Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1855-08-01
Another story Of Snake Charming.

Mr. q A Bowen, of New Hampshire, has f.
pishea the Boston Traveller with the following
The iacis2ts, it is stated are strictly true, and oc
.cured in the town of Daubury, about :Tenty years
ago: 4. .. ,.c are
son of Mr. Du{iG Ball Gf that place, used trequcRty
to call for bread ard milk between its regular meas
it when it was given to him. he wou'u u.Ac
HIS dish and 70. out short distance from j "
house sit down upon stone anu eat H. EVE ~
nesI lines instead of sitting down ct the table with
the rest Of the family h3 you'd take his Pinte Oh
notntO and butter aud 90 out to his rock and tuerS
finish his meal alone II ms hCtnet on nd
and insisted upon his sitting at the table he woua
Crv piteously, md at times utterly refuse 10 eat
ANYTHING. This was regarded as "h'n o' .'S
childs aud but little notice was taken OF IL, anu
bpinU The baby, he was allowed TO have pretty uuCh
his own wav. lie wns hearty and rugged, mao NS
much bread and milk as he wanted, and during the
day usually played out of doors By hlmscii. =,
One DAY as usual, Johnny, alter receiving us
lrcod and milk went to his to eat, hut pres
emily returned and asked for another spoon iilS
father being present felt curious to know how Johh-
ny could eat with two spoons, anu leL"IS iHiS
10 surprise and have little fun WIN b5 HAIl'"s
bow quietly slipped out of the back door 10 the
nrr of n shed near by to Wstcn MN. nG CL;,,
seated himself upon the rock; ana "llnou oHl '.1
20 touch his favbrite beverage sat nearly nlnnto
in silence; getting impatient, he called IN low
voice PcckIed ,coatr Tue moment the Chliu
voice was heard large sPeckied adGec crawIeu
from beneath the stone, slowly raised hIHSeH upon
the chiEd's Ian and there coiled itself nehEiy hall
nm and in a ttoment was eating from the same dish
with the child The child all tho while talking 10
the snake in a low plaintiTe voice. eTery'noW a31
then looking up if fearful that some enc IlisHI
oYerhear him pattipg him with hs htiie mana
4afnr him his liillc rscklet coat, tia TFe, prg-
ing him TO cat with the spoon, frequently tciiihS
him TO eat upon his side of the dlshi and mem
ever this rule was deviaied from, he got Gcntle
tan on the head with the spoon.
The father looked nntil in his agony he could
lock no longer; seizrg clab, he spr"ng to GesIroy
tie snake. But he was not quick enough. ~ i,i
,numeut. the snake was under tue Tock. Inc chIiu
wglked quietly into the house without "ttcrih&
word not sp$u! for time. Twice after ths tue
boy wns allowed to call the snake: out but the ather
T+gs unable to get near enough TO kill it. At last
the child was confined in the house. and the father
v the assistance of others, prised up the stone anu
killed the reptile The snake was OF the species
known in that vicinity the milk adder, was near
y three feet long, and between three aOd lour luCues
round the body. c.,,. -.
When the child learned the fate of the snake us
grief could not be described, aud was most painful
TO witness For hours after it would cry plteousiy
tOh father you killed my poor peckled coai SOU
bipg the while as if its little heart would DFenh
and for weeks after this he would GO and SIT on tnis
stone and mournfulIy call for his 'peckled coat
II was with difficulty he could be made eat any
thing. and for nearly three months he continued to
pine away until he reduced to mere skeleton
But this unnatural grief in time wore away lie 10
now a hale and hearty young man, and Wlthal mucn
respected bv those wtO know him.