Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-12-28

as we'll as that Of his master-to say
nothing Of other persons-we draw
our portraits from actual life.
Porgy was a good looking fellow
spite of his mammoth dimensions. He
had fine, fresh, manly face, clear com
plexion, and light blue eye, the arch
ness Of which was greatly heightened
by it's comparative littleness. It was q
sight to provoke a smile on the face OF
Mentor. to see those little blue eyes
twinkling with treacherous light as
he watched Doctor Oakenburg plung-
! ing from pool to pool under his false
guidance, and condoling with him af-
ter. The doctor, In fact, in his pres
ent situation and imperfect experience,
could not have been spared his disas-
ters. He was too little Of an eques-
trian not to feel the necessity, while
battling with his brute for their mu-
tual guidance, Of keeping his pendulous
members carefully balanced on each
side, to prevent any undue preponder-
ance of one over the other-a predica-
ment of which he had much seeming
apprehension. In the mean time, the
lively great-bodied and great-bellied
man who rode beside him chuckled in
continently, though in secret. He pre-
tended great care Of his companions
and advised him to. sundry changes of
direction. all for the worse, which the
worthy doctor In his tribulation did
not scruple to adopt.
"Ay! Lieutenant Porgy," said he,
complaining. though in his most minc-
ing manner, as they reached spot OF
dry land, upon which they stopped for
moments rest-"ah! Lieutenant Por-
gy this is but unclean travelling, and
full too of various peril. At one mo-
ment / did hear plunging, dashing
sound in the pond beside me. which 1t
came to my thought was an alligator
one Of those monstrous reptiles that
are hurtful to children, and even to
men,"
"Ay, doctor, and make no bones Of
whipping off a thigh-bone, or at least
leg; and you have been In danger
more than once today"
The doctor looked down most woful-
ly at his besmeared pedestals; and the
shudder. which went over his whole
frame was perceptible to his compan-
ion, whose chuckle II increased pro-
portlonably.
"And yet. Lieutenant Porgy," said he.
looking round him with a most wo-
be-gone apprehension-syet did our
friend Humphries assure me that our
new occupation was one Of perfect Sc
curity Perfect security were the
precise words he used when he coun-
selled me to this undertaking"
"Perf, It urity!" said Porgy, and
the man laughed out aloud. why,
doctor, look there at the snake Wind
ing over the bank before you-look at
that. and then talk Of perfect securi-
ty."
The doctor turned his eyes to the
designated point. and beheld the long
and beautiful volumes Of the beaded
snake, as slowly crossing their path
with his pack OF ffnked Jewels full in
their view, he wound his way from one
bush into another and gradually fold
ed himself up out of sight. The doc
tor. however was not to be alarmed
by this survey. He had a passion for
snakes: and admiration suspended all
his fear, as he gazed upon the beauti-
full and not dangerous reptile.
Now would I rejoice, Lieutenant
Porgy, were yon serpent in my poor
cabinet at Dorchester. He would
greatly beautify my collection" And
as the man Of simples spoke, he gazed
on the retiring snake with envying
eye.
WELL doctor. get down and chunk
It, If it's worth having, Its worth
killing"
True, Lieutenant Porgy: but 1t
would be greatly detrimental to my
shoes to alight In such a place as this
for the thick mud would adhere"
"Ah, and so would you. doctor
you'd stick-but not the snake. But
come, don't stand looking after the bush
IL you won't go into It. You can get
snakes enough in the swamp-ay. and
without much seeking. The place is
full of them"
This OF certainty. Lieutenant Por-
gy? know you this?"
"Ay. I know it Of my own knowl-
edge. You can see them here almost
any hour in the day, huddled up like a
coil Of rope on the edge Of the tus-
sock, and looking down at their own
pretty figures in the water"
And you think the serpent has van
ity OF his person." inquired the doc
tor. gravely.
"Think-I don't think about 1t, doc
tori know it," replied the other, con-
fidently And 1t stands to reason,
you see. that where there Is beauty
and brightness there must be self-love
and vanity. It's a poor fool that don't
know his own possessions"
There is truly some reason, Lieu
tenant Porgy. in what you have said
touching this matter: and the instinct
is a correct one which teaches the SER
pent, such as that which we have just
seen, to look into the stream as one
OF the other sex into a mirror, to see
that its Jewels are not displaced. and
that its motion may not be awry, but
graceful. There is reason in It,"