The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-07-25
From the Youths Companion.

From the Youths Companion.
- SNAKE Story.
When ! resided in the country, | one
day met with little adventure which |
will detail for the amusement Of my rea-
ders. On certain part Of my husbands
estate, were three or four small cottages
inhabited by poor tenants, generally la
boreIs on the farm. used frequently 10
visit these cottages, for the women and
children were always glad to see me.
One pleasant afternoon in June. walk
ed over TO the cottages. Every door was
shut, not a soul was TO be seen. 1t was
too pleasant to return TO the house, and
so wandered on. At the distance Of
about quarter of mile, came upon a
field where found my cottagers, women
and children all busy in gathering wild
Strawberries. They did not see me till
was close upon them. Mrs. Dixon /,
where in the world is your baby ? where's
Edward 2
And sure. ma'am, is he not lying un-
der the large tree, fast asleep! said to
meself, sure, and its me husband shall
have the berries for his supper as well as
the rest of them, and Eddy the dear little
craiur, sleeps like jewel as he is. Js
step this way my lady, and look at the
darlin'
followed Mrs. Dixon 10 large oak
tree where, sure enough, lay the lille,
rosy.cheeked, curly-paied fellow fast a
sleep under light silk shawl which his
mother had carefully, spread over him.
But as we drew near, we saw, @! hor.
ror of horrors! coiled up on the top of
his body. outside the shawl, large poi
sonous snake of the kind they call cop
perheads. Mrs. Dixon had the natural
an,ipa,hy to serpenls very strongly; but
giving scream, she rushed forward and
would have seized the copperhead in her
hand, but | held her back, and represent.
ed TO her, that by such course she would
be bitten herself. and perhaps the child
also; and that the bite was almost certain
death.
% what shall do then! ? cried she,
pale and trembling, and scarcely able 10
artculate.-'Shall lie, the horrible era
tur lie there on my baby's bosom, TIL he
wakes and throws out his dear little
armsl What vii! happen them tell me
that'
The baby slep, on, however, and did
not stir, while we stood almost paralyzcd,
watching the snake. Once he raised his
head, and looked about, andI hoped he
would glide away, but the silken shawl
was soft and the sun was warm, and his
fat, ugly head again sunk upon his body
We were almost in despair. One propo-
sed that we should shout, and frightcn
him away, but that would be sure to wa
ken the child, and his safety depended
upon his keeping quiet. One courageous
woman approached the shawl, and gently
lifted the corner. The snake suddenly
reared his head; his body swcled and
the bright orange spots upon it glow ID
like fire. He gradually cooled down
however, and again composed himself to
rest. But he had changed his position,
his head now lay upon the grass, though
his body stretched quite across tina, of the
child.
suddenly recollcc,ed of having read
that an ashen twig had the effect of paral-
izing snake and rendering him incapa-
bic of injury. 20! for an ashen Dough,
who knows where there is an ash tree 2
Some knew Of one in distant field
and Immediately three or four set off IL
procure branch. But alas they are
scarcely gone when the baby shows signs
of waking. He fe,ches long breath, he
moves his cheek upon the grass, and see
one little hand is raised. O! it will Ger
tainly fall upon the snake, and then -
The mother struggled forward to seize
her child. when click bang! close Il
our eats went of, a ride. The snak,
sprung into the air and fell several fee
from us, with rife ball through his head
The mother could only hug her babe, an,
sob and laugh, but never heard anylhin!
like the jubilee, the ,orren, Of Irish jo!
which arose from her companions. vii
liam Johnson, the hero Of the rifle, VIII
was silently coming behind us on tn
grass, saw the condition Of the child, an