Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1834-09-18

1t may be supposed that l readily as
sented to this proposal. Bestowing one
more blow on the Rattlesnake, as il to
be certain Of his death, the old man de-
scended the rocks with rapidity which
would have endangered the neck Of
less practiced hunter. After reaching
the place which he had pointed out, the
Ratlesnake Hunter commenced his story
in manner which confirmed what had
previously heard of his education and in
teIlectuaI strength.
81 was among the earliest settlers in
this part of the country. had just fin
ished my education at the University of
Harvard, when ! was induced by the
flattering representation OF some Of the
earlier pioneers into the wild lands be-
yond the Connecticut, to seek my for
tune in the new settlements. My wife,"
the old mans eye glistened an instant,
nd then tear crossed his brown cheek;
"my wife, accompanied me, young and
delicate and beautiful as she was, to this
wild and rude country. l shall never
forgive myself for bringing her hither--
never. Young man." he continued,
"you look like one who could pity me-
You shall see the image Of the girl who
followed me to the new country" And
he unbound, as he spoke, ribund from
his neck, with small miniature attach
ed to it.
1t was that Of beautiful female. She
might have been twenty years Of age
but there was an almost childish express
sion in her counte nance-a sOftness-a
delicacy, a sweetness of smile, which |
have seldom seen in the features Of those
who have tasted, even slightly of the
bitter waters ofeXistence. The old mar
watched my countenance intensely, as
surveyed the image Of his early love-
"She must have been very beautiful y
/ said, as | retur ned the picture.
! "Beautiful" he repeated, "you may
well say so. But this avails nothing. -
have fearful story to tell, would to
God | had not attempted it; but | will 60
on. My heart has been stretched too
often on the rack of1memory, to suffer
any new pang."
} ave had resided in the new country
nearly year. Our settlements had in
creased rapidly, and the comforts and
r delicaCies of life were beginning to be
felt, after the weary privations and Sc.
, we're trials to which we had been sub
, jected. The red men were few ant
J feeble, and did not modest us. The
, beasts OF the forest and mountains, were
: ferocious, but we suffered little from
, them. The only immediate danger to
, which we were exposed, resulted from
the Rattlesnake, which infested ou
neghborhood. Three or four of ou
settlers were bitten by them, and died il
;; terrible agonies. The Indians often tol,
/, us frightinl stories of this snake, and it
powers Of fascination, and although the
e were generally believed, l confess,
k was rather amused than convinced b.
d their marvellous legends"
e Tn one of my hunting excursions a
d broad, on fine morning-it was just n
n this time Of the year, was accMnpan
# led by my wife. Twas a beautift
morning. The sunshine was warm, bu
IS the atmosphere was perfectly clear, an
= fine breeze from the northwest, shoe
the bright green leaves, which clothe
e to profusion, the wreathing branches {
= bove US. | had lett my companion for
short time, in pursuit Of game; and
: climbing rugged ledge of rocks, inte
Is spersed with shrubs and dwarfish trees,
n was startled by quick grating rattle
l. looked forward on the edge of loo
r ened rock, lay large Ratilesnake col
i ing himself, as if for the deadly sprin.
e lie was within few feet of me and
e paused for an instant to survey him.
10 know not why, but stood still, and lool
e ed at the deadly serpent with a strang
p feeling Of curiosity. Suddenly he vi
10 wound his coil, as if relenting from h
: purpose of hostility, and raising his hea'
g he fixed his bright fiery eye, direct
,r upon my own. A chilling and indescril
able sensation, totally different from ar
IN thing | ever before experienced, follow
e ed this movement of the serpent but
stood still, and earnestly, for at that M
id ment there was a visible change in II
I'd reptile. His form seemed to grow la
1n ger, and his colors brighter. His boo
IN moved with slow, almost imperceptib
he motion towards me, and a low hum
TX music came from him-or, at least, seer
~ ed in my cara strange sweet melod
= faint as that which melts from the thro
to Of the humming bird. Then the tints
x his body deepened, and changed ar
| g'owed, like the changes of beautif
Sc Kaleidoscope, green, purple, and gol
until l lost sight Of the serpent en,irel
re and saw only wild and curiously wovt
i'd circles of strange colors, quivering
Of round me, like an atmosphere of raj
hows I eeen,ed in the cantra oco r.