The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1904-08-17
SNAKE IN COOK STOVE.
What Happened TO Big Copperhead
Down at Elijah Knable's.

DUWu at Ltiluu hhdb'S %
Mr.. Elijah Knable and family
live on the old Joe Runyan place,
back near the foot of the Mead
owground mountain in Ayr town
ship. Like all Industrious farm
ers, the family believe in the max
i'm ''early to bed and early to
rise," and In order to expedite the
matter OF an early breakfast, Mrs.
Knable, on Wednesday of last
week, gathered in a supply of
kindling and placed it in the oven
of the cook stove, which stood IN
an improvised summer kitchen
on one end of the porch, where
she would have it nice and dry
and handy for quick fire, but
did not take the precaution of
closing the oven door. Thursday
morning, as the glare of the early
morning light on the eastern hor'
izon announced the approaching
day, Mrs. Knable arose, and was
the first member of the family to
reach the summer kitchen. The
nearby woods was ringing with
music from the throats of thous-
and songbirds, while the cool in
vlgorating air laden with health
giving ozone, and waiting the per-
fume of the blossoms of the wild
grape and adjacent buckwheat
fields, made her feel that her
mountain home was a paradise
not to be exchanged for the palace
of kings.
Her husband, while performing
his toilet preparatory to descend.
ing from his bed room, had heard
the merry hum of his wife's voice
running over the air Of some half
forgotten melody, when soft notes
of the song gave place to most
piercing screams. GreaG SCOTS.
Without a moments hesitation,
he aim ost fell headlong IN his Ell
fort to reach her, while the
thought that vlllalnous despera-
does had the woman in their
grasp, made him almost frantic.
When he reached the little kitch.
en-, there lay, in swoon, his ter
rihed wife near the stove, and
cooled in the oven, where she had
placed the kindllng, was mon.
ster copperhead snake-lts head
erect, it's eyes like two sparkling
diamonds and Its long black
tongue dartlng forth in manner
that would terrify braver heart
than that possessed by the little
woman.
Snatching her form from the
dangerous proximity to the ven
omous fangs, he turned his atten
ton to the reptile, that had, by
this time, crept to the back part
of the oven behind the kindling.
With a pair of fire tongs, Mr.
Knable removed the kindling,
piece by piece, and then slammed
the oven doors shut, caglng his
snakeship more effectively than
did the Japs their enemy at Port
Arthur.
When one is sure that he is
master of the situation, he car
proceed more leisurely. Mr.
Knable didn't do a thing now bu'
kindle fire In the stove, and 81
down and quietly ayait results
If that serpent had been intlu
enced to any extent by knowledge
he may have had of the interview
his great paternal ancestor hat
early one morning with certain
woman in a garden called Eden
long time ago, he was led to fee
that he had now made the mistak
of his life, and would have given
bushel of apples for fan.
More fuel was added, aud hot
ter grew the furnace IN the i'm
provlsed crematory.
After a long time 1T was decd
ed to open the oven door and pee
in, which, when it was done, ther
remained nothing of the big snak
but grease spot.