an remember in connection with myself: it was a
strange one, and I will relate it.

It happened that my brother and myself were playing one evening in a
sandy lane, in the neighbourhood of this Pett camp; our mother was at a
slight distance. All of a sudden, a bright yellow, and, to my infantine
eye, beautiful and glorious, object made its appearance at the top of the
bank from between the thick quickset, and, gliding down, began to move
across the lane to the other side, like a line of golden light. Uttering
a cry of pleasure, I sprang forward, and seized it nearly by the middle.
A strange sensation of numbing coldness seemed to pervade my whole arm,
which surprised me the more, as the object to the eye appeared so warm
and sunlike. I did not drop it, however, but, holding it up, looked at
it intently, as its head dangled about a foot from my hand. It made no
resistance; I felt not even the slightest struggle; but now my brother
began to scream and shriek like one possessed, 'O mother, mother!' said
he, 'the viper!--my brother has a viper in his hand!' He then, like one
frantic, made an effort to snatch the creature away from me. The viper
now hissed amain, and raised its head, in which were eyes like hot coals,
menacing, not myself, but my brother. I dropped my captive, for I saw my
mother running towards me; and the reptile, after standing for a moment
nearly erect, and still hissing furiously, made off, and disappeared.
The whole scene is now before me, as vividly as if it occurred
yesterday--the gorgeous viper, my poor dear frantic brother, my agitated
parent, and a frightened hen clucking under the bushes--and yet I was not
three years old.

It is my firm belief that certain individuals possess an inherent power,
or fascination, over certain creatures, otherwise I should be unable to
account for many feats which I have witnessed, and, indeed, borne a share
in, connected with the taming of brutes and reptiles. I have known a
savage and vicious mare, whose stall it was dangerous to approach, even
when bearing provender, welcome, nevertheless, with every appearance of
pleasure, an uncouth, wiry-headed man, with a frightfully seamed face,
and an iron hook supplying the place of his right hand, one whom the
animal had never seen before, playfully bite his hair, and cover his face
with gentle and endearing kisses; and I have already stated how a viper
would permit, without resentment, one child to take it up in