Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1909-01-13
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THE LA.Np or LrE.A.REp.

And many children like to 30
To wonder-wander here, you know,
It Is a pleasant land, and yet
II were YOU would forget
The pathway there. and follow back
The shining Msrry-Morning track.
The Dream-Worid Hes too Tar away
From honest work and happy play,
And you must heed what you have
read,
And shun the land OF Lie.a-Bed
Youths Companion. 4
THE DESERT SCHOOL VISITOR.
Teacher, teacher!" exclaimed An,
lta, Something moved in the corner"
Every dark little face In the Mexi.
can school was aglow with excite
'ment. So
"a scorpion boldly said Juan.
No, tarantula," cried Ricardo.
Maybe twas horned toad" sug.
gested little. Rita. and the other pu-
pills laughed.
Be quiet, children" said the teach
er, Miss Allen. trying to restore or.
der, and nerving herself to meet the
strange Intruder. She was hardly
more than girl herself, this teach.
er OF the country school out on the
.onely desert-and. she was unaccus'
toned to the queer animals of this
arid country.
LET me find It." pleaded Juan, one
Of the larger boys, whipping string
and forked stick out Of his pocket.
The Mexican children crowded to
the corner without fear, for the desert
animals were often inmates Of their
adobe homes.
Juan moved a bench, and, as. he
did so, there was q flash Of color.
"a ella n,onster!p exclaimed Juan.
Don't let 1t breathe on you" cried
Anita, ~or you'll, drop dead.,'
The boys laughed at Anita's fear,
but the teacher entreated "oh, be
careful; for she had heard that this
species Of lizard was the most pois.
onous Of all the desert reptiles.
Mim not afraid" answered Juan. Il
often help father trap them. Sect"
he called, a moment later, as he
brought the captive from the corner
with a strong cord.
1t was a-fat, stupid-looking crea.
ture; but. as the boy drew It forward,
1t kept running out its long, forked
tongue. It's color was bright orange
shading to various tones Of yellow,
and irregularly marked with black,
which gave It a blotched appearance.
On the head were tubercles, or hard,
bony Jumps. and the body was Gov.
cred with scales like nail heads or
small pebbles.
Juan" said the teacher, as she
and the children stood watching the
CHA monster, you say you help your
father catch these repttles7 Pray.
tell what does he do with them!"
He sends them TO museums in the
East !" replied the boy. Sometimes, -
he went on. doctors want them gsor
the poison: Father says the teeth of
the ella monster are connected with
the big glands that are filled with
poison. II you make them mad, and
give them something to bite. you can
take the piece they have bitten and
soak out the poison
~ can catch them, too said RI
cardo, eager to have part in the
conversation. "Out in the Sabine
Canon they're thick. l took dozen
into town to the curio store. They
shipped them away some place"
Il wonder what they eat?" asked
Miss Allen.
Birds eggs mostly,. answered Ri
cardo "and bugs, too
"This one is only about ten inches
long" said Juan, looking at 1t criti
ically. Most that we find are about
eighteen inches.pS *
THE ella monster Is one Of the
largest lizards in North America
said the teacher, returning to the
desk, "and 1t has the distinction OF
being the only one that Is poisonous.
Do you know any other place where
the ella monster is found besides in
Ari1ona?a "a ss y. \.
.Father has seen them n Nav
sMexico,p answered Juan
"Yes,n said Miss Alien "and thay
are also found in Texas They AZ
named from the CHA River IN Arizo.
ma, / always haye i,ad great .c,,ri.
osity to see this animal. rs for i have
have lost theft lives from its mite
! whose poison Il said to oct directly
ION the heart '.is
I. my father said Juan. "does MOI
think che bite viii NIL ! mann I,
he sspo,,a, he drew me siizard o,,+ IN
front a. the aesk thiaa children oath.
erinr around him
3 aiWbat eha,, M a. WITH .o,,,. $50 !, %
s,est - amiiinelv asked the teacher
a e,,es. q be,orga - An,.an -
,,,,shiv, said Jnan
~ don4 won't ~. sr,,,c,,,,, !. : 49,,
tha child drawinr qacr ~ s.sa as Il,
tance -,