Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-07-09
Ny Hueklsbsrry scrapo-women, snaix
and Huckleberries.

having to beg more pardons and receiving
less excuses, than any other mortal.
In this case ! was badly deceived, sold
and alarmed, and if you will promise not
to divulgc, will give you a rough sketch
Of one of the most terrible incidents Of
my life. The scene is located not far
from the charming little town of Tulla-
homa. Tenn.
For many days ] had been much
charmed in gazing upon the beauty,
grandeur and sublmiiy OF tow heads,
black-jacks and huckleberry bushes that
grid the railroad with much regularity
from Manchester TO Fayetteville. Ar
irving at Tullahoma, and finding "biz."
very dull and money exceedingly
scace,' an opportunity presented itself
to stroll around with some friends Of
yore, whom / had not seen since the
woods was burnt" During my per-
ordinations / was introduced to Miss
Lizzie -. possessing rare qualities Of
talent, education and refinement. With
pair of clear, deep-blue eyes, fair skin,
rosy cheeks, graceful curls, that lay
carelessly upon an alabaster heck, be-
witching smiles, and lips of pouting
beauty, her very presence added a halo
Of glory wherever she moved. Had !
not been q married man, l might have
complimented her upon possessing so
many enticing charms, and would also
have been inclined to say she was beau
it'll. But we poor married fellows
must not make any discoveries ofbeauty
outside of our own homes. How misfor-
tunate this is. But when we do get out
from home, cant we exchange sly
glances, pass off for single men, and
gaze upon other gems of enchanting
female beauty2 You bet.
But oh how Miss Lizzie could talk,
laugh and enjoy feast of reason and
flow of soul" / soon became enraptured
with her company, and so would you, or
"any other man." During the day, it
was proposed that we should take q
huckleberry hunt, and of course | raised
no objection. Accordingly two young
ladies' (including Miss Lizzie), Mr..
Hickerson Dickerson, charming fel-
low, and !, all with small baskets, sailed
forth in search of huckleberries and
pleasure.
Twas soon accidentally at Miss Lizzie's
side, or she was at my side, don't know
which, and the other two emulated our
example.
Time glided swiftly and pleasantly
until we found ourselves in the midst Of
dense growth of the object Of our
search, and there we stood gazing upon
thousands of berries, presenting beau
tiful and grand spectacle as far out as
the eye could reach.
l gathered for Miss Lizzie, and Miss
Lizzie gathered for me, until had con-
cealed about two gallons, more or less,
felt really heacy about the eaigastrium,
and had considerably increased in cir
cumference.
Miss lizzie quickly observing my dis
inclination to assume position Of exer-
else, being full of mischief, determined
to have the fun of rather forcing me to
gather more berries, so she boaStingly
bantered search for the largest berries
to gil our baskets. la q short time, we
became separated some ten or fifteen
steps, Hickerson Dickerson and his part
ner being some twenty-five or thirty
yards to our left. While contemplating
the pains, penalties and disadvantages
of the exercise of gathering berries with
a full stomach, terrifying, heartrend-
ing shrek of "snaix, snaix," fell upon
my ear. Looking up, / beheld Miss Liz
zie, pale, CHASTITY and motionless, crying
for help. rushed frantically towards
her, but in my hurry, | accidentally fell
over some shrubbery, my hat falling off,
tearing my coat and striking my nose
precisely against some elongated COM
bustible material, causing free flow of
crimson blood from said proboscis but,
help / must, and was soon by her side.
And, to my horror, there was a sure
enough, live snake, about six feet long
and as big as my Lee, with his head raised
about foot from the ground, coiled un-
der q bush, ready to strike this fair
damsel at my side Now, | always had
a holy horror for snakes of any size, la
boring under physical disinclination to
fight them, yielding all the territory they
claimed; but this time had to come
up to the scratch" There was that big
snake with hisforked tongue and red eyes,
gazing upon his would be victim, and
there | stood, bare headed, with a torn
coat, the blood pouring from my nose
and perspiration streaming down my
cheeks. | had cold chills running all
over me; my hairs stood "eend fore
most" my heart felt like young earth
quake, threatening to get out and leave
me / got cross eyed, couldn't hear good,
nor see straight; I took the knock
kneed trembles. and for minnit or
two couldn't tell whether. it was Miss
Lizzie, or me, or both, standing there.
Thinks to myselt-iiug the huckleber-