Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-05-14

live upon such amicable terms with the
great enemy Of the human race?"
Well, perhaps it is. But he once bit
and killed a thief who came here to rob |
a chiId's grave of the irof ratings, which
its parents, contrary to my advice, placed |
around it, and ever since hat / have liked
the snake, and never thought of molesting
him. I have had many an opportunity
of killing him Gf I had Wished to do it)
when I have caught hin asleep on the
tombstones, in the winters sun. L could
kill him this very day--this very hour
if I liked, for l know where he is at this
very moment. He is in a hole, close to
the Ochterlony monument there, in that
corner Of the yard. But why should /
hurt him? He has never offered to do
me any harm, and wh7n l sing as I some
times do when arr lone here at work
on some tomb or oth.l, he will crawl up,
and listen for two OF three hours togeth-
er. One morning while he was listening,
he came in for a good meal which lasted
him some days"
How was that ?"
It will tell you, sir. A minar was
chased by small hawk, and in despair
came and perched itself on the top of
most lofty tomb at which I was at work.
The hawk, with his eyes fixed intently
on his prey, did not, I fancy, see the snake
lying motionless in the grass; or if he
did see him, he did not think he was
snake, but something else-my crowbar,
perhaps. After little while the hawk
pounced down, and was Just about to give
the minar blow and a grip, when the
snake suddenly lifted up his head, and
Kissed, The hawk gave a shrek, fut-
tered, tapped his wings with all his might,
and tried very hard to fly away. But it
would not do. Strong as the eye Of the
hawk was, the eye of the snake was
stronger. The hawk for time seemed
suspended in the air; but at last II was
obliged to come down, and sit opposite to
the old gentleman (he snake who COM
menced with his forked tongue, and keep
ing his eyes nrnn him oil the mhiIA tn
slime his victim all over. This occupied
him all the time for at least forty minutes
and by the time the process was over, the
hawk was perfectly motionless. I DOM
think he was dead. But he was very
soon, however, for the old gentleman put
himself into a coil or two, and cracked NJ
every bone in the hawks body. He ther
gave him another shining, made bis
mouth distended his neck till it was al
large as the thickest part Of my arm, anC
down went the hawk, like a skin of bee
into a beggarman bag.
"And what became of the minar?"
" He was off like shot, sir, the mo
ment his enemy was in trouble, and n
blame to him. What funny thing na
ture is altogether, sir! very often thinl
of that scene when I am not at worI
here.'
But this place must be infested wit
snakes ?"
q have never seen but that one, sil
and I have been here for long time
Would like to see the old gentleman
sir? As the sun is up, and the mornin
rather warm, perhaps he viii come out
I pretend to be at work and give him
ditty. If he does not, we will look in VI
; on him."
Come along" said l.
I accompanied the old gentleman to
tomb, close to the monument beneat
which the snake was said to have take
up his abode. did not go very nei
the spot, bat stood upon tomb with
stick in my hand, quite prepared to sla
the monster if he approached me; f,
from childhood l have always had an il
i stinctiye horror of reDtiles of ever. sp
cies, cast and character.
l. The old man began to hammer awa
i with his mallet and chisel, and to sing
very quaint old song which l had new
e heard before, and have never heard sine
It was a dialogue or duet between i
I little finger and the thumb, and beg.
u thus. The thumb said
II Dear Rose Green
:. when am king, little finger, you shall be ueen.
e, The little finger replied
Ie 1" Who told you so, Thummy, Thummy Who t
- you SO '''
4 The thumb responded
fo It is my own heart little finger. who told me 50
of The thumb then drew very fatteri
h. picture Of the life they would lead VIII
70 united in wedlock, and concluded as nei
of ly as / can remember, thus
THUMB
And when you are dead, little finger, as 1t may hal
ID You shall be buried, little finger under the tap.