The Weekly register. (Ponola [sic] Panola, Miss.) 1843-1844, 1843-10-28

CroiG,us horridws, or rattlcsnake.
Immediately determined to satisfy my
curiosity, which had been excited by the
remarkable stranger; and for this pur-
pose approached him.
care there many of these reptiles in
this vicinity?" | inquired, pointing to
the crushed serpent.
"They are getting to be scarce,'' said
the old man, lifting his slouched hat and
wiping his bald brow; 81 have known
the time when you could hardly stir ten
rods srom the door in this part Of the
State without hearing their low, quihk
rattle at your side. or seeing their many
colored bodies coiling up in your path.
But as | said before, they are getting
scarce-the internal race will be extinct
in few years-and thank Cod | have
myself been a considerable cause of
their determination"
"You must, of course, know the ne
ture of these creatures perfectly well,''
said |. ''Do you believe in their power
Of fascinating or charming"
The ola mans contenance fell. There
was visible struggle of feeling within
him, for his lip quivered, and he dashed
his brown hand suddenly across his
eyes, as if to conceal tear; but quickly
recovering himself, he answered in the
low, deep voice of ono that was about to
reveal some horrible secret
" believe in the ratllesnake's power of
fascination as firmly as | believe in my
own existence
Surely" said l, "you do not believe
that they have power over human BIS
ings?"
81 dol know it to be so!'' and the
old man trembled as he spoke. "You
are stranger TO me,' he said slowly,
after scrutinizing my features for mo-
ment-'' bat if you SO down with me to
the foot Of this rock, in the shade there
and he pointed tc a group of leaning
oaks that hung over the declvity-~'I
vii taas's ye',= a sad and strange story @
my own experience
Il may be supposed that really as
sented TO this proposal. Bestowing one
more blow on the rattiesnake, as if to be
certain of its death, the old man des
cended the rocks with a rapidity thai
would have endangered the neck. of {
less practised hunter--After reaching
the place where he pointed out, the
Ratt!esnake Hunter commenced his
story in a manner which confrmed wha
I had previously heard Of his eGacatior
and intellectual strength. i.
81 was among the earliest settlers il
| his part CT the country. | had jus
finished my education at Harvard, wher
| was induced by the hattering repre-
sensations of some ofthe earliest pioneers
into the wild lands beyond the Connec
ticut, to seek my fortune in the new
settlement. "My wife''-the old man
I eye glistened an instant, and then tea
crossed bis brown cheek-"My wife &C
companied me, young and delicate am
beautiful as she was, to this wild am
rude country shall never forgiv'
my self fer bringing her hither--never
Young man." continued he, "you lool
like one would could pity. You shal
see the image of The girl who followe
me to the country" And he unboun
as he spoke, ribbon from his neck wit
small miniature attached TO it.
, 1t was that Of beautiful female-bu
there was an almost childish expressio
, in her contenance-a softness-a del
cacy, and sweetness Of smile which
have seldom seen in the features c
, those who have tasted, even slightly
the bitter waters of existence. The oil
, man watched my countenance intently
: as surveyed the image of his earl
5 love. s.She must have been very beaut
: ful,n | said as | returned the picture.
Beautifully" he repeated, "you ma
: weIl-say so. But this avails nothing
have fearful story TO tell: would
5 God had not attempted if: but wi
: 90 on. My heart has been stretched to
r often on the rack Of memory TO SUITE
d any new pang.n