The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1856-10-30
From the Olive Branch.
A MOSQUITO HUNT.

'"oholououo Ch"uhL dTouHu tHc Ocu Oh au
old bachelor. Now whizzing and buzzing,
advancing, retreating-- ever describing small
er and small circles, about the head of him
who listened to its approach, certain that
hc was the doomed one.
Now the sleep-scattcring insect alights
upon his nose. 1t was mighty nosc.-
Aha! who is the doomed one now: men-
tally cjaculates the old bachelor, as he
stretches forth his long, bony hand, with
intent to intllct instant vengeance, but he
only administers a smart blow upon his
own nasal organ. Again the atom of in
sect life returns, and now buzziny in one
ear and skipping to the other, lie seems to
whisper, smell the blood of an oil bac!.n-
lor man, dead or alive l will n.,v.. some
Aud now not only is the huge hand in mo-
ton, but the huge body vihratcs with rase.
The gaunt figure, i'll lis eagerness TO disarm
the offender, now springs from the bed with
emphasis, hastily arrays himself in his daily
costume, "a sad snuff. .colorcd suit, with
huge flaps and deep culfs) muttering all the
while sentence of death against the mos
quito race in general, and this individual
one in particular.
Now commenced the chase after his mos
q,itoship. The solemn bachelor with can
die in his hand, explores every nook where
might be supposed to lie i'll ambush, his
encmy-tle mosquito. Now from one cor
ner OF the apartment to another, hops the
mosquito, SO also the old bachelor.
With kcrchicf knotted together as u
sling, stood like David, the old bachelor,
even as he Of old slew Goliah, SO would
lie sIay the mosquito. But no /! the mos
quto's chronological developments Indicate
cunning; he is not to he caught mapping.
In among his dusty hooks, down among
his musty boxes, plunged the mosquito
How lie dodgc,l, and tackled, and vecreL,
and ever and anon lie buzzed triulnphal
buzz, and tickled the nose of the old bach
clor. a frantic start, whirl or DESPAIR,
and i'll vain witll his long arms he saw the
air rushing wildly about, li,I,cr, tlithcr af-
ter the blood-thirsty tornenter. Now away
flies his little majesty, and i;,ies refuge
within the folds Of the curtain with which
the window is ,lrapc'l. With cautious cat
like stel,s. stv"lthily approaches the purs,,er.
y blast of air occasions the candle to flicker.
With half mulered curses against woman's
folly in placing hangings elaborate, to af-
ford the mosquito hiding places, l,c makes
the light stationary hy transferring it from
his tremuous hand to the table And now
new thought strikes linn, II new il,stru-
ment Of warfa'e is suggested; his eye has
fallen upon walling-canc-hrandishing it
aloft lie returns 70 the charge, and without
mercy applies it to The mosquitoes surround
ings. Again the little n.sh-piercer comes
forth, and boldly faces his antagonist with
brush Of his tiny dark wing, and whizzes
defiance.
Iou are there, old fellow arc you he
seemed TO sing; but I'll lead you long
chase, aud strai ghtway commenced dam
cling various minuets and pironetts upon
the ceiling, which already bears the marks
Of many previous battle, wa.ed with his
ancestors.
After classaing here and balancing there,
to his tiny hearts content, lie flies now
lower, now higher, Il little higher, still
higher, out of the reacl, Of his frantic ad.
versary's long arm, and pcrchcd upon the
highest point Of the spcar-head from which
depended tho drapery; and now from his
place of safety stcadfastly eyed the old
bachelor.
And now, friend. let me present him 10
your minds eye rs lie stood sentinel over
his foe-the mosquito With open mouth,
as if to give utterance to lis woes, but ro
sound issued thcrcfrom, only silent mo
ton Of the lips, which was ineligible TO
those who knew his peculiarities, lie np-
peared like one evoking some unseen spirit
to his aid. Will, arms folded and one foo,
advanced forward as if ready for spring,
his. piercing eyes darting severe glances
from underneath his shaggy eyebrows and
overhanging brow will, every muscle
strained, and every feature expressive of
determination, stood the old bachelor
Hour after hour went Ly, still there stood
the old bachelor. The clock Of neighbor-
ing church struck the knell of the depart
ing hours. One, two, threo-but still there
stood the immovable old bachelor, striving
to mesmerize the mosquito.
But see! the Pickering candle expires
and lark! onward rusles the mosquito
blowing his shriIl whistle in his face, who
in despair springs into his bed, covers Lis
head will, the friendly bedsclothes, fall.
asleep, but still floated before his eyes the
phantom form of that mosquito.