The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-30
LIVELY BERRY PICKING.
SNAKE STORIES PART or THE CROP
or HrtKLEBERRY NIL.

Zig Rattiesnakes That Keep the Berry
Pickcrs MovinC-The MRtron, the Young
Woman and the Serpents-Uncle johnny
Connor Unjustiy suspects His Grandson.
I've seen more fun than little during the
season on Hucklobcrry Hill. the unique berry
/ picking resort OF Potter country. Pa, described
the other day In THE sun" said Col jim Ball
OF that county. 1T was principally tho result
| OF rattlesnakes Sunday is the great day on
that huckleberry barren. and on my first visit
there one steaming August day. the first thing
that attracted my attention was man who
was using a rattlesnake. its head clinched in
one hand. as whip for his horses. which snake
was five feet long and had ten rattles. Another
man moved about among the crowds with half
a dozen dead rattlesnakes twisted around his
/ arm. Offering them for sale at dollar apiece,
using. az an inducement for men to purchase
them. the cheerful assurance that every one
OF the snakes had been killed on the grounds
that day. Another man peddled the rattes OF
other deceased snakes. some OF them being
sixteen segments in length. and all taken from
genuine Huckleberry Hill rattlcrs
THE rattlssnakes of Hucklebcrry Hill grow
to extraordinary size and virity. These snakes
keep many pickers on the move from one part
OF the big berry patch to another. for they are
always around. and some huckleberry visitors
do not care. to dispute territory with them. but
retreat to other points as soon as they discover
rattler or hear one in their vicinity. Others
though. are loath to give UP a good picking
place because rattesnake or two are taking
things comfortably there and don't care to be
disturbed. and they pitch in with clubs and
rout or Stay the reptile tenant OF the spot SO
at almost any time of day visitor may see
men. women and children. some OF them pale
and terror stricken. moving away from some
particular locality with much haste. and others
thrashing away In the bushes with clubs and
holding their own against the snakes.
When the berry pickcrs return from the
hill to their various homes they fetch with
them stories Of queer and exciting exre riences
with rattlesnakes These recitals have come
to be known therea bouts as the annual crop OF
snake stories from Huckeberry Hill. Tho
gathering Of this crop is awaited with more
interest by many people than the picking OF
the huckleberry crop. Two o! the best stories
that went to make up one seasons crop gath
cred and took in myself. having passed an ex-
traordinari!y pleasant day among the berry
pickers on the Hill. Among the pickers was
one particularly spriGhtly matron, who had
found patch where the berries were especially
fine and abundant. She was rapidly filing her
twelve-Qunrt pail, much to the envy OF
young woman. a friend OF hers who hadn't
struck extraordinary luck. Suddenly the
srriRhtly matron picked up her pail and walked
away from her rich find without saying a
word. Her friend gazed after her in amaze
ment. and asked her If she wasn't coming back
to that lovely spot
No.. said she. You can have 1t If you
wantit'
The young woman was soon sweeping the
berries into her pail Just where the other had
pirkp1 nm her nail auddenly and walk ad
away. She was in position that brought her
face almost oven with her pail. and as she was
picking away two big ratters rose up from
somewhere behind the pail and stuck their
ugly noses over the side Of it. not two feet
away from her fao- For an instant the young
woman was unable to move but then she re-
covered herself. sprang, up and ran;
from her new picking spot. laughing at What
she thought was q good Joke. Did you see
'emS,
The secret Of her friends generosity was
made her 50 angry that she stopped running;
fastened back to her huck leberry pail, The
snakes were still there and she pitched into
fiereely that she had to thrash around in the
6 bem Tor ana ssr put 1hs d
she had to kill another big one that came on
the scene to see W hat was going on. While the
pIncky girl retired among group Of piekerss at
pluck the sprightly ,matron. seeing that the
land had been cleared for her; returned TO the
shpioe picking patch that she had SO unselashy
picking there When the young woman went
back to her picking she was knocked out more
than she had been by the first sight of the two
rsttlers eering at her oyer her pail to find that
the other woman had taken possession OF those
bushes. She demonstrated with her.
- guess was here first. was all the other
would say and her friend had to retire to such
ma of hnny
with berries that she let it stand on the ground
while she went here and there with a smaller
big pail and emptied it's berries in that She
was making the fourth trip to the big pail.
0Gsr her her heard her give
a sheet and her eyes bplging The young
woman and others ran to the sp9t, The young
lay eoiled on top Of the huckl eberres in the
t ,ie " pail with his head erect and his
club and went for the snake. The first whack
Of II the h club somehoT missed the snake but
sent its luscious contents scattering on the
ground. The snake went over with the berries
woman gave it to fhe snaEe, but in dealing
with It she didn't, seem to be able to get away
when The snake got enough Of the S club e and
turned to wriEgle away in the brush she .diLn't
appear to be able to follow it. but stood in the
midst OF the spilled berries and danced about.
strik ing at the snake that was away out OF her
reach. so that by the time the RATHER disap-
peared in a crack in the rocks the sprEhtly
matrons berries were trampled to a pulp.
Some Of the latters friends said that the girl
did it on purpose. but the girl went Off smllhgly
to her picking and said nothing.
That episode OF lie on Huckleberry Hill
amused me immensely. but not half as much
as Uncle Johnny Connor's adventure did.
Uncle Johnny. who was 70. | guess. and his
grandson Charley. aged 10. wero among the
huck eberry Ipickers that day on the hill.
TIE shadow Of q rock TO take nap. Grandson
Charley psrched on the rock and went to OBJ
serving things. After Uncle Johnny had been
DOING a few minutes he opened his eyes,
raise. his bend. aud told his, grandson that ii
no didn't quit punching him In the back he
would get switch and dress his Jacket.
Grandson Eonnor hadn't been punching
Mr., Connor dropped of to sleep again. BY
and by he woke up with n start. stcrnly nd
dressed his grandson again, charging the boy
with punching him III tho back and assuring
him that repetition % it would bring on his
head dire punishment. Tho boy pleaded his
innocence OF the chnrg" and the old man went
to sleep again, In Il short time he awoke with
a start and exclaimed
:, There you go again, you young rascal!
Now I'll trouncc You welin
he rose up 70 carry ont his threat, when the
boys eyes, which had become fixed on the old
mans back. began to bulge and h" shouted