THE MORRISTOWN GAZETTE — DECEMBER 09, 1874
SNOW SNAKES—The Sparta Index wants to know what, a “snow snake” is. He’s a vicious little cuss, of a pale, delicate color, and rarely ever exceeds ten inches in length. The snow snake remains dormant through the hot months, and never puts in an appearance until after the third frost. They are peculiar to the higher mountain gorges, where they may be frequently seen in the winter gliding about over the snow. The bite is always fatal, and when one has punctured a fellow, be it never so slightly, he may at once draw the gentle drapery of his couch about him and commence saying “now I lay me down to sleep.” There is no escape. And that's all we know about the snake, his nature, habits, life, and pursuits.—Athena Post.
There's perspecuity for you! Whatever may be our private views as to Sam’s knowledge of “Hobb’s’,” there’s no telling what he does know about snakes. Yet—and we say it with a very fair idea of what the assertion involves—there was no snow on the ground when Sam showed us that identical little reptile! And it wasn’t near any “higher mountain gorge” than the old hog pen, near “Edith’s Hole,”—if he calls that a “mountain gorge!” There’s no propriety in any man putting on too much style over a particular snake!
From— The Morristown Gazette. (Morristown, Tenn.), 09 Dec. 1874. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.
