The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1899-05-11
IMAGINARY HOLY LAND.


there. My good brother told me two
stories that are said to be true rs gos-
pei which I wish to relate.
He and son found a large black rat
tier on this ridge, and in their attempt
kill it, it ran under large fat rock and
they took q prize and began to prize
the rock over, when such a whizzing
sound set up as to startle them. So out
came the large black one and when
they had killed it, behold large yell
low one with a very peculiar shape As
the seed of the woman is to bruise the
serpent's head, they did so and started
on; meeting friend and having a curl
osity to understand the peculiar shape
of the yellow one, they returned and
opened its body and took out ten more
young rattlers, five of which were
black five yellow, and of considerable
size and age. learn that their nature
is when hatched from eggs that the old
one will swallow them or they will run
into her mouth when she throws it open
to receive them.
A brother IN this community had
dog he called Pettibone which was
very fine dog indeed. He would go
with the family and hunt and kill these
rattlers while they were picking whor-
tleberries. Guard had always been too
quick for the snakes, never getting a
bite. So one day one of the family
found a large rattler while picking ber-
ries on this ridge, and just as he was
making his lick, unfortunately Petit
bone made dash for the snake and
was bitten right in the mouth. The
poison acted like croton oil and in
few minutes he was lying PROSTATE on
the ground and 4 hon died, leaving eve
ry fellow to wa,eh out for his own
snakes.
Poor old Pettibone's bones are
bleaching on Rattlesnake Ridge, and
oh, how sad, but how much sadder that
many a poor fellows bones are bleach
ing on other ridges and in silent tombs
that have been bitten by dangerous
serpent smack in the mouth.
am now over in the little valley and
hills of Nazereth; and / find there is
some division and strife which Paul
warnes us about in Cor. I11-1-G.
| have had indeed warm reception
by many, but some a little jealous for
fear that | will mark some of their
lambs. | tell them that don't mark
any, as God does the marking and He
puts His mark in the forehead.
To my surprise the ones you would
least expect are the more jealous as |
have always understood that they were
opposed to marking.
/ have found here two very noted
characters. Susan Fry, who Is now 81
years old, having been born January
1901. She tells me that she was con
verted at the age Of fifteen and Joined
the church. She has splendid Chris
tian record and is still a shouting
methodist. Hurrah for old time Yves
leyan and other old pioneer religion
l have quit throwing up my hat TO
politicians and am throwing it up TO
God.
While this scribe was praying, sh
jumped up and shouted round an
round and grabbed my hand and CAV
me good shake while 1 still had hold {
the hornes of the alter, She is chill
again and talks like one in voice, BIT
not in spirit.
She will hoe her own little patch
!. the garden every year. / went bac
! according to promise and preached fc
her and upwards of twenty of hi
4 friends and relatives came in; it wt
v the sweetest service of all and shou
!, with preachers and hearers. left IL
: humble home singing old time religion
n She had one sister to die at the as
q of 10, and brother at 105; the famil
q are said to be very spiritual. This ms
a be truthfully said of old grandmoth,
Fry, that she halls from family th
will never die.
(, But of all the odd fellows, he's unc
,r Ben Hyder, who says-always in graz
q and never backslider. / was glad i
a. deed to visit Uncle Ben, as he and
r used to have some hot times when
used to ride big democratic hors
- But I never could get Uncle Ben
straddle of that kind of critter. Unc
Ben is now SO years old, aud when
. stepped in I saw his long white loc
. streaming down from under his bro
l. black hat and having both hands cline
! ed to the top of his staff between
knees he turned to see who the stra
IL ger was. With snow-white head al
t. keen black eyes, his countenance star
n at me, which reminded me of by-go
) days. How are you Uncle Ben, ht
do you do? Just moderate; I don't
lieve 1 know you. Just think of all t
S. mean fellows you ever saw. I've n
a too many, 1 can't. The unexpect
answer brought hearty laugh and yo
. humble servant joined in as greedily
s. any. Well, 1 talked to Uncle Ben u
til I could tell him how rile and wiz
ed he had been and how much pre-.
G dice he had toward other denomi1
tions, for I had al. been in the hol