Back in 1990, Guidepost magazine republished an old story, really a legend, and it went something

like this.

American Indians, Native Americans, had a custom by which they take their boys through the rite of passage into manhood.

And that particular right of passage is to, around the time of 15 or 16,

they send those boys out to the forest or mountains to be all alone in solitude. And then they come down and

ceremony to make them be men. And the legend goes something like this. One particular young

man hiked all the way to the top of a high mountain. And when he got all the way

to the top, he was able to see almost like forever at the Vesta, his view for miles. And as he was

standing there, looking at the view, he heard some rustling at the leaves at his feet. And to his

amazement, it was a rattlesnake. And to his greater amazement, that rattlesnake began to talk to him.

The rattlesnake said to the young man, It's cold up here, and I'm freezing.

Put me under your shirt so I can stay warm.

And then carry me down to the valley where I belong.

No, said the young man.

I know your kind.

You are rattlesnake. The moment I'll pick you up,

you're going to bite me. That is not so, said the rattlesnake. I want harm you at all.

In fact, I will be eternally grateful for saving my life. The young man insisted and persisted and saying no to the rattlesnake, but the rattlesnake

kept on persisting and asking again and again and again. Because of the rattlesnakes

persuasion, he picked the rattlesnake and placed it inside his shirt, and he carried it all the way down to the

valley. As soon as he took that rattlesnake out of his shirt and placed it on the ground,

the snake turned around, struck him, bit him, releasing large amount of venom into his body.

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