A SNAKE STORY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1208, 24 July 1884, Page 3

A SNAKE STORY.

Tbs Horsham Times (Victoria) saya : “ A somewhat peculiar make story has been related to us by Mr B. Beaumont, as having occurred as South Brighton. It appears that one day this week a child of Mr Cruet, boundary rider on the South Brighten Station, was observed by Mrs Cruet to he playing near the dwelling-house with a make about three feet m length, and the mother being alarmed called the little girl. Instead of responding to the call, however, the child persisted in her fondling, saying, < What a p’etty sing. Oh, you are a p’etty sing.’ The mother then caught up the child and ran into the house, hut, strange to say, the snake followed her, while the child cried, and made every effort to get back to the * p etly sing.’ The snake having entered the house it was detected by a pet dog, who set chase, but the reptile escaped by crawlfng under the floor. However, in a little while the make agajn appeared, and was crawling towards the little girl, when Mrs Cruet again rescued her, and running into the yard mounted the spring cart. The snake followed, and during the whole of the time (fonr hours) Mrs Cruet (with the child) was in the cart awaiting the return of her husband, the snake remained with its eyes fixed on the little girl. Moreover, the child was continually endeavoring to dismount, as well aa saying, ‘ I want to go to the p’etty sing.’ In the evening Mr Cruet, having returned, he soon despatched the reptile by chopping off its head with an axe. Strange to say, that although the little girl was caressing the Snake’s head it did not attempt Did the snake fascinate the child or the child the snake ?