The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1907-07-06
--r- s-~f-
PLUMEp SERPENT OF THE WELL
Wherein Clever BOY Cutwittcd a
Cunning Old Reptile.

! |
the site of great city Of the sans
name, the ruins Of which are nov
mounds of scuiptured masonry over
grown with trees.
Al the corner Of one OF the village
\. streets is q well from which opens q
vast cavern extending, the natives
say, many miles toward Merida Steps
lead down the. side OF the well to the
water and from the pool at the bottom
! The Indian women bring the water in
great jars on their heads.
| gIhe natives wifi not venture far
into this great cavern, for somewhere
in the depths, they say, still turks
! the Mother of the Dwarf of Uxmal.
In tho long years before Christie
pher Columbus, when Mani was a rich
city and Yucatan was part Of power
| fin empire. this old woman having
made her son governor Of The city Of
lrxmal, retired from the splendors OF
his court and travelled many weary
mile till she came TO Mani, where she
took up her abode in the cavern
In the cavern she met bis serpent
with a plumed head. Under a large
tree by the side of river thar ram
through the cavern she used 70 sit
with the serpent for hours ut time.
one day she said to the serpent
that she was very fond oi children
$50 am I, replied the serpent with
4 Inv look in his little eyes-'for
eating
Tho old woman was Mortified ut
first. but finally she became 50 fond
Of the serpent that she agreed 70
hclp him to his fayorlte food. So the
old woman went into the city and
told the governor that hereafter the
water Of tine Well would be sold not
fer money. bit for a child II the tri'
butte was hot furnished mon the hlG
serpent would Gene ont Of the cav
erp and eat up the people who came
for water
There was great arief in the city
az Mani " When the hcralds went about I
he demands of the old (
woman. The rich wauld not give up (
their children, and when he officers !
of fha government tried % sieae upon I
tba children of the peer there was a I
riot ana tho people chased the COVER
nor back to his palace. tearing bis
splendid cloak and knocking off hrs
pumed head dress Of gold and gems.
so the governor Summoned his
guards shaHt him and shut himself up
in LIS palace, the ruins Of which you
may SEQ 10 this day while the priests
burned eepal before their idols, and
The people went about in much dis
tress for want Of water
Things went on this way for three
days for nobody dared TO visit the /
well where the great plumel serpent /
las in wal Cor them
On tire morning If he fourth day
there appeared a the governors pal.
ace a beautiful boy about fourteen
Years cid He was dressed like the Il
paoser class If citizens. and when the
governor saw him he exclaimed:
what do you here? Are yoa come to
slav me?" No exceilency.' replied
he hoy Il am come 70 offer myself
Is food for Che serpent
Good. cr.cl ting Governor Good,
,riug rlcl, food and rich clothes You
hall feed wei yourself before you are
nod for the serpent"
Tho boy whose name was Pante
nit was quickly dressed in the
plendid clothes Of Young nohie-
oan, and eagerly attacked the food
which was set before him, for his
mother was a poor widow. and il was
eIom that he had an he wanted to
at
Then he went at the head Of a
re7t procession to the mouth Of the
-ell while Ell the Inhabitants Of Mari
eao-l hle sing Hr9n him
Over HIS shoulder. Paatemlt had q
arge bag. filed with something so
eavv that Fl was ditHcBit 70 carry
u' he refused all assistanco
he descended rt0 the we'll and
.alEcd down hc great cavern gntil
q came to where she oId woman SAT.
rfor the tr.e lr th river with tho
IAN" cricF shr. when sbc saw pau.
.mit approaching "hara comes your
innar."
Tlon ae the no., sfonpod "a n It1e
stance She asred. .Wril do tho
ooplc want I'm buy water2"