Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1855-10-24
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A ERt;GHTRHL.: SNAKE STORY.

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- A FRIGHTFUL, SNAKE STORY.
The following incident was related to US the
other day by one whose reracity is unquestioned
and who was an eyewitness ofthe fact. 1t is
more appalling than any we. recollect to have
yerread in the history of these reptiles.
Some time last summer, the inhabitants Of
Manchester, Mississippi, gave a barbecue, which
was attended by most of the fashion and beauty
of the Town and surrounding country. 1t hap.
pened that among the guests there was n young
lady, Miss NJ, recently from one Of the eastern
Cities who was on visit to her relations in the
neighborhood of.the town.
Miss NJ, was gay and extremely fashionable
Young lady, and withal possessed an uncommon
share of:spirit and courage, except in matter
l.of snakes, and of those sine had so great dread
that she scarcely dared to walk anywhere, ex.
cept 10 the most frequented places, for fear: of
encountering them. Every effort was used, but
without avail, to rid her Of her childish fears.
They haunted her continually, until at last it
became the settled conviction of her mind that
I she was destined to fall victim to the fangs of
"a rattlesnake, The sequel will show how soon
her terrible presentment WAS fulfilled
Towards the close of the day, while scores OF
the fairy feet were keeping time in the dance to
the music, and the whole company were in the
full tide of enjoyment, scream was heard from
Miss NJ, followed by the most agonizing cries
for help. The crowd gathered round her in
stantly, and .beheld her standing the perfect
Image of despair, with hands grasping portion
of her dress with the tenacity of a,vice. 1t was
some time before she could be rendered suffi-
;ciently calm to tell the cause Of her alarm; and
then they gathered from her broken exclamations
that she was grasping the head Of a snake among
the folds of her, dress, and feared to let 60 her
hold for fear of receiving the fatal blow. This
intelligence caused many to shrink from her, but
most of the ladies', for their honor be it told, de-
termined not 10 leave her in her dreadful ex-
tremity:
They besought her not TO relax her hold, MS
her safety depended upon it, until some one
could be found with courage enough TO seize
and remove the terrible animal There were
none of the ladies', however, to perform the act,
and the situation of Miss NJ. was becoming more
and. more critical every moment. 1t was evident
that her strength was failing fast, and that she
could not maintain her hold many minutes
longer.
A hasty consultation among the calmest of
the ladies' was held, when it was determined
that MIR. Tyson, who was present, should be
called to lhcir assistance He was quickly on
the spot, and being man Of uncommon cour-
arc. he was not many minutes within the circle
Of weeping and half.fainting females. until he
caught the tail of the snake and wound it around
his hand.
He then told Miss. NJ that she must let go at
the moment he jerksd itaway,; and TO make the
act as instantaneous as possible, he would pro-
nounce the words one, two, three, and at the
moment he pronounced the last word, she must
let 90 her held, and he doubted not he could
withdraw the snake before it could have time to
strike. All stood in breathless horror, awaiting
the act of life or death; and ut the moment the
word three was pronounced, the doctor jerked
out the largest and most diabo ca! looking bus
tie that was ever seen in Mississippi. The whole
affair was then explained. The fastenings of
the machine had become loose during the dancing
and it had shifted its position in such way
that it dangled about the lady's limbs, and in
duced the belief that it was a snake with an
enormous head.
The doctor fell right down in his tracks and
fainted.-Mississippi Journal.
One OF THE BoYs.-A few days ago young:
ster, some six or seven years OF age, stepped
into Dr. Fred Browns store, and asked DR..
Wilmington for first-rate cigar.
"Do you smoke, Tolnmy!" inquired the doc
Tor.
SHOW and then, was the reply.
"Folks all well, Tommy!"
"So.so.ish-pretty comfortable
81 saw your mother the other day; she was
dressed in deep mourning. Who is that for,
Tommy"
"Why, you know that father has been very
sick!"
"Yes; but bless me, he aint dead is he?"
sDead !"-no! He's got nearly well and
mother was so disappointed she put on mourn.
ing, and says she is wearing it for an aunt ol
! mine who died some time ago; but you and
understand it, doctor-that's all in pigs eye
You don't want to step over to Ioung's, and
moistenithe alimmentary, do you"
"No"
"Well, Frank Goell's a perfect trump;
guess I'll 20 and see him. Good morning doc
tor"
The BED AZ AN INSTITUTION. The almost
forgotten French romance, Clemence Roberts
thus warmly expresses himself on the comforts
of the bed:
GA bed is certainly the most precious and
most favorable asylum to be found here below
| In fact, when look at it, and when | think
when step into it, how one is Suddenly, as il
by enchantment, rid Of fatigue, cold, wind, dust
rain, importunate visiters, tedious conversations
commonplace remarks, pompous assertions
Dragging, putting forth headstrong opinions
contradictions, discussions, travelling stories
confidential readings Of poem or n whole ira
eedy, explanations Of systems in long words
interminable monologues, and that in place Of
all these, one has pictures, thoughts, memories
to be called up, that he is in the midst Of cho
sen society Of phantoms and Visions just to hi:
mind, and all these dreams, which a foreign wri
ter calls @moonligbt of the brain" !" when think
of all this, MS look at bed, know not what
words to make use of to express my enthusiasm
and yeucration, and am almost ready to bow II
alteration before it.
NOVEL, ARrrHMET1c.-A correspondent. il
Ohio becomes sponsor for the following, which
as a matter Of fact, he wishes to put on record
Whitaker is one of. the richest men in thos
parts, and has made his money by driving sharl
bargains His hired man was one day golnll
along with a load Of hay, which he overturne'
upon COW. The poor thing was smothered II
death before they could get her out. Her ow
ner, Jones, called upon Mr.. Whitaker the mex
day and demanded payment. for the loss OF HI
cow. ,,,l.i.., .l,. J.