Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1843-05-13

nm he at length darteu at inc DlTu, ana
vanly attempted to fix his poisonous fangs
in his body, and crush him in his folds
But the Secretary caught him in one of
his claws and with furious blow of his
beak fractured his skull. The serpent
struggled violently for few moment-but
resistance was useless--and he was soon
stretched lifeless before his victorious
enemy.
But ere the bird had time to enjoy the
fruits Of his victory, the report of mus
ket was heard, and the Secretary in his |
turn, lay dead by the side of his venomous
antagonist. Altar Gul turned his head and
saw Theodore standing on a rock above
him with fowling piece in his hand.
Well, Altar Gul, said the young man, sii-
ding down from the summit of rocks, was
not that well done?
1t was a good shot mastcr--but am
sorry YOU killed the bird--for these Sec
retaries wage war with the vcnomous scr.
penis with which our mountains are lniest-
ed And the black pointed to the dead
reptile-which was seven or eight feet
long and four or five inches in diameter.
All! exclaimed TheodorcI regret il
now--for ! do detcst those hdeous SER
penis; / would give half my fortune 10 be
able to extcrminate these monsters.
You are right master, said Altar Gul.--
They are a great nuisance, and their bite
almost always proves fatal.
it is not only that said the young man,
but my betrotbed Margaret, whom
if Heaven wills, am 10 we'd tomorrow,
has most unaccountablc antipathy TO the
sight of one of these animals. Less so
than formerly, confess; for once the name
OF a snake would always deprive her of
sensation But her father, her mother, ard
myself, have at various times tried to con-
quer her silly but deep rooted fears ofthese
reptiles We have tried to accustom her
TO the sight of them. and have often thrown
them in her way after they had been killed
and then laugh at her screams Of terror
That is the only way to conquer hel
foolish antipathy, master, said the willy
African. In my country we thus habituatc
our women and children to sights ofhorror
But thought strikes me. A means pre-
sents itself of curing her Of those foolisE
fears if you can only be prevailed upon &c
adopt it. And his eyes were fol moment
lighted up with a CLEAN Of lerocious de
light. We will take the snake home witt
US. But first let US cut off his head, We
cannot use too much precau;ion.
Noble fellow said Theodore, as he AS
sisted Altar Gul to separate the lead O
, the serpent from the body.
1t is a female whispered Altar Gul it
himself, aud the male cannot be far CT.
They proceeded towards Col. Will.
! habltalion-lhc black dragging after hin
J the bleeding carcass Of the serpent I'll
. house in which the Col. resided, like mo:
houses in that climate, consisted Of but on
: story with wings. Ia one of these wing
was the bed chamber of Marguerite. !
piazza in front of the window, and
e jalouisic screened the room from the de
T.. vouring bea, of the tropical sun
4 Theodore approached the window o.
i. tiptoe--cautiousIy opened the jalouisjc an
$ looked in Marguerite was not there. II
f then took the serpent from the hands o
0 Altar Gul, who, as it seemed, through an CT
!, cess of precaution. first bruised the nee
t of the reptile on the window frame. Thee
e dorc hid the serpent whose brilliant hue
# had already become furnished by dealt
e beneath the dressing table, lie then retire
: and closed the jalouise. As he turne
n away, he met Col Willis, who laughe
;. heartily at tho trick which Theodore We
IS playing on Marguerite.
s. The room which was appropriated /
Marguerite wac really the asylum Of inns
p cencc. The hand Of a mother had bee
e there. II was seen in all the elegant an
y useful furniture which dcckcd the apar
re ment--that little bed, curtaned with viii
is gauzc, succeed walls, polished, and shinir
IL as brilliant as Parian marble--that har
" and table covered with music books; tn
lie little dressing glass--those silken ribbons
he that cross Of mother Of pearl--those je1
clcd ornaments--in word, all those triflil
ID things which are SO precious to your
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