The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1859-10-19
gjDs Dwy ;9yyh.
WEDNESDAY EVENING. OCT, 10.
A SaiIsr Overheard

A SaiIer Overheard
On the steamer Congress, not long
since, while travelling up the Ohio river,
fell in company with an old Eeglish sail
or who could tell the ntst unlikely stories
Of any man ! ever heard talk. Among
other wonderful things he RECALLED the
crowd with the manner in which ke
choked cobra de capello" to death that
crawled into the hammock in India; he,
too, was man, who, from his account,
had sailed over all the " orld, and through
some parts Of it. Weighing the words
down with heavy ballast Of oatbs, he
said be wasn't afraid OF anything 10 the
snake line, from The sea-serpent down TO
the original snake that tempted Eve"
asked him if be ever met a rattlesnake
since be bad been in America, thinking
would put his courage to the te-t; for on
board saw little gentleman dressed in
black that | knew could make finished
Iob Of the sailor.
Seen a rattlesnake! yes, enough to sink
a seventy -four. Went to Georgia on pur-
pose TO kill them. Pshaw! to think a
man that had killed boa c. constructor,
fair fight, should be 'fraid Of littlc moi
~ Dirt Of snake that never grew bigger
round than marlin-spike."
AT this moment the boat was running
a bend near in shore, and the glare OF a
huge FIRE at a woodward was thrown di-
rectly under TIE chair Of the braggart,
when my establishment found the little
man bat. already commenced the work of
frightening the sailor by placing an India
rubber snake under his chair. at this
moueut the rattls-snake could be dis
tinctly heard.
Twas the steam escaping, said one.
"a goose hissing," said another.
The wind" cried third. 70
None but myself suspectiug it to be a
trick 10 scare tie sailor.
''lt sounded INDUSTRIOUS like rattle
snake observed passenger; but there
are re- doctors or fol students on board,
and nobody but cusses like them would
be taking snakes about.
Again the Internal rafting recon-
menced, and this time clear, loud, and
continuous, to the tutored ear indicating
great danger, the prelude to fatal
spring
Aud 10 help tie matter shrieked out,
Don't move for your life for Gods
sake bring light! quick quick p
None moved.
Mister" spoke the sailoi. "if it is a
trick TO scare me, you'll miss the figure
with your child's rattle just bring one
Of your real rattle-snakes along, and I'll
show you whether he can frighten an
English sailor or not.
Hearing me calling so loudly for a
light, the mate, stalwart Irishman,
came running up with a large torch. but
hardly had he reach the deck when he
discovered the imitation monster.
Snake Snake p yelled he punching
at him with his glazing torch.
"W heNa bouts, you lubber p said the
sailor, still suspecting trick.
Under your feet"
The sailor looked down, and beheld
the hideous reptile under his chair. With
loud yell be made but one spring over
the guards into the river,
What is that 2 exclaimed dozen
voices.
"Rattlesnake r.
MAN overheard"
''Stop her Y ..-.s
Out with the yawl y
Fire" ..
"Snakel' "She is sinking" "Shoot
him !"
Snake Whose is it !" Lynch the
rascal l.
"Kin the scuundrel !" swelled on the
air mingled with the crashing of broken
doors and chairs, the oaths and rushing
OF terrified men, screaming OF still more
terrified women, who knew not what to
fear u lille clsar aHd distisct above the
internal melee arose the sweet musical
voice OF }Vyman, the American Ventril-
ouist aud Wig rd, who feared the re-
suits of the awful CONSERVATION be had
produc, d, cry lug Peace, be still, it is
only me-.
The sail r, who Was now thoroughly
humble. stood sbivering in his wet
clothes by the turnace, ready to &C
knowledsed Una, the imitation of the
little noisy flirt Of an American snake.
no longer TIM . martinspike," was
''some suakes" certain.
Mr.. Chisel understand that you are
about getting up II bust of Judge p.
From what kind of marble do you in
tend 70 make it"
From that piece lying in the corner. y
why, that is TOO much stained is 1t
not?"
"fot at all, In getting up ousts a
sculptor should Away endeAvor to pre-
serve the character of the o ignal."
Scene closed with Pumpkins staring at
the coal scu,te fhe idea struck him a;
something new. ....
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