Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1843-07-10
THE RATTLEsNlNE HUNTER.
ny. !. q. WHITTIER.
"Un'il NV CHASTITY tale is told.
Tins heart within me burns


IN many parts Of Vermont as the Rst,le-
snake Hunter II was n warm, clear
day OF Sunshine. in the middle of June.
mat saw him for the first lime, while
engaged IN "a minealugical ra.nbe among
he hills. Ills head was bald, and his
lorehend was deeply marked with strong
lines OF care and age Ills form was
wasted and meagre; and but for the fiery
NlSor OF his eye, he might have been
supposed incapacilatcd by aye and in.
''irnHIies for even slight exertion -
Yet he hurried over the huge lodges OF
rock with quick and almost Youthful
Tread; and seemed earnestly searching
among the crevices and loose craus and
st'uied bushes around him. All nj olcr
he startled suddenly himself bl K
with sort of shudIeriug recoil--anl
then smoie hercely with his staff upon
the rock before him. Another and ano-
'ther blow-and he lifted the 1.-The end
crushed form Of large rattlesnake up.
on the end OF his rod
The cd mans eye glistened, but his
up tremblcd as he looked s,cadlas;ly M
on his writing victim. another Of IN
of the accused race! he muttered be-
tween his c'cnched teeth, apparently
unconc.ous Of my presence.
was now satisfied that the person BE-.
iorc,me was none other than the lamo i
Raulcsuake Hunter. He was know n
throughout the ncigL borhood as an oui.
cast aud wandcrer, obtaining mi<era
hle suGSIs encc from the casual charities
oil the people around him. Ills time ~
mostly spent among the rocks and rude
halls, where his only object seemed 10 b.
the hunting out and destroying Of the
Cr0taIHs hOrridus, or rat,lesnakc i'm
INC lately determined to satisfy nv curl
oSIty, which had been strangely excited
by tue remarkable appearance Of the
stranger; aud for this purpose APP
preached hum:
Are there many OF these reptiles in
this vicinity" inquired pointing 10 the
crushed serpent.
They are getting to be scarce said
The CID man, ling his sIouched hat aud
wiplng his b I'D brow 'have known The
time when YOU could hardly stir ten rods
from the door in this part Of the Stale
without hearing their low, quick rattle
AT your SIDE, or seeing their many col
ored bodies coIIing up in your path. -
But, as | said before, they are getting %
be scarcc-the Internal race will be ex
tInct in few years-ani thank co!
have myself been considerable cause
ot their EXTERN nation
You must Of course, know the nature
of these creatures perfectly we'll sad |
do you believe in their power Of fIs
clnation or charming
erhe old mans cuuutenance fell. There
was visible struggle Of feeling within
him; for his lip cuivered, and he dashed
his brown hand Suddenly across his eyes
AS If 10 conceal rear; hut quickly re-.
covering himseifhe answered N the low,
deep voice of one that was about to re-
veal some horrible secret
i believe in the rattesnakes power orI
fascination as firmly as believe in my
own existence
Surely said !, 'you do not believe
that they have power over human ..
ings!
Il dol know it TO be so 3 and the % d
man tremLled as he spoke. you are
stranger to me- he said slowly, after
scrutlnizing my features for a nome II
-'out if you 60 down with me 10 the
foot Of this rock, in the shade there
and he pointed 10 a group Of leaning
oaks that hung over the declivity-'i
will tell you strange and sad story Of
my own experience
1t may be supposed that readily as
sented to This proposal Bostowing
one more blow ont the rattlcsnakc, as if
10 be certain OF its death, the old man
descended the rocks with a rapidity that
would have endangered the neck Of q
less practlsed hunter After rcachiur
the place where he pointed out. the Rat.
tIcsnake Hunter commenced his story ia
manner which confirmed what had
previously heard Of his education and in.
telleciual strength
q was among The earliest settlers in
This, part o. the country. had Just fn.
lshed my Education ct Harvard, when
was induced by tbe catering reprcsen-
tatons Of some Of the earliest pioneer,
INTO the wild lands beyond tn Connect.
cut, TO seek my fortune in the new set
Elements. Ny wife'-the old mans eve
gilstcned ar iHstaEt, aud then 4 tear
crossed his brown ct eck-|My wife a,
companied me, young and delicate an
btaItlii as she vas, 60 this Wild anJ
end rul e country. I shall never fOrgiv
myself for bringing her hither never
Young man continued he,'yOu look Tx
one UhO could pity. You shall see IN
image Of the gld Who followed me q
the nee country And he unbound a
be spoke a ribbon from hi neck with