The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-05-03

Or grow itself together agnirAso that
il can travel away just ~ good . snake
As Il ever WAS
| There either wna not ten dullaral
among the visitors. OF any ono u thernl
who had tho amount was afraid - taikel
tho bet for Il was not taken
"I.llbct yun two dollars said ona Of
tho party.
No, sirr' said Farmer Anslcy r.
don't put any Of my snalSes 70 the
strain Of that operation for less than
ten dollarsi"
So the mon cainc away. They were
from Ronlcttc, and when they arrived
home aud told the story Of Farmer
Ansicy's bet they were glad no hadn't
taken him M on the two-dollar bet
they offered 10 mako. for Dan flnnlcy
told them something that convinced
them that II Farmer Anslcy had taken
them up he would have won the stake
Dan Iianley Is tho village blacksmith
| He Ii wcll-to. do citizen. md his word
has never been questioned IN the COM
munity- al least II never had been up
to that tinic. II II has suffered any
since then the fact Is duo entirely to the
circumstance that snakes are able TODD
qnecr. things
There Ii no doubt that ffiS rattle.
snake could have done lust what Farm
er Ansley offered to bet Il could said
blacksmith lIaulcy n know II from
what have soon myself | was sitting
on my stoop one day, when ono Of these
common garter snakes came out Of the
grass on 10 the walk. i had hos In
my hand and got mp and whackcd the
snake In two with IL Tho part with
tho tail on snuirmed about good bit,
but tho part that had tho head on
wrigglcd away as lively Ms could be
and hid under a bonrd sat there
awhile, somewhat surprised nt what
had seen, and by. and by saw the
head Of the snake peck out from under
the board. Pretty soon the snake came
boldly ont and mndc It's way with that
part Of It's body to where the other
half lay. II backed itself up against
the severed end Of the other pnrt,
pressed the two ends together and
then bent its head back TO the place Of
separation, and with It's mouth and
tongue covered the wound with Shiny
substance all around about the severed
spot Ii plastered itself III this why
for minute or mere, then strnight-
cncd ont and lay quiet for Some time.
Then the snake started away, appni-
emily MS whole and firm as II was be-
fore chopped the hoo through Il, and
disappeared IN the grass and bushes
Another time | came across a snake
that had been cut In two or squashed
In two by something. don't know
what Now that snake had been hurt
I'm such way that II WINS unable TO
turn itself and perform the surgical
operation ! had seen the garter snake
perform; but another snake was there,
and was trying 70 do the net for the
severed snake. The well snake worked
with will, trying 20 Join the two
parts Of the other ono by plnstcring the
wound with LIS mouth md tongue. Tho !
effort was failure, though, and uftcr
awhile the good Samaritan snake gave
up the attempt and went away have
witness 70 the garter snakes mcnd-
ing OF itself. and Twill 90 with any
ono and make affidavit to both Of these
queer snake dcinga The snakes
weren't rnitlers. Of course; but N com
mon, everyday. no-nccount snakes arc
able 70 doctor themselves mp IN this
way, how can anyone dare TO doubt
that widc-awalSc, gifted snake like q
rationale enn do it?''
And there the subject rests at pres
emit But the party who visited Farmer
Ansicy nrc congratulating themselves
that there are two dollars more In
Roulette than there would have been
il the farmer had taken the bet, and
shnddcring to think that there might
have been ten dollars less ii town II
they had taken tho farmers bet
Roulette tPa.) Cor N. Y sun