The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1899-01-21
TALES OF PLUCK,
AND ADVENTURE.
a2sassssaSs ssaSsSsssss
4 Terrible MesSmate.

4 Terrible Messmate.
As T sit down to pen this little in
cident OF my lie, writes South
African woman in the Wide World
Magazine, this is the picture that rises
before me: 1t is early morning in my
beautiful African home beautiful
with strange fascination that is all
its ownl. Rising hastily, throw OF
a wrapper and, opening the glass
doors, step out on the stoop. The
morning IS fresh and clear after the
dust-storm of tue previous evening,
and palling up the grass kinds I look
out on the promise OF the coming
day.
Calling my husband, I begin to
pour out tie coffee, when the hafir
nurse appears with our baby boy. He
is the picture OF health AMI is clamor-
ing for his porridgs. I gave him q
plateful, with a generous allowance OF
milk, and as one makes the most OF
the cool OF the day in Africa, I tell
him he may take it outside and eat it,
thinking he would stay Oh the stoop.
Instead of this, however, the little
fellow marched off to the roclery,
which OF late seemed to have become
his favorite place-a beautiful spot it
was, with its tall red and white cactus
trees and brilliant scarlet creepers.
Hurriealy finishing his breakfast,
my husl-nd remarked that he and the
"Doys''-as all kaGirs are called, old
or young-wonld be late in ssa-tiug 5
with the transport wagon to the town,
so he kissed me, and laughingly
promised to bring the child and lne
Something from the town. Then he
went ont and disappeared into the
compound, waving his hand as ne
turned the corner.
Picking up my hat, Invent out to find
my baby boy. He was not on the
stoop, so I walked on aud turned the
corner towards the rockerg. Suddenly
7 caught glimpse of the fair curis on
his dear baby head, and ] softly called
his name. The very next moment
beheld sight which seemed to freeze
my blood and root me to the spot,
speechless with horror.
nv child was seated on a stone,
eating his porridge, and close by his
side was u huge snake, one Of the
most venomous of it's species. Alter
nately that amazing pair took aspoon-
full OF the porridge! All al once Issw
the CHASTITY reptile raise its head, as if
to strike, but instead, gracefully curv-
ing its head downwards, It took some
milk out OF the plate. IA anger the
infant struck it with the sXoon, saying
at th1 kie time, ''NoS no! Bonn
Slong turn now" Ky aud re-
a!ize my 8tonishment when the reptile
only covered down in the leaves,
watching the child OUT of its tiny
bright eyes. Ny precious little one
finished his porridge, aud placing tue
plate down. watched whilst the snake
drank up the milk he had evidently
left for it; there seemed to be most
friendly understanding between them.
watched them for some time as in
a dream, aud then, calling my son
softly by name, T moved forward g.
step in fear and trembling. The
snake, at the sound Of my voice,
raised itself and, seeing me, disap-
peared from view. Rushing forward,
T clasped my child in my arms, as
though he were some lost treasure
suddenly found again. I smothered
him with kisses, and not once again
during the day did I even lose sight of
him.
Anxiously I watched for my hus-
bands home coming to tell him my
tale of horror. When he had heard
my mornings experience, he viewed
tae extraordinary incident with the
sane feelings OF horror that did. He
agreed that something must be done
on. the following day.
Very light was my sleep that night,
AMI many times did I get up aud LOOK
at my s'eeping baby, thanking Cod he
was sale, as I beheld lis darling
face.
Next morning, when the usual
breakfast hour arrived, I coa1ed the
Child to have his meal with me on the
stoop, whilst my husband took plate
OF steaming hot milk down to the
rockery, trusting that the well-known
love Of snakes for warm milk would
bring "Eom Slong" out of its nest.
Nor was he deceived. Almost i'm
mediateIy the snake came gliding
along, but seemed puzzled and some
what suspicious at not finding the
child there as usual. The smell of
the milk, however, soon proved
stronger than its suspicious, and the
dangerous reptile began to drink.
Ny husband at once raised his gun
aud fired, killing the snake at one
ehot. Then ne carefully buried 1t out
of sight. telling me not to say any
thing to the child. Next day my boy
went to the rockery as usual. and
great was his grief that his strange
companion did nos appear. For weeks
he fretted, and watched every morning
for his fearful pet.
4 Whales Revenge.
A widely known and feared devil