Danger in the Dark - ZseZse

142 DANGER IN THE DARK.
is a good thing in its place, and sometimes very use-
ful."
"Yet, you will allow, it not unfrequently gets out
of its place, and does. a vast deal of mischief I"
"Notwithstanding, we should prize it for its many
good qualities."
"Let me hear you mention a few of its many good
qualities 1"
" You will hardly deny that it possesses certain
properties which make the article useful; why it POB-
sesses medicinal virtues!" .
"The same may be said of venomous reptiles: the
rattlesnake contains an oil, which is good for particu-
lar ailments; yet would you justify anyone of your
neighbors, in entering npon the business of raising
serpents - petting and caressing them 1 In such a
case you would, no doubt, complain to the authorities.
It would hardly be sufficient for him to plead, that
snakeoil was an excellent medicine; especially if some
of your particular friends had been bitten by the
reptiles. Were such a thing to happen, I fancy there
would be a general killing of snakes."
"But hold, my good fellow, I have an argument
you can't get round; it is simply this ---,rum will
always let alone, those who let it alone."
"Do you say so 1 let us see: there stands a man
on the opposite side of the house, with red eyes and
bloated face-perhaps you know him 1 at any rate I
do; he is a husband and a father: but a few years
ago, that ragged wretch, whom you see there, looking