Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1848-03-15

warning rattle. but slowly and irregularly, show
ing it was not fully aroused
what is ihat2' exclaimed dozen voices.
The foot being withdrawn, the rafting ceased
before It's nature or source could be clearly traced
was the steam escaping" said one.
"a goose hissin'," said another.
''Ihe wind"
~ trick 10 scare the sailor" thought good
many bit kne,o it ,cas a raitlesnate IN his
deadly COLL
The horror of that moment shall not attempt to
describe, every second | expected to hear the
shrek OF the silor, as the deadly iangs would PEN
citrate his 49, and knew, if a vein were slrick-
en-, no power ON earth could avail him, and 1 was
powerlesS TO warn him of his danger.
at sounded monstrous like rattesnake" OBJ
served passenger ''but there's doctors or fool
students board, and nobody but cusses like these
would DO takn' Snakes 'bout. was gwine up
the Mississippi wunst, when rattlesnake, belong
Ing TO medical student on board, got out and bit
one or the passengers. The poor crter didn't live
ten minutes, and the sawbone's prentice rot much
longer, reckon"
My hair stood on end, for there was an earnest
ness about tho man that told me he was not Jest
ing.
You didn't kill him, surely ?' asked some cne
'Oh, no! we didn't 2actly kill him. SIGH as cut
tin his throat, putin lead in his hoer cimblin
for that would have been takn' the law inter our
own hands but we guv him five hundred lashes,
treated him to a coat of tar and feathers, made a
clean crop of one ear, aid swailer-iork slit under
bit and half crop of the other, and put him lit
tie island, up TO his mouth in water, and the river
rlsn slam foot an hour!''
Not knowing but similar fate might soon be
mine, i'll agony, with the cold sweat streaming
over me, listened to this internal recital OF an in
stance of the summary punishment termed ''Lynch
Law" which the unavailability Of the proper law
50 often drove the early settlers to, and which I'M
fortunately, is not entirely abolished.
The sailor must again have moved his foot clos
er TO the snake than was agreeable, for his internal
ratiling again commenced, and this lime, clear
loud, and continuous, to the tItored indicating
great danger, the prelude TO a fatal spring.
81 shook off my ethargy. and shreked ont,
''Don't move, for your life light! For Gods
sake, bring i light! Quick Quick!''
No one moved thinking was jesting-" mis-
ter" spoke the sailor '.if it's trick scare u.s.
you'll miss the figure with your child's rattleS Jest
bring one of your real rattlesnakes along, and Pll
show you whether he Brighten an English sal
Tor or not"
Hearing me call loudly for light, the mate, a
stalwari irishman, came running up with large
torch; but hardly had he reached the deck, when
he discovered the monster, his head drawn back
ready for striking.
Snake snake !" yelled he, punching at him
with his glazing torch.
''WheJeabopts, you lubbeI2 2" still suspecting a
trick. the light binding us al.
Under your reet!''
The sailor looked down, and beheld the hdeous
reptile right under his chair! With loud yell,
he made one spring over the guards into the river.
'.Rattlesnake. Man overheard Stop her! Out
with the yaw Fire! Snakei She's sinking !
Shoot hiu Snake! Whose is it, Lynch him !
Kill the raScal" swelled on the air, mingled with
the crashing OF broken doors and chairs, the oaths
and rushing of terrified men, and the screaming of
still more terrified women, who knew not what to
fear, while clear and distinct, above the internal
melee, arose the piercing rattle of the snake, which
writing his huge proportions about, and striking at
every thing near him, seemed to glory in the con
fusion he had created.
A shot was heard, and then the coil collapsed
and the rafting slowly ceased. The snake was
dead.
''Who brought him on board?"
F'Let's lynch the scoundrel!"
care there any more of them?'
Heres the box he got out Of"
My name lCdS IL, in large capitals
Throw it overheard :"
Throw it ovorboard!" | yelled out, sit may
have more in it Throw it overboard!"
No sooner said than done, and as the only evil
dence of my participation tloated away over the
wave, no one was louder in his Remuneration of the
rascal that brought it on board than myself.
THE EARLIEST AND BEST EDUcArog.-"What
is wanting" said Napoleon, one day, to Madame
Champan, Sin order that the youth OF France be
well educated? 20 Good Mothers" was the re-
ply The Emperor was most iorciby struck with
the answer. Here" said he, sis a system OF
education in one word.'' Let the mind of this pa
rent be imbued with knowledge, and her children
will imbibe from her the love of learning let hei
heart be filled with the affection Of good, and her
children VIII receive from her the love Of virtue
and of noble deeds How often has she planted
germs, which, in subsequent years, expanded anC
produced the iarest fruits of science and of wis
dom! The culture ofthe religious affections, thu
development of the sense of duty and of the mora
nature this is the great business of life. And t,
whom has God entrusted the commencement O
/ this solemn work On whom does it devolve Il
call forth the infant man? Where is the influences
tina: shall keep the young heart from fatal wander
ings and errors Il is the mother TO whom w
look for the discharge of these momentous offices
If she neglecs TO do it, there is no substitute-nun
to whom we can turn to excite, purify, and fOste
/ its immortal faculties. Who is that mother VIII
thinks lightly of her influence on the minds OF he
children? Let her know that on her it may nov
be depending, whether son is to pass through liG
ignorant Of the world, Of his duties as a man, eli
izen and Christian, or be 50 educated as to be
blessing TO his country, an honor to his race, an
heir to glorious immortality.
CoNFIDE IN YOUR MornER-To the vor,thf,
fefnale we would say, that no individual of eitht
sex can love you with affection 50 dsiniereste
as your mother. Deceive her, and ''you4 feet wi
slide in due time" How many thonghtless daugl
tiers receive addresses against the wishes OF the
parents, receive them clandestiney, give their han
in marriage, and thus dig the grave for all the
earthly happiness. He who would persuade vo
to deceive your parents, proves himself in that vel
deed unworthy of all your confidence If YOU VIC
rim, you will speedily realize what you have los
You viii find that you have exchanged i symp
thizing friend, an able, judicious counsellor. a kin