The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1875-12-10
NUMBER 46.
RAILHTNTING sNskF.S

Some months ago n gentleman rr,r,,
Dumfries paid visit to a friend of his :,
the township of Beverly, Mr.. Ue,,.,
and remained with him Several davs ~.
ing his visit the Dumfries gentleman con,
planned that his house was literally ipfas,o,5
with rats and mice. He had tried ,.,.o,.,-
deVice to get rid of them and all had
iailed. Mr.. Henry, who is as ingenious ~
he is fond of sport, declared that he ,vo,,,d
battle The rats out Of his friends celia, -
il'tle less than no time, to use his own ~
prsslon. The next day the two gentlemen
drove TO the gentleman's bousa :, H.,
Tres Mr.. Henry took with him e, oo,,,
mon quarter gross match box pierced Will,
lew hoies, which he placed carefully mn
der the seat of the buggy. The Dun,f,ias
gentleman, feeling that his friend yras ,r,.
ing TO give him a surprise. probabIv ,i,t.
some improvement on n ferret asl,ed -,
q"eS''o'lS' the better to enjoy the SUNRISE
"heh lt dId come. Arrived at the bo,,sa
they had dinner, and, after the ladi.s ii
retired, Mr. Henry placed the hoy ~, a.
o'o'e anu removed the lid. In an instant
'iO'ii 'ie ooN ieaped fuil-grown garter
snaKe' measuring three feet and a half :,
iehgth. The reptile, which was I,iabl,,-
cited with the heat, reared itself aIn,os, -,
the extremity of its tail and cIi,led abo,t
the table with remarkable rapiditv. liclxir,
It's ShastIy jaws with its forked and pi,,,;,I,
tongue The Dumfries gentleman sI,,.,r1.
back into the corner almost ,,a,.ic,,, -,
hoiror' hr' Henry showed bow silly this
was 10y taking he snake urcn lis ann, ard
handling 1T much a hacl-driyer would
ms whip His fears were finally. o,-,,.
come, and when lie had composed b;,oscl,
he led his friend into The cellar. whore +i,-
snake was set at liberty. The rerti1a in,
medIateiy darted FOR the wall. and tho r,..x-t
moment discovered a hole. into ,,bic1, =
gi'ded with the greatest ease. An inter
eS'eo terrier stood at their heels. and both
gentlemen held clubs, which wpr,. t,,,rnre
just about then. The snake had not ,Iis
appeared over a minute be fore half = d,.z.,,
rats bounced out of the hole and moi ta+o,
floie fate at The hands OF their euemi.so,,t
SIDE But the snake was not satisfied :.
discovered every rat hole in the cellar ard
Sllded and in ont among the rocks ,,,bo,,,
hnaiiy taken up and placed in the box after
twenty rats and almost as many mice had
been killed. The snake belongs 20 a bIacly
garter family, which are in reality tho hos,
friends the farmer has got. They live ex-
clusiYely on field mice. WORMS. flies and
other vermin, and if they occasionally
swallow frog or dine on a coupIe Of ,onn,,
ground birds, or accidentally glide across
the path of human being, their lives
should be preserved, as their good Qualities
counter balance these defects The one
possessed by Mr.. Henry was captured by
INN last summer in pea field. and since
he has had it no rats are to be seen or
heard OF IN the neighhorhood OF his house.
lhe reptile is kept in a box. as before
stated, and is fed upon liver. Next sup-
mer Mr. Henry intends to capture all tl,e
snakes he possibly can alive and train them
up for the benefit of his neighbors- lam
atos (Ont) Spectator.