“I want none of your impudence, Tom,” said he, and then Minerva interrupted.
It seems as if Minerva were always interrupting and generally with a shriek.
“Oh, Lawdy! Lawdy! there’s a big worm in the kitchen!” cried she as she came running out of the sitting room to where we were standing.
“Worms can’t hurt you, Minerva,” said Tom. “Go get a bird and see him catch the worm.”
“Oh, my! but this worm would eat any bird I ever saw. It’s that long.”
She showed how long it was, and Tom said,
We men ran into the kitchen, and there, sure enough, was a little green snake about a foot long and frightened in every inch.
Tom picked up the mop, and carefully aiming at the little creature, he brought it down about three feet away from it. For the snake had eluded him.
Minerva’s curiosity was greater than her fear, and she came to the door of the kitchen to watch us.
Benedict picked up a broom and made a swipe at the snake that upset a pitcher of milk, but missed the snake which coiled its pretty green length in the middle of the floor raised its pretty head and darted out a needle-like and beautifully red tongue at us in a way that reminded me of the Morse alphabet.
I cannot explain why I was thus reminded, and probably such a reminder was far from the snake’s intention.
I could not help feeling sorry for the little fellow. They say that snakes love milk. Here was a place flowing with milk, but he could not stop to drink it because three huge beings threatened his very life.
“Can he jump?” said Minerva, preparing to jump herself.
“No, Minerva, he is perfectly harmless,” said I, resolved to save his life. “Say, you fellows, stop whacking at him and capture him alive. I want to show Minerva that these snakes haven’t a vicious thought in their heads.”
I took the mop from Tom, and watching my chance, I brought it down on the snake in such a way as to pin it, wriggling. Then I picked it up by the neck.
“Oh, Lawdy!” cried Minerva, and stepping backward trod on the tail of Miss Pussy who happened to be coming into the kitchen.
Miss Pussy emitted a yell that Minerva firmly believed to come from the mouth of the snake, and clapping both her hands to her ears she rushed through the dining room and met Ethel coming in.