The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1884-11-21
TAME SNAKES.
A True story.

TAME SNAAEOs
A True Story.
On a dull afternoon during the Easter
recess of 1877. went out for holiday
STROLL toward the river at Chelsea, ana
on finding myself near to that Dutch
looking quarter, Cheyne Walk, ! de-
termined to discover the abode OF an
old friend. who l had reason to know
lodged in the locality. As l knew he
was an inveterate smoker. l inquired
about him at tobacconist's, who told
me that he had apartments in one OF
the Quaint old houses with ornamental
iron gates.
On passing through the gate and
ringing the bell, the door was opened
by an Individual IN shirt-sleeves. who
informed me that my friend was away.
Attracted by the gentlemanly bearing
of the coatless individual, whom mad
ct first taken for carpenter, 1 re-
manned Ia king to him about the quaint
ness of the old hall and its paintings. l
am sure we both felt that there was
something sympathetic in our natures
perhaps this consisted in touch OF
nsthetic Bonemianism at all events,
he pressed me to stay and smoke with
him.
We sat in the front parlor, and chat
ted pleasantly over a log fire which was
burning in o fireplace from which the
crate had been removed. OF course we
soon dis. overed that we had mutual
friends-where did ever 60, or whom
did / ever meet, without making tn $
dis overy? After time. | began to
look round the room; no carpet. an old
table, dilapidated sofa, and lew
chnars-an impression OF curious untldi-
ness was left on my mind.
While looking at some small pictures
hanging crooked on the wall | noticed
what struck me as being very odd, q
red blanket protruding from q hole il
the wainscoting, near the mantel-piece
In reply to my in uiry as to what Thu
meant, my host said: .'Oh! that is wher'
we keep our snakes; are you afraid o
snakes?n Before L could stammer on
= reply, and while Twas trying to stead.
NV nerves. he thrust in his arm ant
pulled out with the blanket lot of ser
rents. which tumbIed on to the grount
and the table. Another dive brough
out the rest of the blanket, and with
two large snakes. which he informe'
me were special favorites "a pythol
and q boa constructor. These at ono
coiled themselves all round my host
body, in and out of his arms, and abou
Ms neck.
Dezed with establishment and shak
ine with fear, triedstp retreat, but h
assured ma, hi winning accents an
soft words, that the s.dear things" wer
quite tame; and for some minutes W
stood, close to the window which
thought might afford means of es
cape and he between me and the dool
Suddenly my eccentric host. who ha
very large excited eyes. called out tbs
he must really fetch down his wife, an
shoyeling OIL the two monsters on th
floor (which he did not do withor
some difficulty, he darted from til
room. closing the door behind hin
leave you, kind readers, to imagin
my feelings! ! experienced creep
sensation in my hair, and strange fee
ings Of fascination, faintness and fes
stole over me, rs stood rooted to th
door. afraid even to look round at N
possible wincow-escape. The two mug
monsters crawled stealthily up the soft
and kept stretching out their necks
9axe ct me, their forked tongues jerl
ing in and out, and their eyes stariu
with what seemed to me devilish il
uu:sitiveness. Dante's Inferno, the La,
coon group. and other horrors filed n
brain.
Tho s;lorce w.s Disturbed onlv hv II