WENT THE BLACK SNAKE 275 



secures a new hold. This method of eating is not pleasing to the 

 beholder at first. 



I was nearly always bitten dtiring this process of forcible feed- 

 ing, but such bites are little more than scratches. Pete did not 

 strike at anyone after the first few days of our acquaintance. 

 Discovering that people did not harm him, he lost his fear. My 

 wife would pick him up, when it became necessary. Upon the 

 request of the Y.W.C.A. I went around to the factories for a 

 while telling stories at noon time, and generally carried Pete. 

 Very often these requests closed with: "please bring the snake." 



In the summer of 1913 I went on a long hike to the Catskill 

 Mountains with a group of boys, and we carried Pete on our wagon. 

 When about 20 miles west of Kingston, we lost him. I trust that 

 he is living happily in New York's reservoir. 



The snake people are peaceable folk. I write this because I 

 want boys and girls to know the truth about them. 



The Oriole's Lullaby. 



Ann E. Lucas. 



Oh hush ye, my nestlings; o'er hilltop and meadow 

 The gray dusk is coming so surely and slow, 

 And far overheaed in the tree tops' soft shadow 

 The night wind is crooning his lullabies low. 



And blown by Hght breezes your cradle till morning 

 Quietly, peacefully, drowsily swings. 

 From his tower in the pine tree the owl sounds his warning, 

 Then hush ye, my wee ones, 'neath mother's soft wings. 



With clear — burning torches aglow till the dawning 

 The stars o'er the earth will their peaceful watch keep. 

 The weary world rests till the first gleam of moniing, 

 So ye, too, my birdlings, shall hush ye and sk^ep. 



