Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1843-07-10

Sain is returned the picture.
'Beautifun he repeated, YOU may
well say so. But this awaits nothing 4
have fearful story 10 tell. would 10
God had not attempted il; but will 90
on. My heart has been stretched too OF
ten on the rack of memory to suffer any
new pang.
''N had resided in the new country
nearly year. Our settlements had in
creased rapidly, aud the comforts and
IelcacIes OF life were beginning 10 be
'e't' niter The weary prvalions and Sc.
we're trials 10 which we had been SUBJ
Jected. The red men were few and fee.
bic, and did not modest us The b as,s
OF ;hc f'rest and mountain were lero-
clnuN. but we suffered liullc from them
The only immediate danger to which
we were exposed resulted fro n
the rIttlesnakCS which infested
our nclgborhoOd. Three or rour
lour settlers were bitten by them, and
died IL terrible agoncs. The Indians
often told US fright fol stories Of this
snake, and lis fascination, aud although
they were generally believed, yet Tor
myself, confess, | was ra her amused
than convinced by their marvellous le-
gen Is.
In one Of my hunting excursions n.
broad, on fine morning-it was ilst at
Tins !'mc of the year,l was accompanied
/ by my wife. Twas beautiful morning
The sunshine was warm, but the a;mus.
phere vas perfectly clear; and fine
breeze from the north west shook the
bright green leaves which clothed 70
Prolusion the wreathing branches above
US. had left my companion for short
time, IN the pursuit Of game; and in
climbing rugged ledge Of rocks, inter-
SperSed with shrubs and dwarlish trees
! was startled by quick, grating rattle
looked forward. On the edge Of
'"oscned rock lay Large rattlesnake,
c1lling himself as if for the deadly
spring lie was within few feet Of
me; and paused for an instant TO sur
vey him. know not why, bat stood
still, aud looked at the deadly serpent
with strange feeling Of curiosity.
Sad .enly lac uuwou.d his coil, as if
relenung from his purpose Of hostility,
and raising his head. he fixed his bright
fiery eye directly upon my own. A
chilling and !ndIScribable sensation TO
tally different from any thing had evor
before experienced, followc this move.
mcnt of The serpent; hut stood still.and
gaZed steadily and earnestly, for at that
moment there was visible change i'm
| the reptile. Ills form seemed To grow
/ larger, and his coiors brighter. Ills DO.
I dy novel with n slow. almost impercep
tlb'c motion toward, me and low hum
Of music came from him or at least IL |
sounded in my cara strange, faint rs
that which mells from the throat Of the |
hunmIng bird. Then the tints of his -,
body dcepencd, and changed and glowed |
like the changes OF beautiful kaleid |
acope green, purple and gold, until | |
lost sight OF The serpent entirely, and !
saw ony wild and cIriously woven cir
cies of strange colors, quivering around !
me, like an atmosphere Of rain bows.
i seemed in the centre Of a great !
Prism-a world of mysterious colors-
and tInts varied and darkencd and light |
I'd up again around me; and the low mu
SIC went on without ceasing until my |
brain rccIed; and fear. for the rst time, !
came like n shadow over me. The new |
sens lIlon gal cd on me rapidly, and | !
coIid feel tho cold sweat gushing from |
my brow. had no certainty Of danger
IN my mlnd-nO definite ideas Of peril
all vague aud Clouded, like unacc1unta.
bic lcrrorS Of a dream-and vet nv
limbs shook, and lanced could feel |
the blood s:Illeniug with cold as il passed !
along my veins. | would have given !
worlds to have been able To tear myself |
from the spot even atte npted 10 do |
so, but the body ObeYed not the impulse |
of the mind-not a muscle stirred; and / !
stood stlll,as rmy feet had grown to the
solid rock with the internal music ofthe
temPter in my ear, and the barcful col.
orlngs Of his eXchautmUnt before my
eyes.
Suddenly a new sound came TO my
cart was human voIce-but il seem
ed strange and awful. Again-again-|
but | stirred NOT, aud then white form
plunged before me, and graSped my
arm. The horrible spell was at once
broken. The strange colors pas sed
from before my vision. The rattlesuake
was cOiling a, my very feet, with glow
ing eyes aud upillled fangs, aud my wife
was cllnging in terror upon me.
The next instant the serpent
threw himself upon US. Ny wife was
the victim! The fatal lungs pierced deep
~ into her hand and her scream Of auo.
my. as she staggered backward from me.
told me the dreadful truth.
"Ihen It was that feeling Of mad
; ness came upon me AID when saw the
foul serpent stealing away from hIs