He Saw Snakes

A good story is told about Major Bartow of Georgia. This gentleman's exciting war reminiscences, together with his ability to absorb the product of the "still' without apparent injury to his constitution or impediment to his locomotion, earned him fame and great prestige among the convivial spirits in his native town. The major, while superintending the cultivation of his tobacco erop, one day found six pretty round eggs, and so greatly pleased was he at their U&autiful appearance that he picked them up, and carefully wrapping them in his handkerchief stowed them away in his pocket, intending to take them home as playthings for his grandchildren. He forgot all about them, however, and indeed for several days thereafter the eggs remained undisturbed. In the meanwhüe, assisted by the warmth of the surroundings, nature had wrought a change - the eggs were no longer eggs, but so many anímate creatures destined to give the unconscious owner of their birthplace such a shock as he had never experienced since the hour of j his flrst battle. It happened thus: One , evening the major was entertaining a group of his admiring friends with a most exciting chapter from his experience on the tented field, when in the course of his narative he paused, drew out his 'kerchief to wipe his face, and lo! six very lively little snakes wiggled down the front of his waistcoat and 1 onto the table at which he sat. The j major's face was a study for the camera; his eyes bulged out till they appeared twice their natural size, his mouth became a cavern, and his j plexion changed from a brick red to a i leaden hue. He remained tranflxed for j the space of twenty seconds, then with a yell that could be heard half over the village he fled out into the night. Rumor has it that he signed the pledge before morning, but the rumor has no foundation in fact.