The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1870-08-12

ing the fearful meal, the snake cater
again partially opened his lips, and the
forlIed tongue Of the reptile was seen
playing like threads of bright red fire
between them. Presently it began to
emerge. 1t moved very slowly, as if
held back by other sorponts who had
preceded il, in the awful deglutition of
its master. As the long, loathsome folds
hung from his lips, and continued to
extend, the features Of the snake eater
assumed their wonted aspect, and in a
moment the reptile had emerged, was
replaced in the box, and the feat was
accomplished.
Then, after seating himself for few
seconds to recover from the perilous
execution of his task, the snake cater
arose and addressed his audience. lie
desired them to believe that he wished
not to appal, but to surprise them
There was acknowledged an art in what
he had done but it was a mysterious
and undiscovered one. "They call me
mad" he added bitterly, "and con.
jurer, but conjurer / am not, and
though I have been mad, am not now
Yet often do 1 wish / were. You will
denominate my calling one of foolish
hazard, and perhaps of disgust; but
did you know all, you would judge me
better. 1 thank you for your attend.
ance, and if 1 have succeeded in sur
prising you, my aim has been won."
THE SNAKE EATERS BIOGRAPHY, AND
THE WAY THE TRICK WAS DONE.
One day John Thompson had per-
formed in the suburbs of a western city,
when gentleman appeared among the
audience who had known the snake
eater under different name and in q
different sphere of life; in fact, they
had been college chums, and the visitor
this evening had considered that the
snake eaters lot would have been cast
in quite different mould. The old fell
low-collegians met. Eight years only
had they been parted, and yet what
changes had taken place in that period
Will you 60 back with me to Eng
land?" said Thompsons old COM
panion.
"No," answered the snake eater. 81
must die in a land where all those L
hold sacred are buried, will tell you
a short but melancholy history, and
afterwards don't question me, but keep
my secret; let me spin out the few years
allotted to me as John Thompson, and
let me select the spot where 1 must be
buried.
"Dut to come to the facts my friend :
l am not what you think am. Though
regarded hcreabouts as one who has
dealings with familiar spirits and wiz
ards, l am broken-hearted man, q
child of sorrow, and almost without
hope. do not speak this for your sym
pathy, for human sympathy can but at
best awaken afresh the wells Of mourn
full tenderness in my heart without
pouring one ray of sunshine upon the
troubled fountains; they must flow on
in darkness without q prospect of day,
yet listen to my story.
"About eight years ago, with the
spirit of adventure stirring within me,
/ came from the walls of an English
university to the far western States Of
America wrote to my parents for
money; in fact 1 asked for my patri-
mony, and said l would never expect
any more from them. They sent me a
handsome sum, and l sought with this
ca,ital in hand to make trade with the
Indians, and, therefore, took land close
| f.A n Il,r ht fI.. frA m,
the natives, and bartered generally with
them. For all the country could pro-
duce l gave manufactured articles and
thus l went on prosperously. My cap
ital doubled, trebled, quadrupled-in
fact, in all respects, i was prosperous.
Then followed love affair, and it was
pure love with me, my friend. The
family of my affianced thought lived
too much out of civilized life, and would
not consent to our union; and so we
eloped, and what wife she made me
I speak not in rhapsody, but she was
the loveliest being that ever inhabited
! this lower world. None could excel hel
in beauty, and she made that beauty
perfect by the graces of a mind pure and
hi ghly cultivated. Her voice was mel
ody, her smile burst of pure and liv-
ing light, and her calm, blue eyes were
the sweet eXpositorS of sinless affec-
ton. TO speak no more of her perfec-
tions, suffice it to say that loved her
with my whole soul. She was my idol ;
her happiness was the center of my
, every wish, and she was the object OF
my every aspiration.
, "We were married; time went on,
and brought me bud from the rose
had established in my green bower at
home. We were indeed happy then,
Aloof from society, though we missed a
, few of its luXuries, we suffered none OF
its vexations and demoralizing corrup.
, tions. On Sundays we rode many miles
! through the wilderness to attend place
OF worship established by the mission.
aries, and to hear the word of God read
and revealed.
t son the day that my darling little
5 Sarah had attained her second year, she
) was seated near to my counter, and hel
. mother was standing by, when three
| fierce looking indians entered the store
Q They had evidently Travelled a long way
for their lcggings We're torn and dirty
: and their feet were almost sore. re.
! cogni2ed one of them instantly as the
Q Crouching Wolf, desperate being who
. hung alternately around the skirts ol
d, settlements, begging for rum, Or getting
Q it in barter for the furs Of wild animals
z. Just year previous to this he had Wis
' tied mo fer the purpose of procuring
the fire, water; l had refused him, and
, he left me with the view of future ven
. geance.
: "IIoogh p said he, and he reeled III