model70hunter
Member
The Garden snake thread got me to thinking about some snake things I saw as a younger person.
First, there are facts, unproven and wild speculative theories and Redneck scientific experimental labs.
My Mom's youngest brother fell under the classification Accidentus Whoops, he was 10 years older than me and spoiled.
When I was 5 Unc worthless caught a 6' plus Black Snake in the hen house swallowing eggs.
He told me he was gonna show me how to snap the snakes head off by popping it like a bull whip.
This was mesmerizing to a 5 year old. The snake was flying back and forth just like Lash Larue was working it. I guess the snake took umbrage to this game. On one pass it bit into Unc's back. I guess the speed really sunk the teeth in.
Sudden end to the sow, the snake is not flying back and forth, it is wrapping around Unc's arm and neck. Unc is now squealing like a little pig. Now he's screaming , MA! MA!
Grandma comes out, she has no fear of snakes more on this later, she peals the snake off his neck and arm then pinches his head at the jaws till he lets her boy loose.
Unc was a bully to us young ones, I found great humor in this show. He then took out his embarrassment on the snake.
My Uncles told me Grandma was fearless around snakes and her siblings said she played with snakes as a kid.
Her Husband, my Grandpa was a large and reputedly the strongest guy in the county. He could grab 250 lb hogs and put them in the truck by himself.
He was not afraid of the Devil, but he did have one weak link, when it came to snakes he was a runner.
so back in the early 1900's Grandpa was plowing the river bottom to put in corn. Granny and the kids would bring him lunch so the mules could rest at noon.
They sat on a log in the shade. Grandma looked down and saw a snake, knowing the results and all were overdue for a good laugh, she picked it up and held it in front of her man. His food went one way and he the other. He made as circle and ended up back at the log. Grandma showed him the snake and he made a 2nd lap. The Uncles said there must have been dialog later as Grandma never did it again.
Of mice and men.
One of Mom's brothers had 2 sons my age, one was a little over 5 months older than me and the other was a little more than 5 months younger than me.
When we visited them we played and had great fun. They also met us at the Grandparents so we could Spelunk without parental knowledge and ride the Mules.
When I was about 9 we were at that Uncles Farm and out playing in the barnyard next to the corn crib. We were lifting old boards and rocks to find snakes and mice to stomp.
Their Mom's family was from STL, all city bred folks.
Their youngest boy was 16 or 17 an larger than us. My 5 months younger cousin was Captain Ornery who also went by Ralph. No comparison this side of a jail cell.
His city cousin came down to amuse himself with us little farm kids. Ralph kicked over a board and there was a mouse, a half grown shiny wiggly mouse. Ralph snatched it up and ran at his big cousin.
I had stomped, trapped and shot mice with my Daisy M-25 BB gun. I never knew adults would do this. I'd never heard the term runner when mice were involved.
The big city cousin lost his air of amusement with us, he hit the barb wire fence at 60 or 70 MPH, he left shards of clothes and skin on the fence going over it. Well we were in shock, except for Ralph, he dropped slid under the 5 strand fence and went after his cousin holding the mouse up in the air. We saw the city Cuz look over his shoulder at the mouse a time or two and pick up speed. We lost sight of Ralph and his Cuz, but before he got out of sight he was screaming.
He found his way home by dark.
I asked Ralph if he was afraid of what the big boy might do to him. Ralph said nope. The big boy woke up with a Ralph planted snake in his bed. Ralph said his cuz makes lots of racket and screams loudly leaving the house. Cuz wouldn't hurt Ralph for fear of what he might find in bed. Ralph's Mom early on found out Ralph was immune to corporal punishment and gave up.
I know this is cruel, I know one shouldn't pick on bigger boys, but we laughed until our cheeks hurt.
This was 60 some years ago, right now I am smiling as I type.
First, there are facts, unproven and wild speculative theories and Redneck scientific experimental labs.
My Mom's youngest brother fell under the classification Accidentus Whoops, he was 10 years older than me and spoiled.
When I was 5 Unc worthless caught a 6' plus Black Snake in the hen house swallowing eggs.
He told me he was gonna show me how to snap the snakes head off by popping it like a bull whip.
This was mesmerizing to a 5 year old. The snake was flying back and forth just like Lash Larue was working it. I guess the snake took umbrage to this game. On one pass it bit into Unc's back. I guess the speed really sunk the teeth in.
Sudden end to the sow, the snake is not flying back and forth, it is wrapping around Unc's arm and neck. Unc is now squealing like a little pig. Now he's screaming , MA! MA!
Grandma comes out, she has no fear of snakes more on this later, she peals the snake off his neck and arm then pinches his head at the jaws till he lets her boy loose.
Unc was a bully to us young ones, I found great humor in this show. He then took out his embarrassment on the snake.
My Uncles told me Grandma was fearless around snakes and her siblings said she played with snakes as a kid.
Her Husband, my Grandpa was a large and reputedly the strongest guy in the county. He could grab 250 lb hogs and put them in the truck by himself.
He was not afraid of the Devil, but he did have one weak link, when it came to snakes he was a runner.
so back in the early 1900's Grandpa was plowing the river bottom to put in corn. Granny and the kids would bring him lunch so the mules could rest at noon.
They sat on a log in the shade. Grandma looked down and saw a snake, knowing the results and all were overdue for a good laugh, she picked it up and held it in front of her man. His food went one way and he the other. He made as circle and ended up back at the log. Grandma showed him the snake and he made a 2nd lap. The Uncles said there must have been dialog later as Grandma never did it again.
Of mice and men.
One of Mom's brothers had 2 sons my age, one was a little over 5 months older than me and the other was a little more than 5 months younger than me.
When we visited them we played and had great fun. They also met us at the Grandparents so we could Spelunk without parental knowledge and ride the Mules.
When I was about 9 we were at that Uncles Farm and out playing in the barnyard next to the corn crib. We were lifting old boards and rocks to find snakes and mice to stomp.
Their Mom's family was from STL, all city bred folks.
Their youngest boy was 16 or 17 an larger than us. My 5 months younger cousin was Captain Ornery who also went by Ralph. No comparison this side of a jail cell.
His city cousin came down to amuse himself with us little farm kids. Ralph kicked over a board and there was a mouse, a half grown shiny wiggly mouse. Ralph snatched it up and ran at his big cousin.
I had stomped, trapped and shot mice with my Daisy M-25 BB gun. I never knew adults would do this. I'd never heard the term runner when mice were involved.
The big city cousin lost his air of amusement with us, he hit the barb wire fence at 60 or 70 MPH, he left shards of clothes and skin on the fence going over it. Well we were in shock, except for Ralph, he dropped slid under the 5 strand fence and went after his cousin holding the mouse up in the air. We saw the city Cuz look over his shoulder at the mouse a time or two and pick up speed. We lost sight of Ralph and his Cuz, but before he got out of sight he was screaming.
He found his way home by dark.
I asked Ralph if he was afraid of what the big boy might do to him. Ralph said nope. The big boy woke up with a Ralph planted snake in his bed. Ralph said his cuz makes lots of racket and screams loudly leaving the house. Cuz wouldn't hurt Ralph for fear of what he might find in bed. Ralph's Mom early on found out Ralph was immune to corporal punishment and gave up.
I know this is cruel, I know one shouldn't pick on bigger boys, but we laughed until our cheeks hurt.
This was 60 some years ago, right now I am smiling as I type.
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