Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-08-17
A STORY ABOUT SNAKES.
One Big Moeeaoin and Forty.Eisht
Little Ones.

One Big Moeea0in and Forty. Eight
Little Ones.
The editor Of the Daily Mail was
sitting on the piazza Of his home on
Elizabeth street, Sunday morning.
waiting for breakfast to be served,
when a long, gaunt individual opened
the front gate and walked in. bearing
a large tin can in his arms.
Morning" said the man. 1--WE
got something for you"
Thank you," replied the editor.
What is it?'
"Have q look" said the man, and
took the lid OF the can.
The editor looked, and then back
ed off and leaned against the side Of
the house. The can was about half
full Of snakes.
"Yes, SIR" said the man. big old
water moccasin, and forty-eight little
ones Killed the big old snake at the
Brogon Mill pond this morning. and
she had forty-eight little ones in her.
II you don't believe 1t you can count
them"
The editor intimated that he didn't
want to count the snakes.
Perry Fowler and his son killed
the snakes" said the man. "And B.
c. Blair and John Junkin and Perry
Cox witnessed the killing. And they
told me to bring the snakes over here
and let you see them and ask you to
put a piece In the paper about it.
They lowed as how you are pretty
good hand at writing for the paper"
The man told all this, and then re-
peated It, and then talked some more
to the same effect. The sight Of the
snakes, and the smell Of them. had
made the editor decide that he did
not want any breakfast, and might
never want anything to eat again.
The man talked on, and on and on. It
seemed to the editor that he never
would leave.
The editor listened to 1t for while.
and then tried to quit listening. He
wondered for time how q person
would feel after killing man In cold
blood. In the meantime the man
kept telling the story of killing the
snakes, while the odor Of the reptiles
kept coming up from the can In great
waves and chunks 1t seemed hours
and hours before the man ran down
end quit
Finally the man said. "Well,
guess might as well be going. Be
sure and write good piece about It.
Good day" And he started on.
Hold on exclaimed the editor.
"You are leaving your snakes"
"Oh." replied the man. II don't
want 'em. You can have 'em. In
fact I brung 'em to you. all the way
from the Brogon Mill. over two miles,"
why, confound your picture" re-
torted the editor, II don't want the
blasted snakes. Take them away from
here. Take them away"
But do not want EN-" replied
the man, "and ! don't know what to
do with 'em. I've got no place to put
emj
The editor then tried another tack.
eYous say you killed those snakes at
the Brogon MillT' he asked.
YES" replied the man.
did you show them to Mr.. Jim
Hammett, the president OF the mill 2"
continued the editor.
mo, I did not" replied the man.
"well, you should do 80 by all
means" said the editor. The man
seemed impressed with the idea, and
the editor elaborated on It.
"Mr. Hammett is the head Of the
mill, and he should BEE the snakes,
insisted the editor. I'm fact you
should have carried them to him first.
Mr.. Hammett is a nice man, as nice q
man as know, but he is just little
particular about some things, and he
won't like it at all IL you don't show
him the snakes. They are his snakes.
anyway, for you killed them on his
property. He won't like 1t at all II
you don't show them to him, and
won't blame him. You just must car
ry him the snakes" The editor talk
ed very earnestly, as he saw that the
man was impressed. His monologue
became almost chant, as hope began
to rise in his breast. He became al
most eloquent.
"Yes, I guess you are right" said
the man, after while. and he gath
cred UP his can Of snakes and left.
The editor watched the man until
he was out Of sight, and then shook
hands with himself, and then went
into the house and told his folks that
he wasn't feeling very well and
wouldn't eat any breakfast. He has
eaten very little since, too.
town and found Mr.. Hammett COM
ing down Main street In his. automo-
bile on his way to Sunday school.
The man hailed Mr.. Hammett. who
stopped in the street. Got some
thing for you," said the man cheer
fully, and showed the can into the
foot Of the automobile.
Mr.. Hammett took one look. and
then, "Yeep!" he exclaimed, and
jumped out, on the opposite side of
the machine. Mr.. Hammett doesn't
like snakes at all-can't stand them,
in fact.
why, what in the name Of Sam
Hill do you mean?" he demanded,
when he could get his voice.
Snakes" replied the man. KILLED
them over at the Brogon Mill-your
mill-this morning. One big she
snake and forty-eight little ones.
Brought them for you to see."
But I don't want to see them," re-
piled Mr.. Hammett, Take them
away"
why, the editor Of the Daily Mail
said you would want to see them,"
replied the man. II carried them to
him, and he made me bring them to
you. He said you would not like It IL
I did not bring them to YOU"
II might have known It," said Mr..