The Snake-Bank

Singular things have occurred regarding reptiles. Even poisonous reptiles have been defeated of their mischief.

In the farm of Bogue, near the banks of the Ken, Kirkcudbrightshire, a singular circumstance took place regarding a snake. About fourscore years ago, a young shepherd, in Bogue farm, of the name of Græme, had paid his addresses to a young milkmaid. Mary R. did not reject him. It was supposed they were soon to be married.

It was the custom in this farm, at that time, and for forty years afterwards, to milch the ewes. Doubtless Allan Ramsay had seen Peggy and Jenny, or their fair prototypes, milking the ewes of Symon and Glaud. Doubtless, Patie often helped to bught the ewes to his fair mistress. Perhaps, even Roger did as much for his surly Jenny.

Many, however, besides shepherds and shepherdesses, on Glencorse Burn or the North-Esk, were employed in bughting and milking the ewes. In the pastoral part of Galloway the practice was frequent.

Well, young Græme had gone away to bring the ewes to the bught. He was somewhat longer than his wont in gathering them down. The sister of Græme and Mary R., the young milkers, were tired, and lay down. They lay down among brakens, at the foot of an old thorn, near to the bught. They both fell asleep. The young shepherd, as, at length, he drew near with his ewes, wondered that the lasses were not ready to receive him. The two girls had generally assisted him to bught the ewes. Leaving the flock in a little hollow near the milking-place, he stept before the ewes, to look for the lasses. He spied them both lying asleep. As he was just going to call them, he observed something creeping into the mouth of his favourite Mary! (It must be observed, she was lying on her back, with her mouth open, as sleepers in the fields sometimes do.)

Presaging some evil, he thundered out, That they must rise immediately. They attempted to do so; but Mary felt herself very unwell, and scarce could assist at the bughting. Her lover, however, ordered her to run and wear

As soon as the sheep were inclosed, Græme, somewhat roughly, ordered them to milk immediately. Mary almost staggered; and scarcely was able to begin. He pulled the stoup* from her, and sat down to milk. He ordered his sister to milk with all her might. The girls both wondered what he meant. When there was about a Scotch pint taken from the ewes, he sternly ordered Mary R. to drink it. She seemed to hesitate. But, what was unusual with him, he cursed her to drink it up, else he would fell her!

She complied. She drank it at the outside of the bught. Instantly she sickened much and vomited! She thought her stomach was eased of a weight: She could not tell what.

She vomited up a snake! Græme drew it instantly away. A moss was at hand, and he buried it there. Even his own sister saw not what it was. The poor Mary was better, and began to milk. For that evening there was little said about the circumstance.

Not many months afterwards, Græme and his sweetheart were married. Sometimes she would ask him, Why he was so positive for her to drink the ewe-milk? He always evaded an explanation. Once, however, in a fretful mood, Surely, says she, you can have little reason to hold that from me now. Perhaps you are tired of me, when you won't tell me that much?

Thus teased, he complied. But there was cause for both to rue that compliance. The thought of having had a serpent within her preyed upon her mind. She could not divest herself of the perilous idea. She soon fevered and died! Poor Græme repented sore that ever he had confided the fatal secret!

And, even till the present hour, the site of Græme's Bught can be pointed out. And, even yet, there are thorns beside it. And, even till this moment, there is a brae which retains the name of Snake-Bank. Perhaps it may retain it for a century to come!

Nor let the tale be terribly disbelieved.—In summer 1823, a woman had been podding peas to a gentleman in Kent—Mr Baillie of Swanscombe. She had suckled her child, and laid it in a hedge. On returning from her work to offer it the breast, she found it dead. Her neighbours alleged she had murdered it! She denied; and the child was opened by a surgeon. A snake was found in its stomach! No aid was nigh to the infant!

*Milking-pail

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