Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1855-08-09
STORY OF SNAKE CHARMING.

Mr.. G. A. Bowen, Of New Hampshire, has
furnished the Boston Traveller with the fol-
lowing. The incidents, it is stated, are strict
ly true, and occurred in the town of Danbury,
about twenty years ago.
An interesting little child, only four years
of age, son Of Mr.. David Ball Of that place,
used frequently to call for bread and milk be-.
tween its regular meals, an when it was given
to him, would take his dish and 60 out short
distance from the house, sit down upon a large
stone and eatit. Even at meal times instead
of sitting down at the table with the rest of
the family, the child would take his plate Of
potato and butter, and 60 out to his rock and
there finish his meal alone. IF his mother re.
monstrated and insisted upon his sitting at
the table, he would cry piteously, and at times
utterly refuse to eat anything. This was re.
garded as whim of the child's, and but little
notice was taken of it, and, being the baby,
he was allowed to have pretty much his own
way. He was hearty and rugged, had as
much bread and milk as he wanted, and dur.
ing the day usually played out doors by him
self.
One day, as usual, Johnny, after receiving
his bread and milk, went out to his stone to
eat, but presently returned and asked for another
spoon. His father being present felt curious
to know how Johnny could eatwith two spoons,
and perhaps thinking to surprise and have
little fun with his darling boy, quietly slipped
out of the back door to the corner of a shed
near by to watch him. The child seated bin.
self upon the rock, and without offering to
touch his favorite beverage, sat nearly min
ute in silence getting impatient, he called ina
low voice, Peckled coat peckled coat Come
back and get your dinnerv The moment the
ehild's voice was heard, q le1M2 oi0M 1 s5ol5
'aer ~oraw'ed from henes.hfa lap, and there
coiled itself nearly half up, and in moment
was eating from the same dish with the child.
The child all the while talking to the snake
in its low plantive voice, every now & then look.
ing up as if fearful that some one mightover hear
him, patting him with his little hand, calling
him his little 'peckled coat the while, and
urging him to eat upon his own side of the
dish, and whenever this rule was deviated from
he got gentle tap on the head with the spoon.
The father looked until in his agony he
could look no longer; seizing club he sprung
to destroy tie snake. But he was not quick
enough Ia moment the snake was under
the rock. The child walked quietly into the
house without uttering word, and would not
speak for some time. Twice after this the boy
was allowed the snake out, but the father was
unable to get near enough to kill it. At last
the child was confined to the house and the
father, by the assistance of others, pried up the
stone and killed the reptile. The snake was
Of the species known in that vicinity as the
milk adder, was nearly three feet long, and be,
tween three and four inches round the body.
When the child learned the fate of the snake,
its grief could not be described, and was most
painful to witness For hours after, it would
cry piteously. "Oh, father, you have killed
my poor peckled coat" sobbing the while as
if its little heart would break and for weeks
after this, he would 60 and sit on this stone,
and mournfully call for his ''peckled coat."-
! 1t was with difficulty he could be made to eat
| anytnii.nre. and for nearly three months he con-
tinued to pine s,wav, until he was reduced to a
mere skeleton. But this un-'t ulu-atural grief in
time wore away. He is now hale and hear.
ty young man, and withaI much respected by
| those who know him.