The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-03-20

Scholar-The Gipsey-The Priest,"-a very
strange production, yet very interesting one
we extract the following curious chapter:
THE VIPER tanner.
1t was midsummer when we arrived at this
place, and the weather, which had for a long
time been wet and gloomy, now became bright
and glorious; was subjected to but little con.
troll and passed ny time pleasantly enough,
principally in wandering about the neighborng
country. 1t was fat and somewhat fenny dis
trct more of pasture than agriculture, and not
very tbickly inhabited lsoon became well ac-
quainted with it, AT the distance Of two miles
from the station was n large lake, styled in the
dialect Of the country "a mere" about whose
borders tall reeds were growing in abundance
this was a frequent haunt Of mine but my ia
vorite place of fesort was a wild sequestered
spot at somewhat greater distance. Here sur
rounded with woods and thick groves, was the
seat of some ancient family, deserted by the pro-
prietor, and only inhabited by n rustic servant
or two. A place more solitary and wild could
scarcely be imagined the garden and walks
were overgrown with weeds aud briars, and the
unpruned woods were so tangled as to be al
most mpervious. About this domain / would
wander till overtaken by fatigue, and then |
would sit down with my back against some
BEECH elm, or stately alder tree, and, taking out
my book, would pass hours in 4 state of un- |
mixed enjoyment, my eyes now fixed on the |
wondrous pages, now CHANGING at the sylvan
scene around and sometimes would drop the |
book and listen to The voice Of the rocks and
and wild pigeons, and not unfrequcaily TO the
oroakng of mullitudes of frogs from the neigh |
boring swampsand fcns.
T., xo;re, A., nux r-o,, ,I,;- 49, I L
passed tall elderly individual, dressed in rather
a quaint fashion, with skin cap on his head
and stout CATERS on his legs on his shoulders
hung moderate sized leathern sack he seemed
fond of lettering near sunny banks and of gro
ping amid furze and low scrubby bramble
bushes of which there were plenty 10 the neigh
borhood Of Norman Cross. Once | saw him
standing in the middle Of dusty road, looking
ntently at large mark which seemed to have
been drawn across, as if by walking. stick
ale must have been large one" the old man
muttered half TO himself, "or he would not have
left such a trail. ! wonder if he is near he
seems to have moved this way" lie tbcnwent
behind some bushes which grew on the right
side OF the road, and appeared to be in quest of
something, moving behind the bushes with his
head downward, and occasionally striking their
roots with his foot At length he exclaimed,
Here he is" and forthwith ! saw him dart
among the bushes There was kind of scuf.
fling noise. the rustlng of branches, and the
cracking of dry sticks - have him." said the
man at last 81 have got himm and presently
be made his appearance about twenty yards
down the road, holding large viper in bis hand.
" What do you think of that my boy!" said he,
AZ ] went up 10 bime-" what do you think Of
catching such thing as t6at with the naked
A. = a
| could do as much myself" "You do said
the man. ado You! Lord how the young peo-
Pile in these days given TO conoeIt; il did not
use TO be so In my time when | was a child,
children knew how to behave themselves; but
the children of these days are full of coneeit, full
or froth, like the mouth of this viper;" and with
his fore finger and thumb he squeezed consider
able quantities of foam from the jaws Of the
viper down upon The road, "The children of
these days are generation of--God forgive me,
what was ! about to snyW said the old man;