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

crackle then it died again, or became yet more
dead asleep than before. know not which, but |
certainly lay some time without hearing il. Al
Of a sudden became awake, and there was |, on
the ridge Of the bill, with ny cheek on the ground
toward the siubble, with a noise IN my ear Ike
that Of something moving toward me, among The
stubble of the field. Wen, / lay moment or swo
lister ing 10 the noise, and then / became fight
eued, for | did not like the noise at all, u
sounded go odd 81 I rolled myself on my belly,
and looked toward the stubble. Mercy u2on as
there was a huge snake, or rather dreadful
viper, for it was all yellow and gold, moving To-
W ard me- bearing its head about a foot and hall
above the ground, the dry stnbble cracking be-
meath its outrageous belly. IL might be about
five ards of when first saw it, making straight
toward me- child, as If it would devour me. lay
quite still. for was stupefed with horror, while
the creature came still nearer; and now it was
nearly upon me, when it suddenly drew back
little, and then-wbat DO you think lit lifted us
head snd chest high into the air, and high over
my face as looked up, pickering at me With its
tongue as il it would fly at my lace. Child, what
| felt ut that moment | can scarcely say bat II
was sufficient punishment for all the sins ever
committed; and there we two were, boxing up
at the viper, and the viper looking down upon me,
Pickering at me with its tongse. It was only the
kindness Of God that saved me all at once there
was loud noise, the report of gun, for fowler
was shooting at a covey of birds, little way OIL
in the stubbe. Whereupon the viper sunk its
head, and Immediately made off over the ridge OF
the hill, down in the direction Of the sea. As it
passed by me, however-and it passed close by
met hesitated q moment, as II It was doubtful
whether it would not seize me; 1t did not, how
ever, but made of down the hill. Ii has often
struck me that he was angry with me, and came
upon me unawares for presuming 10 NEEDLE with
his people, as | have always been IN the habit oil
doing
But said I, chow do you know that it was
the king Of the vipersl"
How DO l know |" said the old man who
else should it be ? There was as much difference
between it and other reptiles as between King
George and other people"
is King George, then, different from other
people T. demanded.
OF course" said the old man; have never
seen him myself but have heard people say
that he is ten times greater man than other
folks indeed, it stands to reason that he must
be different from the rest else people would not
be so eager to see him. Do you think, child, that
people would be fools enough to run matter OF
twenty or thirty miles to see the king provided
King George
Haven't the French king ?" l demanded.
"Yes," said the old man, " or something much
the same, and queer one he is; not quite so big
as King George they say, but quite as terrible q
fellow. What Of him 2"
Suppose he should come to Norman Cross :"
"What should he do at Norman Cross, child y
"Why, you were talking about the vipers in
your bag breaking their hearts, and 30 on and
their king coming to help them. Now, suppose
the French people should hear of his people being
in trouble at Norman Cross, and"
He can't come child said the old man, rub
bipg his hands "the water lies between. The
French don't like the water neither vipers nor
Frenchmen take kindly to the water, child
When the old man left the country, which he
did few days afterthe conversation which have
just related he left me the reptile which he had
tanned and rendered quite harmless by removing
the fangs. / was in the habit of feeding il with
milk and frequently carried it abroad with me in
my walks.
The viper, with whom he had established such
good understanding, proves friend in need at
HIS FIRST REScoNTRE WITH THE GIPsIEs.
One day it happened that, being on my ram
bles l entered a green lane which had never
seen before; at first it was rather narrow, but as
l advanced it became considerably wider; in the
middle was a drift-way with deep ruts, but right
and left was a space carpeted with sward OF
trefoil and clover; there was no lack OF trees
chiefly ancient oaks, which, hingng out their
arms from either side, nearly formed canopy,
and afforded pleasing shelter from the rays OF
the sun, which was burning fercely above. Sud
denly q group of objects attracted my attention.
beneath one of the largest of the trees, upon tho
top Of which thin smoke was curling; beside It
stood couple of light carts, while two or three
lean horses or ponies were cropping the heritage
which was growing nigh. Wondering TO whom
this odd tent could belong, | advanced till | was
close before it, when found that it consisted OF
two tits like those Of wagons, placed upon the
ground and fronting each other, connected behind
by sail or a large piece Of canvas which was bat
partially drawn across the top; upon the ground,
in the intervening space, fire, over which,
supported by a kind of iron crowbar, hung cal
dron my advance had been so nOiseless as not to
alarm the inmates, who consisted OF man and
woman, who set apart, one On each side Of the
FIRE they were both busily employed-the man
was cardng plated straw, whilst the woman
seemed TO be rubbing something with white
powder, some of which lay on plate beside her (;
suddenly the man looked up and, perceiving nae,
uttered a strange Kind of cry, and the next mo-
ment both the woman and himself were on their
feet and rushing out upon me.
reireated few steps, yet without turning TO
fee. i was not, however, without apprehension,
which, indeed, the appearance Of these two peo-
pie was well calculated to inspire the women
was a stout figure, seemingly between thirty and
forty she wore no cap, and her long hair fell on
either side of her head like horse tails half
way down her waist her skin was dark and
swarthy, like that of toad, and the express
sion of her countenance particularly evil; her
arms were bare, and her bosom was bat half
concealed by slight bodice, below which
she wore a coarse pettcoat, her only other
articles Of dress. The man was somewhat youn-
ger bat of figure equally wild his frame was
long and lathy, but his arms were remarkably
short, his neck rather bent, he squinted slight
~, and bis mouth was much awry; his complexion
was dark, but, unlike that Of the woman, was
more rudy than lvid there was deep scar on
bis cheek something like the impression OF q half
penny. The dress was quite in keeping with the
figure in his hat, which was slightly peaked, was
stuck peacock sfesther over Awsistcoatof hide,
untanned and with the hair upon it, he wore q
rough jerkin of rusIethue smallcothes Of leather,
which had probably once belonged to soldier, but
with which pipe clay did not seem to have come
in contact for many years, protected his lower
man as far as the knee; his legs were cased in
long stockings of blue worsted. aud on his shoes
be wore immense old fashioned buckles
Such were the two beings who now came rush