Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1854-11-04
The Snake Bit freshman.

jeremy Dlddler, who qnartered hlmse
upon their camp, and bored them by his idl
boasts and abuse of every thing America ar
and a particular horror Of all kinds of snake:
and one of the party determined 10 TAX
advantage of his prejudice with view G
getting rid of his company. Accordingly
one night when he was "sound snoring,
perhaps dreaming ofsnakes; the miscbivou
gentleman got his hunting-knife, and goini
to where the offal of large deer had bee1
| thrown, cut off about seven feet of the in
testines, and securing the end with twin
to retain the contents, tied one end OF then
fast and tight TO a corner of Paddy's linen
that had wandered through rent in hi
Observation-Disclosures, coiling it VI
smoothly by his side, snake like and true.
All things thus arranged, the conspirator
lay down again, and at the conclusion o
one of the stage-horn stores; one OF thu
gentlemen roared out al the top of his voice
"Hu-wee! hu-wee! big black snake
eleven feet long, has crawled up my trow
sers and is tying himself in double bow
knot around my body.'
At the first shout, he gave the 1rishman {
furious dig in the side with his elbow. ant
kept up running accompaniment on hi
shIns with his heels Of course, the noise
and hurting awoke him quick and wide in
the first movement he laid his hand on the
nice cold coil at his side, and he Kissed out
"Jasusw
Making one bound that carried him some
ten feet clear OF the camp and with force
that straitened cut the coil, and it cracked
like a whip. Casting Que wild, blazing look
behind he tore off with the rapidity Of
lightning around the camp in circle o.
forty feet across and at every bound
yelling: "Saze him! SAFE him by the tail
Och, Howly Vargin, stop him Och, St
Patrick, tare him till jiblets! A-wha
a-wha, he got me fast how'd. och, and he
has! By the Howly Saint he's mendin his
howl on to me! Och, Jasus, gentlemen
take howl on him; catch him! Shoot him
in the taiI-end, moind!'
During this scene, one stood hugging a
sappling with both arms and legs, his head
thrown back, screaming with laughter
another lay on the ground, rolling in fits Of
laughter; another, Eat JIM" stood with
his legs about yard apart, his hands hold
ing his hips, shouting at intervals of five
seconds, asnake! snake! snakeW and the
echo seemed to mock him with the return
of "snake snake! snake!' as Paddy made
the circle of the camp.
After circling about thirty times, the
poor fellow few off al a tangent into the
dark woods. and the mingled sounds of
"Snake! Murder! HowIy Virgin Fire!
Helpr; ETC., died away in the distance, and
the hunters were alone.
"Umph," said one, II thought that snake
would stop his snoring in this camp at any
rate"
The next evening Paddy was seen going
al mighty rate through Knoxville, with a
bundle on his arm, and a shi|aly in the
other hand, poking out his head in a half
defensive, half exploring attitude. He was
hailed with (Which way Paddyp
"Strate to ovid Ireland, by Jasus! where
there are no snakesE growled out Paddy
without stopping an instant.
SELLING Day GooDs.-People generally
think that it is very easy matter to stand
behind a counter and retail dry goods; but
a weeks experience in the business would
the cleverest man that il is much
more difficult and laborious than the task of
turning grindstone twelve hours per diem.
The office of salesman embodies, in its
1uties, necessity for the shrewdness of a
politician, the persuation of lover, the
poiteness of Chesterfield, the patience of
Job, and the impotence of pickpocket.
There are salesman who make ira point
never TO lose a customer. One OF the
gentlemen who is in store in Chatham
street, not long since was called TO show
very fastidious and fashionable lady, who
dropped in while going to Stewards"
'ome rich silk cloaking. Every article of
he kind was exposed 10 her view-the
whole store was misunderstanding suited.
The costly was stigmatized as trash-every-
hing was common and not fit for lady.
She guessed she would go TO Stewards.
The salesman pretended to be indignant.
Madam" said he in tone of injured
II have very beautiful and
are piece Of goods-a case which divided
With Mr.. Stewart, who is my brother-in-law,
,ut it would be useless to show il to you
/ is the only piece in the city"
ooh. allow me TO see it." she asked, in
IN anxious tone, and continued, g. had no
Intention Of annoying you, or of disparaging
he merits of your wares"
The salesman, who was now watched in
'reathless silence by his fellow clerks:
proceeded, as if with much reluctance, and
With expressions of fear that it would be
INJURED by getting tumbled, to display an
ncient piece Of vesting, which had been
wing in the store for five years, and was
onsidered to be unstable. The lady ex-
mined and liked it much. That was
iece of goods that was worthy to be worn.
low much was it yard?
twenty-five shillings." 4s
90! that is very high"
:. There exclaimed he, beginning to fold
up, II knew you would say that"
"Stay! stay! don't be in a hnrryw she
ried-s I'll give you twenty shillings."
Madam, you insult me again."
HCut me off yards, and You can make
D the deduction on some velvet which
squire for trimmings" almost entIeated the
ii shopper.
The salesman, after much persuation,
sd the lady the yesting, for which they
adj 10 vain sought to get five shilings per
ard, at the price above indicated. The
rofit Of the sale on vesting and velvet
mounted to $33! out of which the clerks
ere permitted to pay for supper Of oysters.
he best Of this brief tale of dry goods is to
> told. The lady had her cloak made, and
lie 81 two Of her friends, delighted with il,
ought the rest Of the vesting at the same
rice.
There is moral to this anecdote, which
e leave to be discovered by the ingenuity
our lady readers who occasionally go
Messenger.