Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1885-09-24

year, and from the minute that I got her
I began to coax the snakes TO breed here.
l kinder sl1irmished around for young
ones and FOR eggs, and planted 'em here
in the ravine. Water snakes and snap
pers I got down at the Licking by the
dozen. and Whenever 1 could get my grip
on frog I brought him home and turned
him loose in my snake pasture. It was
hard work for Q year or two: but now all
old Josh has got to do is to 60 sneaking
about once week and swapping now and
then, and snooze all the rest of the time
up in the shanty, while his neighbors is
breaking their backs at hoeing corn and
worming tobacco. That's what comes,
sonny, Of having brains. Now and then
the neighbors gets kinder cranky when
my stock wanders around on their farms,
and then they make raid on my place.
But the last time they come around one
Of them pizened his hand with some
pizen ivy, down by the pond, and swore
he was bit by moccasin. His hand
swelled up till he didn't recognize it,;
but it wasn't one Of my snakes
done the damage. There amt no snake
in this country but the rattler
that can't bite me all day for
two bits the bite, and rattlers is mighty
blame scarce out Of the mountains.
Now, then, if you want to see fun, jest
come along with me down in the gully.
It's crawling with water snakes and
copperheads, and / kin catch sack full
in an hour. What! you'd ruther be ex-
cuseda thought you wanted to see
the fun. Well, if you are afraid, GO
down to the pond until get my work
done here. will follow you in about
an hour and catch few snappers."
The snappers were arranged in long
line, summing themselves on 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 started
them SO that they slipped like so many
! fiat stones in the water.
sThat settles our snappers for to-day" !"
''Does it, sonnyG ] 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 hogsheads
planted in the water underneath it, and
when the snappers drop, as they always
do when scared, they 60 kerplump into
q hogshead. All got to do is just 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
He suited the action to the word, and
sent big, fat-backed turtle flying
through the air to the bank Of the pond,
where it lay perdu 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 entire
" filed with the headless bodies Of
snakes of varying colors and sizes-the
largest being black snake five feet
eight inches from the tip Of its tail to
the point where the head had been cut
away.
sThat big one will make me half q
pint of oil, and bring in at least three
bits for his skim" said Josh, as he tossed
carcass-from which had been stripped
beautifully marked brown skin-into q
three-legged pot which was simmering
over the fire in his cabin. 'Snake oils
sells for from four bits to dollar the
pint, according to jest how bad the Gus
TONER wants it, and as calc'late-whatI
What is snake oil good for2 Rheumatic
and stiff joints in man and beast. But
as said, as Icalc'late on having here al
least tive quarts Of oil and fifteen skins
worth bit apiece, and fifty pounds Q.
snappers at eight cents the pound,
reckon won't have to work no more thi
week. The snappers sell to Cincinnati
saloon keepers, who make turtle soul
out of 'em from the time they begin t,
come in early in April until the cold
weather drives 'em to their holes.