The North Carolina Standard

FROM THE BOSTON EVENING JOURNAL.

THE RATTLESNAKE.

This snake is peculiar, we believe, to North America: and was formerly found in great abundance in New England: but since the country has become settled, and an exterminating war declared against these noxious reptiles, their numbers have rapidly decreased—and now they are seldom seen. They are still to be found, however, occasionally, we believe, in some parts of every New England State; uncultivated tracts of the country. In Chester, N. H, there is a hill, which from the great number of these reptiles, which formerly made it their abiding place, is called Rattlesnake Hill. A few still remain, and they are sometimes killed in the adjoining towns, where they wander in search of water.

A number of years have passed away since an occurrence took place in the neighborhood of Chester, which was the occasion of considerable excitement in the neighboring families at the time, and which is still worth relating. Some men were employed in mowing a meadow, which was at a distance from any dwelling or road: and as the weather was sultry, and many parts of the meadow covered with water, one of them, Mr. R., thought proper to divest himself of nearly all his garments, and led the van of the mowers, sans culotte! It is well known that at this season, when drought generally prevails, rattlesnakes are very apt to come down from the high lands in quest of water: and as Mr. R. got at the end of his swath, and stepped on the dry land, he placed his foot almost in contact with a huge rattlesnake, which raised its tail, gave it a few quick and sharp shakes, and sprung at the poor man just as he turned to flee, half frightened to death, from the venomous reptile! His crooked poisonous fangs entered the lower part of the only garment which Mr. R. wore at the time; the texture of which was particularly strong, and they could not be easily disengaged.

Mr. R. gave a scream and started off on the run, the snake sticking to him closer than a brother. He passed through woods, bushes, fields, and pastures; he crossed fences, ditches, and brooks and bogs; he jumped, halloed, galloped, screamed for aid: vainly trying to rid himself of his ugly associate. At length, crazy with fever and fatigue, he reached the public road, and passed along it on the way to his dwelling, at a rate which would have astonished the most desperate pedestrian: looking behind him at intervals and screaming, whenever he beheld the horrid appendage to his homespun unlined garment. He passed several persons in the road who were thunderstruck at the sight of the unfortunate man cutting up such antics, using such violent exercise: and exhibiting himself in dishabille, without regard to propriety or decency. Mr. R. at length reached his own dwelling, a distance of 3 miles from the meadow: the door of which stood invitingly open, through which he rushed to the consternation of the women folks: having still attached to him the grim-looking reptile. By this time he was completely overcome with terror, heat, and fatigue, and fell fainting on the floor. The poor rattlesnake, however, had got the worst of it: and had been threshed about at such an unmerciful rate, that his life, as well as a large portion of his tail, had departed, long before he reached the goal!