The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1890-03-06
TEMPERANCE NOTES.
.lT ls q COBRA.

IL To- "a CO6HAs
The Deadly serpent - a Horrible Drsan
That Il ; Reality.
Somewhere we three, my husband,
my brother and myself, moved in . field
that yet was narrow and close Is some
constructed dwelling. / knew
or felt that any evil within that field
was IS foo within camp. thing that
must Stay or be slain. Present escape
would not insure future safety.
Moving In that field that yet was .
barred house, came upon q large snake
lying between two low and sheltering
shocks of fragrant hay. After the first
recoil put out my foot to crush its
head, then again recoiled as 1remem-
bered how frail and light were my san
dals and thought of the snakes size and
probably venomous character. My hus.
band now stepped forward and lifted his
foot to kill the reptile in his usual man
ner, with his heavy boot heel. 1t thrust
its head forward, close to the ground
now, jaws dilating and forked tongue
thrust forward with low Kisses.
But on the other side of the shocks
appeared my fair young brother, hold
ing upa warning hand as he knelt and
leaned forward with confident smile.
We realized his intention with horror,
for he bent forward and grasped the
reptile just back of the neck with his
left hand. Ere his hand reached it,
with a terrible shock there flashed
across my mind the convictions: SIT lisa
cobra" But now my brother stood erect
holding his wfithing trophy, as one
proud of victory gained. ~
Soon the snake ceased to struggle. vet
continuously thrust forward it's forked
tongue. .......s,
''He will kill it," l thought. But
how?" 49, . =
So long as the youth held the snake
1t was harmless, but If he cast it from
him its freedom and venom would be
fatal to himself and others. If he con-
ttnued. to hold it he was as truly pris-
oner as was the deadly serpent. -
He will dash its body against a
tree,',s thought. But no, one touch
OF the fangs, so near his hand, would be
fatal, and he dare not provoke it. It is
cobra"
But my brother, with his disengaged
hand, began to stroke the sleek head Of
the serpent Horror held me motion
less ~ '
I had not feared the free serpent
much. We three were more than a
match for it as it lay coiled in its shady
nook; besides, its venomous character
was not fully realized until my brother
held it alofts in the light Then who
could think that one of us would dream
of erasping" the thing as my daring
brother had done! - y, So
He had heard of snake-charmers
What others did, why could not he? /
felt that my husband knew the char
:acter of the serpent, but he stood smil-
Ing, amused, perhaps, and not too watch
full. He overestimated my brothers
power. That high spirit aroused his ad-
miration. l alone saw danger to: my
brother. $50
''1tis COBRA" said in a low tone,
afraid Of angering the serpent by loud
words; afraid might too suddenly At
tract my brothers attention. / wanted
to scream, to cry out in an agony of
grief and fear. Yet dared not. That
dear brothers safety depended on my
sflence: To throw him for one instant
off his guard was to give the serpent it's
watched-for opportunity. IT'S bite would
be fatal. - y.
Now the muscles of the reptile relax;
the head ceases to writhe. 1t is strange.
ly quiet. My brother is pleased, proud
and confident. Its glittering eyes grow
steady, dreamy, even, but the forked
tongue yet moves swiftly.
''He will conquer it," I reason. Rut
like lightning memory asserts: 1T is a
COBRA"
The youth is making passes with his
disengaged hand before the serpent's
open mouth.
ut is learning to love him, he is so
gentle" l muse. But reason thunders
to my quaking heart: ut is COBRA"
Oh, be careful, my brother. my dear
young brother! Your fingers almos.
close upon those poisoned fangs. Are
you mad? I think, but dare not speak,
To speak is to arouse the serpent to
more dangerous action. The hand
which holds the serpent grows less
firm. The right hand still moves be-
fore its eyes. He thinks they are
friends. He thinks he has charmed, is
conquering the creature. How sweet
and kind and plying his glance! He
would not now kill it if he could. It is
a dainty pet, graceful as kitten, and
my brother is fond of all poor, helpless
things
But eternally to me the words are
sounded: ''It.is a cobra" l naust speak.
The fingers of that right hand are so
near the fearful fangs. ':My brother,
oh, my brother" - ~.
Too late. 1t is done. The fatal fangs
have touched the hand that would
caress. that meant but gentleness to, the
poison thing. 1t is a cobra ~: 3
In my dream awake to say: SIT was
but dream" then sweetly sleep till
morning dawns. Now 1 really awake.
! remember, I cry: 1T is COBRA
Alas, my brother loves the serpent
know, l feel, that still for him the hor-
rible dream is reality, that still he
seeks to charm a cobra.
The deadly creature is slumbering in
cups of amber cider, in foaming ale, in
sparkling wine, in golden CLEAN of
brandy. Kis a co6ra.-Anna c. Wright,
In Union Signal.
HOW BEER AFFECTS THE BODY.
as to tho Relative Resisting
Powers Of Beer Drinkers and Temper
0nce Mon. e.:
About two years ago the Mail gath
cred the opinions of the medical fra
ternity of Madison on the effects of beer
on the human body. With one exoep-
ton they gave straightforward replies,
the majority being quite adverse to the
use of the beverage. That exception was
= youthful physician who had not been
In business long enough to learn how
RI act vvhon intnrv3awa1 NJ kAn~-lA