Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-06-18

A sNAKE-SNACK.
"Twis. ye, twlne ye. "-sr. wAlrrs seorr.


TO witness the feeding Of the Boa CONSTRUCTOR;
rather rare occurrence, aud difficult OF obser
walton, the reptile not being remarkable for the
regularity Of its dinner hour; and very cons-
derable interval intervenes, as the world knows,
between Gorge the First. and Gorge the Second |;
Gorge the Third, and Gorge the Fourth. was
not in time to see the serpents first dart at the
prey; she had already twisted herself round her
victim,-a living White Rabbit-who with q
large dark eye gazed piteousls through one Of
the folds. and looked most e"quently that line
in Hamlet
go could shuttle of this mortal coii"'
The Snake evidently only embraced him in a
killing him when |. want-him manner, just firmly
enough to prevent an escape-but her lips we're
glued OH his. in close Judas kiss" So long
time elapsed. ia this position, both as marble
still, as poor old LAGOON with his Leachcs on,
that really began to doubt the tale ot the Boa's
ability in swallowing; and to associate the hoax
before me, with that of the Bottle Conjuror.
The head Of the snake, in fact, might have gone
without difficulty into a wine glass, aud the
Ihr oat, down which the rabbit was 10 proceed
whole, seemed not al all thicker than my thumb.
In short. thought the reported cram was nothing
bot stuff, and the only other visitor deciar.
ed himself Of my opinion; " II that ere little
wiper swallows up The RABBIT, III bolt um boh!'
and he seemed capable Of the feat. lie looked
like personiGcation of what Political Econo-
mists call the Public Consumer; or, Godfrey
Crayon's Stout Gentleman, seen through Carpen
ter's Solar Microscope; genuine Edax Rerum;
one of your devourers Of legs of mutton and
trimmings, for wagers; the delight OF eating hou-
ses, and the dread of ordinarles The contrast
was whimsical, between his mountain Ot mum
INV, and the slim Maccaroni figure Of the Snake,
reputed Glutton. However. the Boa began at
last to prepare for the meal. by lubricating the
muzzle Of the Rabbit with her Shiny tongue, and
then commeAced IN earnest, a.
As far as in her lay to take him in.
A stranger dying with SO fair skin
The process was tedious. one swallow makes
a sumner'-but it gradually became apparent,
from the fate of the head, that the whole body
might eventually be lost in the Serpentne."
The Reptile, indeed. made ready for the rest Of
the interment by an operation rather horrible
On a sudden, the living cable was observed, as q
sailor would say, to haul in her slack, and with
squeeze evincins tremendous muscular power,
she reduced the whole body into compass that
would follow The head with perfect ease. 1t was
regular smash.in business:-the poor rabbit was
completely broken-and the willy wnder-up of
his affairs recommended paying herself in full.
1t was sorry sight aud sickenng.
As for the Stout Gentleman, he could not con-
troll his agitation. His eyes rolled and watered;
his jaws constantly yawned like panther's; and
his bands with convulsive movement were clasp
ed every now aud then on his stomach;-
when the whole rabbit was smothered in snake,
he could restrain himself no longer, and rushed
out of the menagerle as if he really expected 70
be called upon to fulfil his rash engagement
Anxious to ascertain the true nature of the i'm.
pulse, hurried in pursuit Of him. and after a
short but sharp chase. saw hin dash into the
British Hotel, and overheard his familiar voice
the same that had promised to swallow buth Snake
and Snack-bclIowng out, cultural with hunger,
i" IIere!-Walter!- Quick!- in onions
for Two"