Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-09-18

wanders around on their farms, and
then they make a raid on my place But
/ the last time they come around one OF
them pizened has hand with some pIZen
ivy. down by the pond, and swore he was
Bit BY a mOccssin. His hand swelled up
till be didn't recognize II; Out " WASH I
one Of my snakes done the damage. There
amt no snake in this country but the rat
tier that can't bite me all day for TWO bits
the bite, and rattlers is mighty blame
scase out OF the mountains. Now, then,
you want to see fun, jest come along with
me down in the gully. It's crawling with
water snakes and copper heads, and | KIN
catch a sack full in an hour. What!
you'd rather be eXcusedy ! thought you
wanted to see the fun. Wen, if you're
afraid, go down to the pond till | get my
work done here. / Will follow you in
about an hour and catch a few snap
pers"
The snappers were ranged in long
him, summing themselves on "A log rising
out Of the muddy water Of the pond, and
when Josh put In his appearance about an
hour later the noise made by his hearty
voice and heavy boots startled them 90
that they slipped ike 80 many fat stones
into the water.
THAT settles your snappers for TO-
day"
"Does it, sonnyy ! guess not. They
couldn't done nothing TO suit me bet
ter. That lOg was planted in that place
by me. There is four big nogsheads
planted in the water underneath It, and
when the snappers drop, as they always
do when scared, they 90 kerplump into
hOgshead. All 1 got to do is jest to crawl
out on the log, like this; TO scoop around
in the hOgshead with THIS yer scoop, and
when ! feel the hard back Of a snapper,
scoop him out Jest like this"
He suited the action to the word, and
sent a big, fiat-backed turtle flying
through the air to the bank OF the
pond, where 1t lay until taken up by the
willy Josh.
The result OF the mornings work were
eight turtles averaging about seven
pounds each, and the canvas bag entirely
filled with the headless bodies Of snakes
OF varying cOlOrs and sizes-the largest
being "A black snake five feet eight inches
from the tip of its tail to the point where
the head had been cut away.
"That big one will make me half a pint
eff oil and bring in at least three bits for
mis- skin" said Josh, as he tossed car
cass-frOm which had been stripped a
beautifully marked brown skin-intO a
three-legged pot which was simmerigg
over the fire in his cabin. "Snake oil sells
for from four bits to 81 the pit, according
to jest how bad the customer wants it, and
as | what? What Is snake oil
good for? Rheumatic and stiff joints in
man and beast? But, as l said, as l
calc'late on having here at least two
quarts OF oil and fifteen skins worth bit
apiece, and fifty pounds of snappers at
eight cents per pound, reckon l won't
have to work no more this week. The
snappers | sell 10 Cincinnati saloon
keepers, who make turtle soup out of
'em from the time they begin to come in
early in April until the cold weather
drives 'em to their holes.
''lts great business, and as old Ken
lucky Is full of reptyles that only want a
little encouragement to come and settle
down on mans land, there is no excuse
here for tramping, nur yit tor breakln'
your back and running your digestion
MOrming terbacker."