Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1888-08-17
THE MASSASAUGA,
nY CHALLENGE l,n1IrS

'eiiihg me oil the massasaugas or marsh
rattlesnakcs reported TO abound in the
vicinity. Glad of chance to rest him.
sell ny talking, he l,ad dropped the head
oi shis AK among the brush wood be had
Decn chopping, and wiped his face with
the sleeve of his red shirt.
They're little, but pizcn," he said.
There amt so many on 'cm now. Forty
years ago when l kim to Michigan thew
waz that plenty the mowers in the dry
medders had to wind their legs with hay
ropes. The 'saugus' teeth 'ud git stuck
IN the ropes, and there they'd dangle. A
man 'ud git loaded down with snakes by
me middle OF the mornin', an have n
time gcttin''cm OIL"
did the mowers use to carry n bottle
to the haying field in those days" !
asked.
"Waal, VIC ginernlly had some snake
medicine along" said Uncle Bcllingcr,
IN tone OF aifectionatc remembrance
WHISKY, they say, is n good thing for
snake bites, but better thing is to live
where black ash trees are, and then YOU
won't get Bit"
"Do you believe, Uncle Bcllinacr that
us true that rattlesnakcs won't 10 near
an ash-trcc
"B'licvci it, I know it. Show me n
man that ever saw a 'sauga in black a,h-
swamp. Boys and women I'll 20 buckle.
ocryin' bar foot there, and never think
OF snakes, You better blicve they nut
their boots OH when they 20 bcrryin' in
some places. Why do YOU see ash. trees
painted Ill ovcry farmers yard round
.nese ere marshes! Can We answer me
"'aIi us ter keep rattlcsnakes from
coming round. MORN onst I've caught
one OF Tho critters layin' coilcd up. and
maae circle roun' him half of ash leaves
ana half of Twin fire; he'd 90 through
the lire ruther than the leaves cv'ry time
tell yc nsh leaves is pizen to n 'sanun, ),
ncic Bcllingcr had enumerated, CON
corning an antipatliy Inscribed TO the
genus croialus, popular belief most
strongly endorsed by those who live in
regions where they would neturallv
nave the best opportunities of obserya.
ton III the matter. was spcndiuu n
lew weeks of the early summer in this
rurai region OF Michigan, and had a mind
10 study among other things little of
inc habits OF the rattlcsnaEc, in ronnrc.
ton with other matters of natural
history to which was attending.
bado Uncle Bellingcr good day. and
went across fields to the largo farm.
house Mt which with several other sum
mer visitors | was staying. As passed
me SIDE door, my landlady, Mrs. Powers,
hau just bargaincd with barpfootcd
country lad who stood OH the steps, for n
basket OF berries which he proceeded to
empty into n dish brought from the
Kitchen. AS he did so, he threw aside
some green leaves that had covered
them. 0'."
Mis-. Powers demonstrated with him
Tor littering the yard, and he STONED to
PICK them up. But in this purpose he
was mot by an emphatic protest from
Miss Ethel Dempsey, two years old, who
having been attracted unnotictd tp the
spot by, the sight of the berries, had
fallen to gather the leaves, and already
was holding them in her chubby hands
and arms.
AT movement of the bow to take
them, she put up red lip in taken Of
an impending squall which caused him
70 des'st and turning Indignantly AWAY,
she toddled with her treasures around
the house corner to the front yard.
AS stood moment by the steI talk
ing TO Mrs. Powers, we became aware of
sibilation from some unknown quarter,
a whistling rattle constantly growing
louder and faster until it filled the mir,
and II was not easy to ascertain whence
1t came. The landlady, who had lived
long in the country, mt once stop ed
talking, and looked anXiously about TO
locate the sound; then she went quickly
but cautiously, Watching the ground rs
she walked toward the front of the
house. followed her
AS she turned the corner whence she
could command full view of the front.
she stopped short with gasping scream,
and stood staring before her with a
conntenanoe of horror. | stepped to her
side, and saw sight that appalled, me.
on The Hat stone doorstep, sitting
edGewlse in the attitude in which she
had climbed upon it, was Ethel gazing
IN wonder and pleasure, rs at top, on !.
dark coiled mass lying before her on the
step. From the centre of the mass the
vibrating tail sent forth its dreadful
whining rattle, while lying over its own
1lattencd coils rested the supple neck,
the heavy head of the massasauga, every
cruel line deepened and intensified. the
6eady eyes cleaning with anger, as with
fixed attention it watched the child
whose innocent face was not the length
OF its body away.
AS if fascinated. she was slowly lean
ing forward toward the snake whose
rattle quickened as she drew near. For
moment stood motionless, fearing to
approach lest it precipitate the stroke,
or to speak lest she start and all be lost.
But could not stay still; must hazard
all In the effort, at least, to rescue her.
| took a step forward, fearing should
be too late.
She was leaning on one hand which
rested on the step, while with the other
she he'd tightly against her breast the
green leaves she had shortly before
picked up. She laughed, and reachino
out her hand half way to the snake.
dropped the leaves before it. At he,
movement the snakes neck reared. bul
instead of the stroke which seemed in.
evitable, the head was drawn back rs !,
in fear and aversion.
From the window above Mrs. Denim
sey, ignorant of what was going on.
called "Ethcl!"
The child rested both hands on th,
step, and upturncd her face toward