The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-09-20
Nanny Howell Tells the
Champion Snake Story

IN down the mountainside with a load OF
tanpark, Nanny begins, when all at
once dead ahead saw good size log lay
ing across the road. These here mountain
ROADS, as you fellers know, amt mucn
Tor drivin' and didn't want to give INV
glzzard any extra shaking up by running
owe over a saw saw log t., SO pulled up the team
Well, sir, 1 swan, when l got I'D to
that log and bent down to lift 1t, 1 nearly
1ell dead from wonder to find it wasn't
log at all, but a whoppin' big black
snake stretched straight and stiff across
the road from one side to the other. And
dnat I mere reptile, when he saw my Won
der, Just looked over his shoulder little
and winked his near eye at me-
, He didn't make move to get out OF
the way,not a bit-and after that wink
ne Just left himself stretched as cool as
you please across the road. l hate like
tarnation to kill a blacksnake, knowing
now they Kill rattlers and coppers, so
When l saw he wasn't goin' to get out OF
the way and Yet me pass, took him by
the tall, carried him to one side and got
on the wagon and drove on
About a week later l was I'D on the
same road agin. This time was lookin'
around tryin' to locate huckleberry
patches SO as to be in the first pickin'
knowed 1 landed in the center of the big
gest den of rattlers 1 ever see Yes, sir
there might a been hundred or more O.
them snakes, and certainly not less than
seventy-five. Anyway, they was thick
and L knowed 1 was up aginst it when
they all began buzzin' and collin at once.
Il had hickory stick I'd cut when
started out and laid around right and
LETT with it, knockin' out a RATHER every
time l struck. But the rattlers was ev-
erywhere and couldn't land the stick
fifty different places at once, so 1 was
getting pretty nervous and wonderin' IL
I'd ever see the old woman agin.
wei, about this time the snakes, bein'
surround him, so as he can't run. and
then We'll have him. Rattlers is among
the smartest snakes alive. l heerd Of one
onct that was pet of a telegrapher and
who would take his masters place at the
key when he wanted to take nap. All
he'd do was to rattle his tail on the key
and the electricity did the rest
Well, as l was sayin', 1 was soon the
center spot in a circle of collin, rattlins
reptiles and was just startin' to give up
the ghost when a big blacksnake come
on his tail, and when his face came to
mine-Pm over six feet in my socks-he
give me broad wink.
by guD2,' 1 says. you're the same
Teller picked up by the tail t'other day
and lifted out o. the road.
THE snake nodded
By gum, 1 says, and believe you've
come to nelp me out O this scrape in re-
turn for not runnin' over you says.
THE snake nodded.
Then says 1, you can't begin none
with that the reptile got off his tail
quicker'n lightning and was at about
actly how it happened. but sure as l am
alive and settin here this minute before
had been able to lay about and kill moren
half a dozen rattiers, that blacksnake was
at my side and standing on his tail and
looking into my face and winking ag'in.
"At that l looked around and counted
fifty or more dead reptiles and nary live
rattler.
!" BY gum says, Il do believe you've
killed 'em ALL
1.-THE snake nodded.
4" You saved my life,' I says. and I'm
grateful
The snake winked and nodded.
when 1 get there I'm goin' to tell the peo-
pie what L know about you, and tell EN-
if they run across you not to harm you,
because you're friend of mine
Eat that the snake Topped off his tail,
stood on his head, held his tail in the air
and shook hands with me.
Well, so long old friend. Hope III
see you soon again. l says, and starts
But bless my suspender buttons if that
snake don't crawl longside of me. All the
time he keeps lookin' from right to left,
and finally l got to thinkin' and at last
says:
to protect me from any rattlers that
might happen along
The snake mods and winkS
''Well. sir, that snake wiggled alongside
of me for ten miles, until 1 struck the edge
of the town. Then he stops, puts his taif
in my hand and winks.
Well l says, shal1in' it. you're a
brick. you are, and / hate to part with
you. But good-by, and I'll remember you
when we meet agin.'
He winks solemn like, and crawls off
the way We come"