White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1857-07-02

anch0ly. he had with MIN many DOCKS, Du
rarely employed them. His chief amusement
were cunning and fishing, or sauntering aloni
the bank and through the myrtIes in quest o
shells, or chronological specimens; his collec
ton of the latter might have been envied By
SWammerdamm. In these excursions he wa
usually accompanied by an old negro, called Ju
piter. who had been manumitted before the re
verses Of the family, but who could be induced
neither 81 threats nor by promises. to abandon
what he considered his right of attendance upor
Che footsteps of his young Massa WILL 1t il
not improbable that the relatives of Legrand
conceiving him to be somewhat unsettled in in
tell0ct, had contrived 10 instil this obstinaey in
to Jupiter, with a view to the supervision anC
guardianship Of the wanderer.
The winters in the latitude Of Sallivanis Is
land are seldom very severe, and, in the fall Of
the year, it is a rare event indeed when fire i.
considered necessary. About the middle of DC
tober, 49,, there occurred, however, day O.
remarkable chilliness. Just before sunset
scrambled my way through the eTergreens to
the hut Of my friend, whom had not visited fol
several Weeks--my residence being, at that time
in Charleston, distance of nine miles from the
Island, while the facilities of passage and re-
passage were very far behind those Of the pres.
ent day. Upon reaching the hut raped, as
was my custom, and, getting no reply, sought
for the key where knew it was sereted, un-
locked fhe door and went in. Afne fire was
blazing upon the hearth. 1t was a novelty and
by no means IN mweIcome one. threw off an
overcoat, took an armchair by the cracking
logs, and waited patiently the arrival of my
hosts.
Soon after dark they arrived and gave me a
most cordial welcome. Jupiter, grinning from
ear to oar, hustled about to prepare some marsh
hens for supper. Legrand was in one of his fits
how else shall term themi-of enthusiasm.
He had found an unknown bitalve, forming a
new genus, and, more than this, he had hunted
down and secured, with Jupiter's assistance, a
searabens which he believed to be totally new,
but in respect to which he wished to have my
opinion on the morrow.
And why not to night7' 1 asked, rubbing
my hands over the blaze and wishing he whole
tribe Of searGbei at the devil.
'Ah, if had only known you were here!'
said Legrand, but it's 50 long since saw you;
and how could Forsee dat you would pay me a
visit this very night of all others1 As was COM
ing home met Lieutenant c., from the fort
and, very foolishly, lent him the bug; so II
will be impossible for you to see it until the NOR.
ming. Stay here tonight, and 1 win send Jur
down for 1t at sunrise. 1t is the loveliest thing
in creationr
What7-sunrise?'
Nonsense! no,-the bug. 1t is of brilliant
gold color-about the size of large hickory
nut-with two jet black spots near one extren.
ity of the back, and another, somewhat longer
at the other. The antenRe are =
Dey amt no tin in him, Massa viii, keer
a tellin on you,' here interrupted Jupiter; de
bug is goOle bug, solid, ebery bit of him, in.
side and all, sep him wing-nebber feel half SO
hebby bug in my life.'
Well, suppose it is, Jup,' replied Legrand
somewhat more earnestly, it seemed to me, thar
the occasion demanded, SIS that any reason fol
your letting the birds burnt The color here
he turned to me- it is really almost enough to
warrant Jupiter's idea. You never saw a more
brilliant metallic lustre than the scales emit
but Of this you cannot judge till tomorrow. In
Che meantime / can give you some idea of the
shape Saying this, he seated himself at a
small table, on which were pen and ink, but
no paper. He looked for some in a drawer, bu,
found none.
Never mind said he at length, this viii
answer and he drew from his waistcoat poke,
a scrap of what took to be very dirty foolscap
and made upon it's rough drawing with the pen
While he did this retained my seat by the fire,
for was still chilly. When the design wa,
complete he handed it to me without rising. Al
I received it a loud grOwl was heard, succeeded
by scratching at the door. Jupiter opened it,
and large Newfoundland, belonging to Le-
grand, rushed in, Ieaped upon my shoulders, and
loaded me with caresses; for had shown him
much attention during previous visits. When
his ganibols were over looked at the paper, and,
to speak the truth, found myself not little puz.
zled at what my friend had depicted.
We'll? said afercontemplating it for some
minutes, this Is strange searabeus. 1 must
confess: new to me: never saw anything like il
before-unless it was skull, or death;s-head
which it more nearly resembles than anything
else that has come under nay observation
"a death's-headr echoed Legrand-' Oh
yss-well, it has something of that appearance
upon paper, no doubt. The two upper black spots
look Ike eyes, ehq and the longer one at the
bottom Ike a mOsth-and then the shape Of the
whole is OVAL
Perhaps So. said I; but Legrand, tear
Jon are no artist. must wait until see the
beetle itself, If am to form any idea Of its per
sonal appearance
Well, don't know said he, little nettled,
Il draw tOlerably-sksHl9 do il at leas,-hare
had good masters, and aatter myself that an
not quito blOckhead.'
But, my dear fellow, you are joking them
said /, this is verJ passable skHH-indeed, !
may say that il is very sreellenf skull, accord
ing to the vulgar notions about such specimens
Of physiolog-and your searsbeus must be the
quecrest searabess in the world If Il resembles
it. Why we may get up rery thrilling bit Of
superstition upon this hint. presume you win
call the bug searabeus eapaf komfnis, or some
shing of that kind-thers are many similar titles
p patwhere are tbs 81