Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1867-05-16
A TERRIBLE BEDFELLoW.1 !

L lo0keu at myfnelghDOr. with cOnSlderaDle
curiosity. His face indicated man OF not
over thirty years-a, period at which men are
still young ;:but his hair was as white. as fresh
fallen snow One seldom sees, even on the
heads Of the Oldest men, hair of uchim1nacu1
late whiteness He sat bYsmy side in a car OF
the. Great Western Railroad, in Canada, and
was, looking out At the window. Suddenly
turning his head he caught me in the act OF
ashamed | was about to say some words OF
of apology; when he quietly remarked:
Don't mention it, sir; I'm used to it. !"
The frankness fof this observation pleased
me, and in o very little while we were conVers,
iug onterms of familiar acquaintanceship land
before long he told me the whole story, ( Z
IT was soldier in the army Of India, !" said
he. ''aud as is often the case with soldiers, L
was little too fond of good liquor. One day
| got drunk and was shut up in the black-hole
for it. sumped down upon the floor of the
dungeon and [ was just dropping off to sleep,
when felt cold, Shiny shape crawling across
my right hand asit. lay; stretched out above
my head ON the floor. lsknew at.once what it:
was-a snakel OF course my first impulse
was to draw awaylmy hand ) but knowing that
bly, strike its fangs into me, l lay still with my
heart beating il my breast like trip hammer.
Of course my fright. sobered me instantly. i
realized all my peril lin its fullest extent. o,
how Izlamented tho hour that [ had touched
liquor! In every glass of liquor they say there
is serpent but it does not come TO. every
body in thAshape it came to me- With a
slow, undulating motion the reptile dragged
its carcass across MY face, inch by inch, and
crept down over my breast and thrust It's head
inside my jacket AsI felt the hideous scrap
ing of the shiny body over my checks, lit was
only BY the most tremendous effort that
succeeded in restraining myself from yelling
loudly with mingled terror and disgust: AT
last Ifet the tail Wrigglingr down towards my
cbinta but iniagine what IL felt at heart ii
YOU can imagine it, as | realized that the
dreadful creature had coiled itself up under
my jacket as lay, and had seemingly gone to
sleep, for it was was still as DEATH Evidently
it had no idea that | was human creature !;
if it had it would never have acted in this
manner. All snakes are cowardly, and they
will not approach man unless to, strike hlmln
self defense. Three hours [ lay with that
dreadful weight in my bosom, and each minute
was like an hour to me--like a year! l
seemed to have lived lifetime IN that bret
space, Every incident OF my fe'passed across
my memory 10 rapid succession, as they say IS
the case with drowning men. L thought OF
mVs9 mother, away III 0iu EOElauu VI NY
happy home BY the borders Of the Avon my
Mary, the girl loved, and never expected to
see them more For 10 matter how long bore
this, felt that ii would end In death at last.
I lay as rigid as a corpse, scarcely daring even
to breathe; and all the time nay breast was
growing colder and colder whera The snake lay
against it, With nothing but q thin cotton shirt
between nv skin aud its. knew il l stirred,
il would strike; but | felt | could not bear
this much longer. Even if [ succeeded in
lying still until the guard came, expected
that his opening the door and coming in would
be my death warrant all the same for no
doubt the reptile would see that | was man,
as soon as the light should be let in at the
door. AT last heard footsteps approaching
There was a rattling at the lock. 1t was the
guard. he opened the door. !! The snake
cobra al capello | now saw darted up its
huge hooded head, with the hideous rings
around its eyes, as if about to strike.sI shut
nv eyes and murmured a prayer. Then it
glided away with a swift motion, and dsap-
,eared in the darkness sl@staggcred to my
feet and fell swoonng into the arms of the
'ynard. Forweeks after / was very sick /, & and
when [ was able to be about | found that my
hair was white as you now see it. | have
never touched a drop of liquor since. - Va.
,.ITilt Sihes. s..s ..s .s,.y.,...ss
ADVERT Rns1NG-GRArrs.-- This most expen-
sive luxury the News has. indulged in exten-
sively. If We had to-day one-half pay Tor
newspapers given away aud advertising done