Year: 1860

A LIVE ADDER SENT IN LETTER TO
FAITHLEss WrFE.-The Chicago Press and
Tribune of a recent date, gives the following
startling account of a rather singular affair:


The inmates of the post Office were thrown
into a state of general consternation yester-
day afternoon, by series of the most vocif-
erous and agonizing screams, which were
found to proceed from one of the Railways
of the building. Upon investigation, the
source of the outcry was found to be COL
ored woman, who was wringing her hands,
and apparently in a state bordering on insan-
ity. The bystanders questioned her as to
her troubles, to which she made no response,
but pointed to lively little green ADDER
which was rapidly wriggling over the floor
towards the open air.


A general etampede ensued, but after a
protracted effort the reptile was properly
secured and carried to the office of the City
Marshal.


1t appears that the woman, Mrs. Pierce,
has husband down in Georgia. Their
marital life has pot been one of the most
pleasant or poetic, and several letters of
objurgation have passed between them. Yes
terday Mrs. Pierce went to the post-office
and took out q little paste board box con-
tanning letter. As she was removing the
letter from the box, after having broken the
seals, she was surprised to hear a Kissing
noise proceed from the box, and in an instant
after, to see the green head glittering eyes
and barbed tongue of a horrible adder shoot
up before her. She dropped the box as if
it had been a coal of fire, and broke out into
hysteric screams. The following is copy
of the letter she received, which fully dis
closes the motives of the husband, and the
part he designed the reptile to play in little
drama of his own murderous conceiying:


MARION, Oct. 18th, 1860.


"Dear Wife:-I must tell you that do
love you with all my heart, and none but
you. How do you think l can live without
you, dear loving wife. How does my very
heart ache for you. Now, dear wife, do be-
lieve me what tell you, for Gods sake, for
never loved any other but you. Here is
one of your dear loving pets, and take it
and kiss it for me, now dear, affectionate
wife. Why don't you come, if you can, and
take your dear little Simon in your arms,
and press him to your bosom, as you had so
much love for me. Margaret, l must say
that this will be the last that ever write to
you; and another thing-if you would live
with me, l would never live with you, for
am afraid of you. After me writing to you
and telling you that would live with you,
if you would promise me that you would do
right by me. Well, by Cd, if / can't get
along without you, will kill myself; for l
will never bother you any more. l amgoing
to get a bill from you now, sure but did
want to live with you; but don't now, and
never will so long as live; but l must say
that / love you; but that don't amount to
anything now, and don't want it to amount
to anything but you shall have Simon's
picture, sure. If you don't get it this win
ter, you will never see him, for am going
to take him with me, and would like to
leave society. am going so far that you
will never see him. Simon is sick now.


"Yours truly, for goner,


ssPHILANDER PIERCE


sKfss this dear little pet for me- and take 1t
and sleep aciM Il. for Gods sake


"P. S. They say that blue is true and let
this bite you, and you will find out this is
good little bedfellow.'


That the diabolical Philander supposed
bis wife was going to play Cleopatra with
the charming present he sent her, is not for
q moment to be entertained; but, rather,
that he eoncocted this unique plan of making
way with her, is probable. At any rate his
designs have failed miserably, and his snake
ship, peacefully coiled up in bottle of alco-
hol, will hereafter decorate the walls OF the
Audubon Club.


WHAT is the worst kind of fare to live on