Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1886-09-24
Florida Snakes.

"When first came to Florida" said
the Major, "the old residenters told me
there were hardly any snakes in the
State. Well, I've been here twenty-five
years. and have seen more snakes in
Florida than / ever saw anywhere be-
fore. you needn't grin, Professor, you
drink more in one day than do in
month"; I've seen rattlesnakes, ground
rattlers, moccasns in three different
styles, and many others too harmless to
mention. I've got used to 'em, and
have a sort Of sneaking fancy for 'em,
too. Snakes amt near as dangerous as
people imagine they are. They make
splendid pets, being very intelligent
and susceptible of high degree of cul-
ture and education. They are very af-
fectionate by nature, have quiet vein
of humor running through them, and
form very strong attachments for per-
sons, places and things. They can rea-
son, too, as sure as you are born, for l
have seen instances of it that would puz-
zle any disciple of Button, including old
Ben Butler.
ABLACK- SNAKES DEVOTION.
"When was living down to Punta
Rasa had black snake that was treat
ed just as if it was one of the family. 1t
had growed up with us, you might say,
for my boys had caught it when it was
only about foot long and it got to be
over four feet. When the children
went out in the yard for frolic or off
hunting or fishing they always took Ben
which was the name of the snake
along. He was very useful in every
way, too. Some days the boys would
60 out after berries or wild grapes and
take bushel basket with 'em. Ben
would coil up in the basket and 60, too.
Well, if they filled the basket, which
they generally did, it made pretty
hefty load for two to carry; so they'd
Just show the snake what was wanted
and he'd fasten his head OH one side the
basket and his tail on the t'other, max
ing another handle, so to speak, and,
well, four of my boys would carry the
load home without sweating any one Of
'em too much. If il was brier-berries
they had, Ben would help stem and pick
out the briers and sticks and dirt from
'em. In that kind of work he was az
handy as ten-year-old gal. When the
boys went fishing Ben would lay down
in the boat and go fast asleep, but when
they got through aud pulled for shore
he'd wake up, yawn little and then
stretch out straight, for he knew his
place in the procession was waiting for
him. The boys always used him to
string their fish on, and then one would
take him by the head and the other by
the tail and they had as nice fish-cart
as you'd want to see."
THE PET OF THE HOUSEHOLD.
"Major," interrupted the Professor,
.'them fish must have had mighty big
mouths if your boys could string 'em on
a snake four foot long. They proberly
belonged to the geneyus redibus snap
peribus- ahem."
"They did have big mouths, Profess
sor," rejoined the Major, sarcastically.
"Almost as big as the one under that REQ
nose of your'n." Thanks, Colonel, |
believe | will take leetle more, for it's
real good, and in this dry town it's
pleasant and very soothing to run across
gentleman who carries quart flask
in each pocket. AS | was saying, that
snake was one of the most useful pets
ever saw and the handiest reptyle about
house | ever heard tell of. Even my
wife got to be very fond of him. She'd
sometimes hang him across two chairs,
making rack to dry towels on. She
used him to clean out the stOvepipe with
aud he kept the pantry and closets clear
OF all kind OF vermin. I've seen him
take pin between bis teeth and run it
through an ant, fly or roach quicker
than you could say Jack Robinson.
"But the cutest thing he ever did was
to take care of family of young mice.
One day my wife was sitting in the
kitchen reading, when she saw Ben
come in kind of sneaking like, and she
| knowed he was after some meanness.
She let on not to see him, and after loaf
ing around little he crawled into the
pantry and in few minutes came out
and went in the direction Of the barn.
She followed him and looking through
a knot hole in one of the boards saw the
.strangest sight. In one corner of the
barn, behind some ole fodder, was a
nest with four little mice in it, and the
snake was a-feeding them with milk.
How did he carry the milk? Why, he
drawd the skin up over his head, FORM
ing it into a sort Of cup, and carried il
full of milk to the mice, letting each
one sip it in turn. When my wife aol-
lered at him he was sort of angry at
first and sprung his rattle, but"
] "Hold on, Major" said the Judge.