Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 182?-183?, 1832-09-07
Il STAUNToN, ID SERrE,eER lao

ming bird. Then the tints of h o1,
deepened, and changed, ind 9 yea
like the changes of beautiful k kde
scope,-green, purple and gold,
lost sight of the serpent entirel n,
saw only wild and curiouAy WOW {
cles of strange colors, qunering NJ
me, like an atmosphere Jt rainbd s.
seemed in the centre OF a great riS
"a world fmysterious colors; an Il
tints varied, and darkened, and Ii. Etei
ed up again around me; and tn %
music went on without ceasing, urk III 2
brain reeled and fear, for the frs TN
came like shadow over me. T. n'
sensation gained on me rapidly 3 ant
could feel the cold sweat eush ire
my brow. had no certainty da
ger in my mind-no definite lea
peril-all was vague and cloul III
the unaccountable terrors of d lar,
yet my limbs shook, and | f Nni
could feel the blood stillening ', jll''
as it passed along my veins.
have given worlds to have bee -
tear myself from the spot -
tempted to do so but the bod -.
not the impulse of the ming
muscle stirred and stood till, a..
my feet had grown 10 the sid rocES
with the internal music of I'll, temptet1
in my ear, and the ba e!ul cdorings of
his enchantment before me.
Suddenly new sound cane on my
cart was human voice Int it seem
ed strange and awful. AgaA-agair-
but | stirred not; and thn white
form plunged before me, nd grasped
my arm. The horrible Pell was at
once broken. The strange .olors passed
from before my vision. Th: Rattlesnake
was coiling at my very fee, with glow
ing eyes and uplifted lngs; and my
wife was clinging in terrr upon me-
The next instant the serpnt threw him
self upon US. My wife vas the vctiRl
The fatal langs pierced eeply into her
hand : and her scream d agony, as she
fell backward from me- told me the
dreadful truth.
"Then it was that feeling of mad
ness came upon me ald when l saw
the foul serpent stealin away from the
work of death, recke ss of danger, |
sprang forward and cIashed him under
my feet, grinding bin in pieces upon
the ragged rock. Tie gr0ans of my
wife now recalled me TO her side, and
to the horrible real tc of her situation.
There was dark, IND spot on her hand.
1t deepened INTO d ackness as l led her
away. We were It a considerable dis
lance from any iyelling and, after
wandering fora slEt time, the pain Of
her wound became hsupportable to my
wife, and she STONED away in my
arms. Weak andsXhausted as | was,
had yet streng Ehough remaining to
carry her to tReIlearest riyulet, and
bathe her brow IN Ee cool water. She t
partially recovdre and sat down upon c
the bank, while supported her head 5
upon my bosom. Hour after hour pass J.
ed away, and rpneame near as-alone,
in the great wilderness, ] watched o a
yer her, and 5raed with her--and she {
died ~ y
The old nan gloaned audibIy as he v
uttered thcs; wrd, and, as he clasped 81
his long, bChy hands over his eyes, | s.
could see th4 learshlliny thickly through n
his gaunt myers. AGer a momentary n
struggle with bis feelings he lifted his O. @
head oncemore, and thre was q fierce h
light in lbs eye ashe spike: il
"But IN ave had my evenge. From i.
that fatal moment hav,felt myself fit
ted and st apart by the arrible ordeal of
aflictio5 to rid the plao. of my abode II
of its fullest curse. All | have well 81
nigh 1cceeded. The fascinating de- n
mons ire few and powesss. DO not "
imagi,e," said he, earndly regarding Of
the smewhat equivscalex preston Of il
nv c,dntenance, ''that onSider those h
creatures as serpents onIy-creeping ser al
pent; they are the seryas of the fall :
en- Angel-.he mmediatsministers of =,
the iniernaGulfp W
oil
Years have passed since y interview p
viii the Rattlesnake Hunts: the place 8
of MS abode has changed-t beautiful FL
village rises near the spot Our confer ;,
erce, and the grass of the lurch.yard =
is green over the gtaye of told Hunt d
Ell But his story IS yet hxtupon my C
mind ; and time, Ike enamel)nly burns D.
deeper he first impression Ii comes IT
up before me like a wildly member :,
ed dream, whose features arcoo horri- m
bic for reality. =
-3fGgc
NOVEL COMBAT WITH / BIRD.
BY rfriond, residing in Terssee. we 4
have been politely favored with 4 follow -
4 ;ror aunt Of 4 fierce and o,.t,ae-. ..