The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1891-04-16
TEMPERANCE NOTES,
HE SAW A SNAKE.

TEMPERANCE NOTES.
HE SAW A SNAKE.
The Dreadful Apparition Which Re-
formed . Drunkard.
Harvey James, Of near Crawfords-
vile, Ind, owes his redemption from
intemperance to as peculiar temper
ance lecture as any ever delivered in
the country. The lecturer was a snake
and the rostrum from which he spake
had much to do with the impression
made, writes a Charlottesville lind. }
correspondent. Up to August last
James was one of the hardest drinkers
In Montgomery county, but since a-to
him-memorable day in that month he
has not tasted a drop. He had been
following q thrashing machine as a
hand, and upon warm afternoon the
last stack was finished, and Harvey
started for home with sixteen hard
earned dollars in his pocket. AS chance
would have it, his way led through the
little village of Darlington. celebrated
for two thriving saloons. Harvey here
met several old cronies, and the upshot
of the whole matter was that about an
hour after he again started home down
the dusty road with a pretty good load
on board. To make short cut he left
the hot and glaring roadside and start
ed across large pasture lot, we'll COW
cred with huge powders and bushes.
He had gotten no more than half across
| the field when he noticed at the side of
the unfrequented path a delightful lit
! tie grotto formed by leafy bushes grow
ing close to large rock, and carpeted
with the freshest of bluegrass Tired
and dusty, beside being confused lit
tie in regard to things in general, Har-
, vey lay down for minute to rest in
this charming retreat. "When 1 woke
! up," said he, when telling the story
afterward. 'the sun had swung clear
| around and was blazing down on me-
little bird was chirping away on the
bush overhead and reckon that woke
me for my head was still Sizing away
lively. And l couldn't recollect for a
minute where was. Things all seemed
strange and 1 felt powerful uncomfort-
able. Pretty soon 1 began to realize
that there was something else in one of
my boots beside the leg of my thin over
all, which was the only trousers wore
that hot weather. Still only half awak-
ened, my eyes gradually fell down in
that direction, and then reckon gave
yell to raise the dead. Cuddled up
in my loose boot leg out of the sun
was the most venomous looking rattle
snake l ever saw. His head was
toward me, and he must have
turned clear round in my boot while
was asleep. When I yelled his wicked
old neck arched up and his rattles
worked away lively way down about
my ankle somewhere. guess he was
warning me to keep still, and you bet
ter believe I did. I was almost too
scared to breathe, and actually grew
sick at my stomach. I drew my eyes
away from the rattler and shut them
tight, expecting every moment to feel
his fangs fastening into my leg. I
tn ought my time had come sure, and
after little thought of my wife and
children and began to wonder what
they would do without me; then 1
thought they would do as they had done
1soon began to pray like a good fellow
to be spared, and resolved one thousand
times in half as many seconds to quit
drinking if should be. All the time
the old snake was twisting around to
make his sermon emphatic, I reckon,
and by the time he grew quiet again
his discourse didn't need gestures. l
didn't dare look at the thing, but Just
kept still and thought. 1t seemed like
l had been lying there a week, when all
at once l heard some one whistling
down the path, and in minute the
bushes parted and l saw Bill Potter.
He jumped back with yell like he had
seen ghost. thought he had seen
the snake, but he hadn't, as he gave
a sort of a sheepish grin and said:
"Why, you durn brute, you was so still
thought you was dead" was afraid
to speak at first for fear of getting bit,
but knew that if Bill fooled around
I'd get bit anyhow, so said as easy as
could: "Bill, big RATHER has crawled
in my boot leg while was asleep. Get
big club and kill it first crack, if you
break my leg doing it, Bill stared at
me moment, then squatting down, he
squinted his eye and looked down my
boot leg. Then he gave a most provok
ing grin and said: ''He have flown
away; come along and go home" l
thought at first he was lying, as it
seemed that could still feel the snake
resting against my leg. When screwed
up courage, though, and looked down
he was gone, sure enough. I don't
know how or when he went only
know that he was gone and that got
up considerable faster than expect to
rise at the resurrection, and calculate
that won't be slow. Not word did
Bill or say until we parted, and then
he said: "Harve, you'd better swear
OFF," You'd better believe that stirred
me up and read the riot act to him in
great style. The mean cuss only
laughed, and going down to the store
told all the boys that he found me lying
in the road suffering from dose of the
jim-jams. 1t was a dirty, mean trick,
too, as it was real live RATHER that
was in my boot that afternoon, and I'll
take oath to it before any squire in
Montgomery county. What's more,
I've kept my resolve and haven't
touched drop of liquor since tina,
afternoon that Bill Potter and his gang
say 'saw snakes. St Louis Globe.
Democrat.
THE "BEERAGE."
English Liquor shops Largely Owned b,