My Snake-Stick 



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that men grow accustomed to peril, but that in 

 this case the peril is not really great, for it 

 is evident that, at least in the daytime, the 

 snake is not at all aggressive, though able and 

 willing to fight when attacked or provoked ; and 

 that reminds me of the experience of Mrs. Tom 

 Murphy, who lived in a log-cabin in the woods 

 about a mile up Black Creek. 



" Wan day," as she told Helen, " I stepped 

 out o' my doore and there on top of a rock fer- 

 ninst the well lay a pilot all curled up, and the 

 childers all playing close by without a wan of 

 'em noticin' the baste. I let a yell out o' me, 

 and I picked up the first thing handy, a shovel, 

 'n whacked the shnake over the head, 'n he 

 sthruck me hand, an' I knew thin I was gone. 

 I threw the baste into the brush, and then called 

 the childers 'n run into the cabin. I was want- 

 in' to die as daycent as maybe, and I wint and 

 lay down on the bed, biddin' the childers all 

 good-by and lavin' word with 'em for the ould 

 man at his wurrk in the ice-house. Thin I sint 

 'em all out again so they shouldn't see me in 

 me agonies. 



*>$ 95 



