Year: 1867

looked at my neighbor with considerable
curiosity. His face indicated man Of not
over thirty years-a period at which men
are still yo,ng, but his hair was as white as
fresh fallel show. One seldom sees even
on the heats Of the Oldest men, hair of such
immaculate whiteness. He sat by my side
in . car Of the Great Western Railroad, in
Canada, aud was looking out at the window.
Suddenly turning his head, he caught me in
the act Of staring at him-a rudeness OF
which 1 Wa, ashamed. ] was about to say
some words OF apology, when he quietly re-
marked:


"Don't mention 1t sir; am used to it,"


The franxness Of this observation pleased
me, and in : very little while VIC were con-
versing on .erms of familiar acquaintance.
ship, and before long be told me the whole
story.


~ was soldier in the army Of India"
said he, land a. is often the case with
soldiers, was little too fond of liquor.
One day got drunk and was shut up in a
black hole for it. slumped down upon the
floor of the dungeon, and was dropping of
to sleep, when l felt cold, Shiny shape
craving across my right hand as it lay
stretched out above my head on the floor l
knew a. once that it was snake. vi
course my first impulse was to draw away
my hand, but knowing if did so that the
poisonous reptile would strike its fangs into
me, lay sill, with my heart beating in
my breast like trip hammer. OF course
my fright sobered me instantly. ! realized
all my peril to its fullest extent. o. how
lamented the hour that | had touched liq-
uor! In every glass Of liquor they say
there is serpent; but it does not come to
everybody in the shape It came to me.
Vita slow, undulating motion, the reptile
dragged its carcass across my face, inch by
inch, and crept down over my breast, and
thrust its heac inside my jacket As felt
the hideous scraping of the Shiny body
over my cheeks, it was only by the most
tremendous effort that | succeeded in re-
straining myself from yelling loudly with
mingled terror and disgust. At last felt
the tail wriggling down towards my chin ;
but imagine what | felt q, heart, if you can
ture had coiled itself up under my jucke, as
! lay, and had seemingly gone to sleep, for
it was still as death. Evidently 1t had no
idea that was human creatures if it had,
it would not have acted in this manner. All
snakes are covardly, and they will not ap-
proach mar unless to strike him in self.
defence. Three hours lay with that dread
ful weight on my bosom, and each minute
was like an hour to me-like year!
seemed to have lived lifetime, in that
brief space. Every incident OF lite passed.
across my mind III rapid succession as they
say is the case with drowning men. l
thought Of my mother away in old England /;
my happy home by the borders Of the Avon !;
my Mary, the girl loved, and never ex pecs.
ed to sec them more. For no matter how
long bore this, felt it would end in death
at last. l lay ngid as corpse, scai cely dar-
ing to breathe, and all the time my breast
growing colder and colder where the snake
lay against it, with nothing but . thin cot.
ton shirt between my skin and its. knew
if stirred il would strike; but | felt that
could not bear this much longer. i'll sue
cccded ip lying still until the guard came
expected that bis opening the door and com.
same for no doubt the reptile would see that
was man, as soon as the light should be
let in at the door. At last heard footsteps
approaching. There was rat,ling in the
lock. 1t was the guard. He opeaed the door
The snake-a cobra de capelia now saw
darted up its huge hooded head, with the
hideous rings around its eyes, and as if about
to strike. | shut my eyes, and murmured a
short prayer. Then it glided away with a
swift motion, and disappeared in tie dark.
ness. staggered to my feet, and fell swoon.
ing in the arms Of the guard. For weeks after
was very sick and when was able to be
about, found my hair as white as you now
see it. have never touched drop of liquor
since Wr,. Wirt Skies.