New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-03-14

! der welcome, nevertheIess' Win every appear
| erca ~ Measure an uncOuth wiry headed man,
,ri,S fIightfuly scanned face, aud an iron hook
.n,,als ing the place of his right hand. one whom
~ fs2Sir1a had never seen before, plsyfuly bite
his hair. and cover his face with gentle aud en-
dearing kisses; and | have already stated how
viper would permit, without resentment, one
child 20 take IL up ia bis hand. While It sho we'd
its dislike TO the approach Of another By the
| fercest hissings. Philosophy can explain many
strange things, but there some which are 4 Tar
pitch above her, and this is one.
He has another experience with vipers at
place called Norman Cross, in Lincolnshire, where
the regiment of his father was stationed:
THE VIPER TAMER.
II was midsummer when we arrived at this
! place and the weather, which had for long time
| been wet and gloomy, now became bright and
glorious; was subjected to but little control, and
I passed my time pleasantly enough, principally IN
wandering about the neighbOring country. 1t
was fiat and somewhat Jenny, a district more of
pasture than agriculture and not very thickly In
! habited. | soon became well acquainted with It.
| At the distance of two miles from the station was
| large lake. styled In the dialect OF the country
| " a mere" about whose borders tall reeds were
| growing in abundance; this was frequent haunt
| OF mine, but my favorite place of resort was a
wild sequestered spot at q somewhat greater DIS
lance. Here surrounded with woods and thick
groves, was the seat of some ancient family de-
4 serted by the proprietor, and only lnhaotsed oy
rustic servant or two. place more solitary and
| wild could scarcely be imagined; the garden and
walks were overgrown with weeds and brars,
and the unpruned woods were 80 tangled as to De
| almost impervious. 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 state OF unmixed enjoy
\ meRt my eyes now fixed on the wondrous pages,
| now glancing at the sylvan scene around; and
sometimes would drop the book and listen to the
| voice Of the rocks and wild pigeons, and not I'M
| frequently to the croaking Of mutitudes OF frogs
| from the neighboring swsmps and tens.
IN going to and from this place IfreQuentypassed
| tall elderly individual dressed in rather quaint
fashion, with skin cap on his head and stout gal
tiers on bis legs; on bis shoulders hung moderate
sized leathern sack; he seemed fond OF lettering
near sunny banks, and of cropping amid farze and
| low sclubby bramble bushes OF which there were
plenty 10 the neighborhood of Norman Cross. Once
| / saw him standing in the middle Of a dusty road,
looking intently ct large mark which seemed to
have been drawn across, as If by walking stick.
"He must have been a large one" the old man
| muttered half to himself, "Or he would not have
left sach trail wonder if he is near he seems
| TO have moved this way" he then went 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 down
ward, and occasionally striking their roots with
|
and forth with saw him dart among the bushes.
| There was a kind Of scufiliDg noise, the rustling
| of branches, and the cracking of dry sticks. Z"
| have him p said the man at last; 81 have got
him" and presently he made his appearance
| about twenty yards down the road, holding
| large viper in his hand. "What do you think Of
| that, my boy Z" said he, as l went up to him
"what DO you think Of catching such thing as
that with the naked hand 2" "What do think ?"
said !, why that l could do as much myself"
"YOu do" said the man, do you Lord how
the young people in these days are given to con-
| cet; it did not use to be so in my time; when |
! was a child, ehilder knew how to behave them
| selves; but the childer of these days are full of
cOncet, full of froth, like the mouth of this viper
and with bis fore finger and thumb he squeezed
considerable quantities Of foam from the jaws OF
the viper down upon the road. "The childer OF
| these days are q generation of-God forgive me,
| what was about TO say p said the old man. and
opening his bag be thrust the reptile into it, which
appeared far from empty. | passed on. AS l
| was returning toward the evening" | overlook the
| old man. who was vending in the same direction.
GOOD evening to you,' said /, taking oil cap
which / wore on my head. Good evening,
said the old man. and then, looking at me, Hows
this 2" said he; "you sr'n't, sure, the child l met
! in the morning 2" a. Yes" said 1, " what
| makes you doubt it ?" d" Why, you were then all
| froth and conceit said the old man. and now
you take off your cap to me-" Il beg your par
don" said |, if was frothy snd conceited 1t i'll
DEAR" said the old man; "weI, as you have
begged my pardon, | truly forgive you" THANK
| you, said !; "have you caught any more OF those
| things 2" "Ony four or FIVE" said the old man.
| they getting scarce though this used TO be
| great neighborhood for them. And what DO
| YOU do with them 7" said do you carry them
| home and play with them ~ al sometimes play
with one or two that 1 tame said the old man
"but hunt them mostly for the fat which they
| contain, out of which make unguents which are
good for various sore troubles, especially for the
rheumatism" "And do you get your living by
hunting these creatures" l demanded. mot
altogether" said the old man beside being a
viper-hunter, am what they call herbalist-one
who knows the virtue of particular herbs gather
! them at the proper season, to make medicines for
the SICK "And do you live In the neghbor-
hood 7" l demanded. "You seem very fond Of
asking questions, child No, do not live in this
neighborhood in particular; travel about; have
not been in this neghborhood till lately for some
years"
From this time the old man and myself formed
an acquaintance; | often accompanied him IN his
wanderings about the neighborhood, and, on two
or three occasions, assisted him in catching the
reptiles which be hunted. He generally carried
viper with him which he had made quite tame,
and from which he had extracted the poisonous
fapgs; it would dance and perform various kiHds
of tricks He was fond Of telling me anecdotes
connected with his adventures with the reptile
! species, But" said he one day, signing, II
must shortly give up this business; am no longer
the man was; | am become tlmid, and Waen
person timid in viper hunting he had better leave
Off as it is quite clear his virtue is leaving him
got a fright some years ago. which am quite sure
l shall never get the better of; my hand has been
shsRymore or less ever since" "What frightened
youl" said l. 81 had better not tell you, said
the old man, "or you may be frightened too, lose
your virtue, and be no longer good for the oasl'
ness" 81 don't care, said / L don't intend to
follow the business dare say shall be an oil
Ger like my father" "Wel, said the old man,
81 once saw the king Of the vipers, and since
then $500" The king Of the vipers p said inter
rupting him; "have the vipers king Assure
as we have" said the old man" as sure as we