The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-05-03
SNAKES BROKE UP TEE SCHOOL,.
Hiaehsnskes SD Garter Snakes nreush
Out or wintsr Quarters by The Heat


DUTCH NICK, N. j., May 9.-Snakes have
broken up the spring term Of school in the
Cloverdale district, and Obed Harding. who
has taught there for the last ten years, says
he's got through unless the district sees ft TO
build a new schoolhouee.
Obed Ia pretty well along in years, and his
eyesiRht Is not a. good as II was when he was
younger. When he opened the schoolhouse
one morning during the warm spell a fort
night ago he saw something stretched across
the top Of his desk that looked like a pretty
Rood-sized stick Of wood. He Immediately
formed the opinion that the pupils had nut IL
there for a Joke. and reaching out ho grabbed
II with the intention Of throwing IL over into
the corner by the stove. To his amazement
when his fingers settled around the stick Il
rose up, doubled, and wound itself affection
ately around his arm. II wcs n ak foot black
snake, and although II was n little dull from
its winter sleep, IL had sufficient life 70 scare
Obcd pretty nearly out of his senses. with
a howl the teacher leaped for the door, holding
the snake .encirclcd arm In front of him as II
IL belonged to somebody else, and he was in .
hurry for the other man TO take IL. On the
doorstep he met one Of the pupils. who quickly
got a stick and hit the snake a crack that
nearly broke the teachers arm. hut IL had the
effect Of making the reptile loose its hold and
drop TO the ground.
"Geewhillikins!" exclaimed obed. THAT
was a narrow escape" II was an hour or
more before he got his nerves into such shape
TINT he could open school.
The warm days continued, and one after
noon; while ohed was sitting on the platform
the floor. tilted back in his chair. and secretly
watching the pupils from under his half.closed
SSsYis'u near ~ tho s'i middIe % OF the ara piStfo 70 a w sneihi
had served him for five years as q cuspidor:
He Thought he saw the hole move, He looked
n ~ IA FI1V hNf IN hnNasnI mn uf1na nf 1fn
and thinking that perhaps he had had q nan
and was dreaming. he resumed his vigil and
II lasted only a minute or two. and he came
out OF IT with a start. Hc saw a WEIGHING OBJ
the hole onto the platform. The next Instant
the pupils were startled by a crash, and they
say the teacher r. dssncing around behind his
supple sapling which he had used in about the
same manner on some Of the pupils. ~
Snakes" replied the teacher, bringing the
In the twinkllng OF an eye the pupils were
on top Of the desks; and some OF the bravest
teacher, who pounded the snake until there
wasn't a single shake left in its tail. 1t was
The next day in the middle of the forenoon.
while the arithmetic, class was ~recitinR. a little
g G startled the school with scream, and
sure enough %fye,toot blseksnaks was work.
iHR ltS way SlD"lS uOWu lnt IOOT between Ln6
seats. 1t was quickly despatched, and the les
sone went on.
The schoolhouse is an old building. and in
many places the plaster is broken. leaving the
laths bare, and the openings have been made
larger by the knives of mtschievoua boys.
About an hour after tie snake was killed In
the aisle one of the boys yelled:
There's another snake. teacher!"
He pointed to one of the holes in the wall,
from which n big garter snake was slowly
oozine. One OF the boys flung a slate at Il.
and the snake fell to the floor with its back
broken. The pupila were getting extremely
nervous now, and the teacher had his hands
full in keeping them at their books.
In the afternoon three more snakes crawled
out Of the holes in the wall. and one was found
coiled up IN n comfortable spot on a bench at
tine rear OF the room. where the sunlight fell.
Along about 8 o'clock Obed. who had watched
the hole in the platform suspiciouslv ever
since the adder had come through 1t. saw
about six inches of n slim. writhing form rise
through It. He reached for the bell and let Il
drive in the direction of the hole. but II flew
wide of the mark. and the snake dropped out
of sight.
schools dismissed" he said. and the pu-
pills. lost no time In getting outside.
The next day the teacher, Hiram Sanders, |
Orrin Bump. and Glib Trip went to the school
house and killed thirty-four reptiles which
they found lying around the floor. The sup
is that the snakes slowed themselves
away under and In the walls Of the old build
ing for the winter. and crawled out when the |
warm weather limbered them up.