The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-07-14
LIVE CARPET RAGS.
A Mothers Suspense as she Saw Her Little
Girl Playing with n Copperbend.

Girl Playing with n Comprehend.
HARRISBURG. July 13-For some reason II
has always been the general belief among the
people who live in the m fountains In York.
Lancaster. and other counties where copper
head snakes abound. that this venomous
snake will not bite children, and there are
numerous wonderful stories told. especially in
the Wish Mountains. about the copperhead's
lonlency toward children. Outside OF the
mountainous these stories have never re-
ceived credence. but o woll-known family
living on the York county side Of the Susque-
hanna aro ready to accept them hereafter.
The family consists OF Jacob Loan. his wife.
and two children. the youngest n little girl 3
yenrs old. Copperhends are always uncom-
fortally plentiful In that locality. but this sen
son they have been more numerous than
usual The haying and harvest hands have
killed from three to ten day during the nast
week on tho Loan farm.
One day last week the little three-year- old
was playing in the front yard, and her mother
noticed her sitting in the grass near the front
gate. Every now and then she would be heard
laughing gleefully. and Mrs. Loan finally
walked out to see what was amusing the child
so much. When the little girl saw her mother
coming. she called out to her; -,
Come mamma. an ID SEQ he live CARPET ragsH'
s Hi Ike S witch she GrasIrd in the middle Of
the body and which twisted and squirmed in
tho mir. Mrs Loan saw At once that It was a
comprehend. Although she was almost swoon-
ing with terror. the Guilds mother acted with
rare presence OF mind. 1t occurred to her that
II she showed her alarm BY CRYING out to the
frightened. and the change that would natu-
rally follow in her handling or, sudden drop:
ping OF tho snake might anger the copperhead
Loan said quietly and coaxingly: d,
Fetch It to mamma, dear Don't hurt 1t. "
Bnt there's tT2 81 EN- H., mamma hui replied
She reached down and. picked up another
comprehend that lny in tho grass. and which
Mrs. Loan had not seen. and came toddling
She retained her ramness, and when the child
was within a couple OF yards OF her spoke TO
rand said:
fhis seemed to please the child. and she
placed tho copperhcads in the path. The two
stantiy their manner changed. The copper
spot on the top OF their heads began to deepen
in color as 1t does when this snake Is cnrnged.
and they both made toward the child,s mother
showing great rage: The little girl clapnod
her hands and started to catch the snakes
again. Her mother rushed out OF the Path and
in her arms flew to, the house and into it, closed
the door behind her and fell to the floor in a
dead faint. Tho other child: boy : years
henrd tho moi of his mothers fall and his
little sister crying. and ran into the room. His
father was at work near the house. and the
boy quickly summoned him. 1t was some
time before the farmer succeeded in restoring
his wife to consciousness and learned the
cause Of her swooning.
Farmer Loan went into the yard md the
copperheads were still there, and still in bel
ligcrent mood. They were soon killed. SO
grent was tho shock to Mrs. Loan that she Is
burned Tor her deadly playthines for two or
three days