any
person.


So John found himself stripped
! with no cover save his linen
commonly called a S! rt-he &c
sumed his moving. Tic had had
| not the slightest idea Of his being
disturbed in his secluded position,
and he was just congratuIating
himself upon the good time he
had baying, and the lucky escape
be had made from meeting the
girls, when he chanccd to disturb
a huge black snake, a genuine
twister, with q white ring
around his neck, who thinking
that his rights and liberty were
being cncroachcd upon placed
himself in a defensive attitude.


John was no coward, but he
was mortally afraid of q snake
"Sclfpreservation" was the first
"passagc," that flashed npon Johns
mind, and "lcgs take care Of the
body" was the next. Dropping
his scythe and spinning round
like a top, he was ready to strike
u 2.40 gait; when at that moment
his lordship, the snake, WAS near
enough to make strike and hook.
ed his crooked teeth into John
shirt, just above the hem. With
4 tremendous spring, nc started
off with the speed Of i locomotive.
His first jump took his snakeship
straight and clear from the ground,
and as John stole a hasty glance
over his shoulders, he was horri-
fed to find the snake securely fas-
tened to the tail of his shirt :;
while the speed with which he
rushed forward kept the snake
straight in the air at an angle Of
@incty degrees with his body.


Here was q quandary. John at
once thought that if he stopped
the snake would coil himself about
himself about his legs and body
and squeeze him to death if he
continued the race he would soon
fall from sheer exhaustion. On
lie flew, scarce daring to think
how his dreadful! race wculd end.
Instinctively he had taken the
true course for home, when a feel
ing Of relief and security came over
him. Suddenly flashed across his
mind the true state Of atfairs-his
father gone-thc big quilting
and worst of all, meeting the girls
; in his shirt-tail This new hor-
ror sent the blood back curdling
about his neck, and he came to a
dead halt. In a moment he felt
the body of the cold, CLASSY, clam
my snake in contact with his bare
legs, his tail creeping around them
in i sort Of an oozing way, as
though his snakcship only mcdi-
tated little fun, by way Of tick
ling John upon The knees.


This was too much for John to
endure. With yell, such as man
never uttcrs save when in mortal
terror, poor John again SCI tor
ward at q breakneck pace, and
once more had the pleasure Of see-
ing The snake resume his horizon
tai position, somewhat a1lcr the
fashion Of a comet.


On he flew! John now forgot
the quilting, forgot the girls, for
got everything but the snake.


His active exercise Che paid
particular attention to his run
ning,) together with the excessive
heat, had brought OH bleeding at
the nose, and as he ran, ears erect
aud head thrown back, his chin,
throat and shirt bosom were stain
ed with the flowing stream OF
! blood.