Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1851-12-17


there was an almost childish expression in
her countenance-a softness.-a delicacy.
and sweetness of smile which I have sel-
dom seen In the features of those who
have tasted, even slightly the bitter wa
ters of existence, The old man watched
my countenance intently, as l surveyed
the image of his early love. 'She must
have'been very beautiful said, as 1 re-
turned the picture,
'BeautihilP 7 he erepeated, you May well
say so, But this avails nothing. / have
a fearful story to tell would to God had
not attempted it {; but win go on. Ny
heart has been too often stretched upon
the rack of memory to suffer any pang.'
F, I'VE had resided in the new country
about year. Our. settlement had in
creasedrapidly and the comforts and de-
licacies of life were beginning to be felt,
after the weary privations and severe tri-
ais to which we had been subjected. The
red men were few and feeble, and did not
molest us. The beasts, of the forests and
mountains were ferocious, but we suffer
ed little from them. The only immediate
danger to which we were exposed, result
ted from the rattlesnakes which infested
our neighborhood. Three or four of our
settlers were bitten by them, and died in
terrible agonies. The Indians often told
us frightful stories of this snake, and it's
powers of fascination, and although they
were generally believed, yet for myself, l
confess, was rather amused than con-
vinced by their marvellous legends.
In one of my hunting excursions abroad,
on a fine morning-it was at this time of
the year, l was accompanied by my wife.
Twas beautiful morning, The sun
shine was warm, but the atmosphere was
perfectly clear, and a fine breeze from the
northwest shook the bright green leaves
which clothed to profusion the wreathing
branches above us. l had left my COM
panion for short time, inpursuit of game,
and in climbing rugged ledge of rocks,
interspersed with shrubs and dwarfish
trees, I was startled by quick, grating
rattle.
Hooked forward. On the edge of a
loosened rock laid large rattlesnake,
coiling himself up as if for the deadly
spring, He was within few feet of me /;
and paused for an instant to survey him.
know not why, stood STILL and looked
at the deadly serpent with strange feel
ing of curiosity. Suddenly he unwound
his coil, and relenting from his purpose of
hostility, and raising his head, he fixed
his bright fiery eye directly upon my
own. A chilling and indescribable SEN
sation-totally different from anything l
had ever before experienced, followed the
movement of the serpent; but stood still
oOI rrnUaI staoIilI, of
that moment there was visible change
in the reptile.
His form seemed to grow larger and
his colors brighter. His body moved
with slow, almost imperceptible motion
towards mt, anu a 10" hum vf Iii"eiV
came from him, or at least it sounded in
my cara strange, sweet melody, faint
as that which melts from the throat of the
humming bird. Then the tints of his
body deepened, and changed and glowcd
like the Changes of beautiful kaleido-
scope-green; purple and gold, until
lost sight of the serpent entirely, and saw
only wild and curiously woven circles of
strange colors, quivering around me, like
an atmosphere Of rainbows. l seemed in
the centre of great prism-a world of
mysterious colors-and tints varied and
darkened and lighted up again around
me, and the low music went on without
ceasing until my brain reeled and fear,
for the first time, came like a shadow
over me.
The new sensation gained upon me
rapidly, and could feel. the cold sweat
gushed from my brow, had no GER
tainty of fear in my mind-no definite
idea of peril-all was vague and clouded
like the unaccountable terrors of a dream
and yet my limbs shook, and faneied
l could feel the blood stiffening with cold
as it passed along my veins. would
have given worlds to have been able to
tear myself from the spot; attempted to
do so, but the body obeyed not the i'm
pulse of the mind-not muscle stirred /;
and l stood still as ifmy feet had grown
to the solid rock, with the internal music
of the tormentor in my ear, and the bane-
full colorings of his entertainments before
me.
Suddenly new sound came to my ear
it was It human voice-but it seemed
strange and awful. 'Again-again-but
stirred not, and then white form plum
ged before me, and grasped my arm
The horrible spell was at once broken
The strange colors passed from before my
vision. The rattlesnake was coiling at my
very feet, with glowing eyes and uplifted
fangs, and my wife was clinging with ter
ror upon me, The next instant the SER
pent threw himself upon us, My wife
was the victim The fatal fangs pierced
deeply into her hand, and her screams of
agony, as she staggered backward from
Then it was that the feeling of madness
came over me and when saw the foul
serpent stealing away from his work,
reckless of danger, sprang forward and