The Savannah morning news., 1900-08-05


decidedly, but your snakes might better
be working than lying about all day guz-
| cling beer. AS for your absorbing all
| the whisky produced by the local distil-
terry and 50 delivering body blow 10 the
octopus you can't do 1t. For they have
put in night force at the distillery'
Hank didn't make any reply 40 this
and for a time continued to live his care
less, worldly minded life. Every work
day the blacksnakes gathered in rattlers
for Hanks benefit. Each Sunday the
trained hunters rested ana enjoyed their
beer in peace and comfort But Che re-
| proving words of the man of God haunt
| ed Hanks mind Finally he stopped
| drinking. I approved of this. Then he
joined the Y. NJ c. A. and began an en-
thusiastic campaign to stop every one else
from drinking. That seemed like run
ming a good thing into the ground. But
as the Y. NJ. c. A people don't want to
drink. anyhow, and worldly minded men
refused 20 abstain from the cup that
cheers, it didn't seem as if the movement
was doing much harm. But Hank wasn't
satisfied and Joined the Sunday League.
l demonstrated with him.
Reforms a good thing I told him,
"A beautiful and inspiring theme. I
don't know of any class of address /
would rather listen to than speeches on
reform. AS Evolutionary efforts, they are
always a success. But when you come TO
drag reform into practical politics there
is apt to be a reaction, which results In
free beer and a bumped reformer.
But Hank had turned from the thirsti-
est soul in the county 10 the most rabid
reformer.
Talking about free beer and Sunday
closing, he said, decidedly, there is one
reform that is going into immediate eff
feet on my own premises. Hereafter no
idle blacksnakes are going to put in the
Sabbath loafing and gossiping, and drink
ing beer Through the week they may
have whisky, for they need it to keep
them to their work. But godly counsel
and cold water will be the Sunday por-
ton of Hank Dunhams collection of
trained blacksnakes. They've got intelli-
gence, ard it won't be my fault if they
don't acquire religion. For a time their
degraded appetites may clamor for cool
beer, but in the end I will be the proud
possessor of collection of snakes that
will form the nucleus of a Snakes Cold
| Water League
/" In the end you will be fool told
Hank, emphatically. for I thought he
was about to try dangerous experiment.
| But there won't be change enough In
| your disposition to jar you, or attract
| attention. Six days in the week these
faithful snakes turn over to you the pro-
ceeds of their labors. Cooling drinks and
a shady place to rest in are due them or
| the seventh Your attempt to form 6
| Blacksnakes Christian Endeavor Society
| will be sure to result in strike. And :
strike of trained blacksnakes is a swift
game to go against
But Hank was obstinate and said he
was going to begin his Sunday reform
movement as soon as the week was up.
The next Sunday morning Hanks
| snakes came out of the box they slept
| in and made a Decline for the big tree
under which they were accustomed tc
rest Every snake had his own partic-
| uiar place and each was accustomed to
finding a little mug of beer waiting fol-
him This Sunday glasses Of ice water
stood in the place usually, occupied by
| the beer. The blacksnakes looked al the
water in a puzzled sort of way. had
come over to Hanks farm to watch the
success of his experiment.
" Introduce Them / observed 10 Hank
in my sarcastic way. Your snakes and
water are evidently strangers
Hank snarled that the way of the wick
ed was hard and thirsty at first, but that
the snakes would thank him in the end.
Amy emotions of gratitude your
snakes are feeling at the present moment
are admirably disguised told Hank.
| Blamed If / ever saw a more disgusted-
looking lot Of blacksnakes.'
"All that Sunday Hanks hunting black
snakes went around in a saddened, but
sulky, sort of way. 1t was plain they
were angry but at the same time they were
a good deal puzzled, and not quite GER
tain that Hank was blameable for the
beer famine. When Monday came
they went to work in the usual
manner All Through the week they
stuck to the game Of exchanging rat
tiers for whisky. II was plain, though,
that they weren't entering into their work
with their former spirit. Time after time
two or three blacksnakes, who ought 70
have been ardently pursuing elusive rat
tiers, could be seen with their heads TO-
gether, evidently holding a confab. at
which the inaliensble rights of black
snakes to Sunday beer were being dig
cussed saw there was trouble coming
and warned Hank
"'Blue laws are all rights In their
place / told him, but even the Pilgrim
Fathers never tried to enforce them with
band Of trained blacksnakes. Loving
forbearance isn't one of the strong quail
ties OF your pets. It's bunch of painful
experiences that will be coming 10 you If
you keep on much longer with your Sun
day closing Efforts
81 Those snakes viii live to thank me.
replied Hank, obstinate like, I'm saving
money on the beer and have the addi-
| tional reward Of an approving conscience
SUNDAY morning the blacksnakes came
out of their sleeping box and piked right
over to where their beer mugs had for
merly stood. Only pure water was coming
| TO them This time the snakes seemed GER
tain Hank was the person to blame for
the thirsty state of affairs. They held a
little conference. Then the whole bunch
trailed over 10 where Hank was standing.
They rang themselves In front OF him,
lifted I'd their heads in an inqulring man.
per. and a person didn't need to be a stu
dent Of the snake language to under
stand that they were asking where Their
beer was. Hank pointed to the water. Not
a snake moved. Then Hank grabbed a
stick and b. gan striking a. his faithful
workers The snakes ducked back TO their
| tree. but acting In a mighty sullen man.
ner. Hank thought things were settled
and started to go TO church.
| For once l told him. you had bet
ter restrain your religious impulses and
STAY away from divine service. IL know
ANYTHING about snakes your former faith
ful pets are indicating revenge. And from
what have learned about the strength
and disposition of full grown blacksnakes
I am willing TO give big odds that thes
will meet with success In their natural
IL unChristian, attempt
"Eank replied impatienuy that hi:
snakes were only sulky and would sooF
Get over that. SO Off he started for church