Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1843-10-28
CANTON ssrrI sAruR EVENING, OCTOBER

| 4
his yet writhing victim. "Another OF the
accused race?' he muttered between his
clenched teeth, apparently unconsciou q
my presence.
was satisfied that the person before
me was none other than the famous Rat
tlesnake Hunter. flewas known through
out The neighborhood as an outcast, from
the casualcharities Of the people around
him. His time was mostly spent among
the rocks and rude hills, where his only
object seemed to be huniing out and de-
stroying the Crotalus horradus, or rattle
snake. Immediately determined to saI-
isfy my curiosity which had been excited
| by the remarkable Appearance ofss,he
stranger, and for this purpose lapproachtu
| him.
Are there many Of these reptiles IN
this yicinilyr | inquired pointing 70 the
crushed serpent.
They are getting to be scarce SAID the
old man, lifting his clouched Int and WI
ping his bald brow--sI have known the
time when you could hardly stir Ten rods
| in this palt of the State without hearing
their low, quick rattle at your side. or see-
| ing their many colored bodies coilng up
lin your path. But as sad before they
are getting scarce-the inferna race WI
be extinct in few years-and thank God
| have myself been a considerable Cause
of their exlermination
sYou must, of course, know the nature
of these creatures perfectly well, said J,
"Do YOU believe in their power OF tasclna-
ting orcharming?"
The old mans countenance fell. There
was visible struggle of feeling within
him, for his lip quiyered, and he dashed
his brown hand suddenly across his g, es,
az if 10 conceal a tear; but quickly recov-
erng himself, he answered in the low,
deep voice of one that was about to reveal
some horrible secret
Il believe in the raitesnake's power o.
Ifacineton as firmly as believe in my owr
existence
Surely said ], syou do not believe tina
| they have power ove- human beingsT
! i dbl kaow it to be sol SAID the mar
trembling as he spoke. You are stran
ger to me, he said slowly, after scrullnlz'nE
my features Tor a monent,--sbut IT you 9
! down with me to the foot OF this 10 * in ih'
shade there--and he pointcdslo group Q
LEANING o ks that hung uyer the declsylt,
81 will tell you sad and strange story Q
my own experience.
| 1t may be supposed that readily as
,ented to this. proposal. Bestowlng on
more blow on the rattlesnake as it to b
lcertain OF lite death, the old man decen
lded the rocks with rapidly that woult
have endangered the neck of a less prac
ttisedHhun,er. After reaching the place
where he p .inted out, the Rattlesnak
Hunter commenced his story in name
which confirmed what i had prevlonsl,,
heard of his education and intellectual
strength. =.
Il Was among the earliest settlers in th'
n part Of the country. l had Just flnishe
| NV education at Harvard, when | was IN
duced by the fatterng representations {. Q
some OF the earliest ploners into the VIII
! lands beyond the Connecticut, to seen M
y fortune in the new settlement My wife
1.-The Ole mans eye glistened an ins,an
l.
and then a tear crossed his brown : hee
.My wife accompanied me, Young an
delicate and beautiful as she was, 10 TN
wild aud rude country shall never ior
give myself for bringing her hither-
Young man, continued he, s'you look TX
one who could pity. You shall see "a
Image of the girl who folowed me to IN
new country. And he unbound us n
spoke, ribbon from his neck With a sna
Immature attached to it.
4 Il was that Of beautiful female--ol
there was an almost; clilialsh expression
her countenance-- sofmess--a delIcac
land sweetness oil smlie which i have Sc
dom seen in the features oil those wb
have tasted even slightly, The bitter waie'
|ofexistence The old sman watched m
colntenance intenIly,$ as surveyed IN
Image Of his early love- She must hAy
been yery beautiful, i said us returne
the picture.
Beautifully he repeated, you may we
y saw SO. But this ayailS notdng has
= a fearful story TO awouidao God ! ha
n not attempted it--but wiil 60 on.1 NJ
!. heart has been stretched too uiten on u
' rock Of memory 10 suffer any new pang
ii .We had resided IN The new eounIE
d nearly a year. Our Settlements had
: creased rapidly, and the comforts and ce
q icacies Of life were beginning TO De ie
r. after the weary priv atoms aud severe =
= ais TO which we had been SUBJECTED. =
= red men we're few aud feeble, and did n
ID modest us. The beasts of the ioresi al
hi mountains we're ferocious, but we So
70 fered little from them The only lnm
!, date danger TO which we were expos
i, resulted from the ratllesnakes whichlnie
y y ted our neighborhood. Three OF iour Sc
30 - S;..,. NJ, ,bem and died in lie