Burt Hunter, a reporter-photographer in Long Beach, California, found himself on a strange mission one foggy morning. He was to interview and take pictures of a woman snake charmer. When Burt rang the doorbell at an impressive mansion, he was surprised at the beauty of the woman who answered. She didn’t look like a snake charmer. He blurted out, “I don’t understand why a wealthy, attractive woman such as yourself is engaged in this kind of business.”
The lady smiled as she replied, “Oh, I don’t do it because I have to. It’s a fascinating hobby. I like the element of danger involved. Someday soon I plan to give it up and spend more time with my flowers. I can quit this any time I want to.”
As Burt set up his equipment , the woman brought in baskets containing the cobras. She confidently lifted out some of the deadly snakes as he snapped pictures of her handling them. Then she cautioned, “Be especially quiet now and don’t make any quick moves. I’m going to take out my newest snake. It isn’t completely used to me yet.”
Suddenly she stiffened, whispering to the photographer, “Something’s wrong. I’m going to have to put him back.” She opened the basket slowly and began to lower the snake into it. As Burt watched, fascinated, there was a lightning-jab of the cobra’s head as it buried it’s fangs in her wrist.
Forcing the snake down and securing the basked, the woman clutched her arm. She spoke quietly to Burt, “Go quickly to my medicine chest and bring the snake serum. Hurry!”
Trembling, Burt returned with the precious vial. She instructed him to take out the syringe and fit the needle on. Then she told him how to withdraw the serum. Burt struggled with the unfamiliar task, his hands shaking. He braced his arm against the table as he tried desperately to get the needle into the vial. Suddenly he gasped. His clumsy fingers had crushed the tiny bottle. The serum, now useless, dripped through his fingers.
“Tell me,” he urged. “Where can I get another?”
In a quiet voice she responded, “That was my last one.”
Her agony soon ended, but Burt’s lived on to embitter the rest of his life. Often he thought of her statement, “I can quit this anytime I want to.”
Adapted from Marjorie Grant Burns, “Broken!” The Youth’s Instructor, 25 Dec. 1951)
Many today who, following Mother Eve’s example, play with the deadly serpents of sin feel that somehow it won’t hurt them. But soon the vial that contains the only remedy for sin will not be available. We must be willing to accept the provision that Heaven made so long ago to provide us a Saviour from sin now, before it is too late.
Author unknown. If anyone has a proprietary interest in this story please authenticate and I will be happy to credit, or remove, as the circumstances dictate.
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