Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1843-08-11
BLOOMINGTON, IOWA, FRIDAY, AUGUST u. 1s4a

are stranger to me-" he said slowly, a
ter scrulinizing my features for momer
-" but if you 60 down with me to III
foot Of This rock. in the shade there''-an
he pointed to a group of leaning oaks thu
hung over the declivity-" will tell yo
strange sad story Of my own expert
ence"
1t may he supposed that readily as
sented TO This proposal. Bestowing on,
more blow ON the ra.tlesnake, as if to b.
certain Of its death. the old man descend
CT she rocks with ra2idity that woul,
have endangered the neck of less prac
,lsed hunter. After reaching the pl2c,
where he pointed out, the Rattlesnak,
Hunter commenced his story in manner
which confirmed wha. had previously
heard Of his education aud intellectual
strength.
Il was among the earliest settlers in
this part of the country. had just fin.
ished my education at Harvard, when
was induced by the fa,tenng representa-,
tons VI some of the earliest pioneers into
the wild lands beyond the Connecticut, Ia
seek my fortune in the new settlements
My wife"-.he old mans eye glis,ened
an instant, and then a tear crossed his
brown cheek" My wife accompanied
me young and delicate and beautiful as she
was. to this wild and rude country.
shall never forgive myself for bringing her
hither-never. Young man" continued
he, "you look like one who could pity.
You shall see the image of the girl who
followed me to the new country" And
he unbound as he spoke RIBBON from his
neck with small miniature attached to it.
:. |. was that of beautiful female -but
there was an almost childish expression in
her cOuntenance-a soflness-a delicacy.
and sweetness of smile which have sci.
dom seen in the features of those who have
tasted. even slightly the bitter waters of
existence. The old man watched my
in,enlly, as l surveyed the
image of his early love. "She mus. have
been very beautiful" said as | returned
he picture.
Beautiful he repeated "you may
we'll say so. But this avails nothing.
nave a fearful s,ory, .sil. would ~ GUd
bad MOI. attea.s,..ds isss be-. viii go on.
n . hoar. Is-. bccn stretched too often on
he rack of men Dry TO suffer any new
pang.
1--WE had resided in the new country
nearly year. Our settlements had in-
creased rapidly. and the comforts and del
cacies Of life were beginning To be felt.
.fier the weary prisa,ions and severe trials
o which we had been subjected. The red
men were few and feeble, and did not mo-
est us. The beasts of the forest and
mountain were ferocious, but we suffered
title from them. The only immediate
LANCER TO which we were exposed result
I'd from the ra.llesnakes which infested
our neighborhood. Three or four settlers
we're bitten by them, and died in terrible
agonies. The Indians often told US fright
full stories Of this snake. and il. po-~.-. nj
faclna.ion, and although they were gener-
ally believed, yet for myself, l confess. |
was rather amused than convinced by their
marvellous legends.
"ln one OF my hunting excursions a.
broad, on fine morning lit was Just a.
this time of the year, was accompanied
by my wife. Twas beautiful morning.
The sunshine was warm, but the atmos>
phere was1perfec,ly clear; and a fine breeze
from the northwest shook the bright, green
leaves which clothed TO profusion the
wrea,hing branches above US. had left
my companion for shor, time. in the ,pur
sui, Of game; und in climbing rugged
ledge Of rocks, in,erspersed with shrubs
and dwarfish trees, l was startled by a
quick, grating rattle. ! looked forward. -
On the edge Of loosened rock lay large
ra:tlesnake, coiling himself as if-for the
deadly spring. He was withina few feet
Of me; andI paused for all instant to sur
vey him. know no. why. but ! stood
still, and looked at the deadly serpen,
with a strange feeling Of curiosity.
Suddenly he unwound his coil, as il
releuring from his purpose OF hostility
and raising his head, he fixed his bright
fiery eye directly upon my own. A chll.
ling and undesirable sensation, totally
dlfieren. from any thing | had ever before
experienced, followed this movement Of
the serpent; but stood still, and gazed
steadily and earnestly, for at that mopen
there was visible change in the reptile
His form seemed TO grow larger, ant
his coIory brighter. His body moved with
a slow, almost impercepsibfe motion to.
wards me. and low hum Of music came
from him or al least ii sounded in my ca
"a strange, sweet melody, faiLt as tia
which mel,s from the throat of the hum
ming bird. Then the tints Of his body
deepened, and changed, and glowed, lik'
The changes Of beautiful kaleidoscope
green, purple and gold, until ! lost sigh
| of the serpent entirely, and saw only will
| and curiously woven circles Of strange col
-. .,;vnr;nr around mo ike an atmos