The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1867-04-12
Alisfellanfuus.
THE GOLD-B U G..

LII w llul All yes .--upOn tnc
whole 1 think you had better not be too
severe with the poor fellow-don't fog
him, Jupiter-he can't very well stand
it-but can you form an idea of what
has occasioned this illness, or rather
this change of conduct? Has anything
unpleasant happened since 1 saw you p"
"No, Massa, dey aint bin noffin on
pleasant since den-'twas fore den Pm
feared-'twas de berry day you was
dare"
"How? what do you mean?"
"Why mas3a, l mean de bug-dare
now."
"The what ?"
"De bug-I'm berry sartin Massa
Will bin bit somewhere bout de head
by dat goole-bug."
"And what cause have you Jupiter,
for such supposition 2"
"Claws enutf massa, and moutf too.
I nebber did see sich deuced bug-he
kick and he bite ebery ting what come
near him. Massa Will cotch him fuss,
but he had for to let him go gin mighty
quick, / tell youN-den was de time he
must ha got de bite. I didn't like de
look OBJ de bug mouff, myself, no how,
so l wouldn't take hold OBJ him wild my
finger, but l cotch him wild a piece oh
paper dat found. rap him up in dc
paper and stuff piece of it in he mouff-
dat was de way"
"And you think, then, that your mas
ter was really bitten by the beetle, and
that the bite made him sick ?''
81 don't think noffin about it-I nose
it. What make him dream about dc
goole so much, if it taint cause he Bit
by de goole-bug? Ise heerd bout dem
goole-bugs fore dis"
"But how do you know he dreams
about gold?"
"How / know? Why he talk about
it in he sleep-dat's how / nose"
"Well, Jup, perhaps you are right
but to what fortunate circumstances an
l to attribute the honor of n visit from
you to-day?"
"What de matter, NASSAU"
"Did you bring any message from
Mr.. Legr and ?"
"No, massa, I bring dis here pissel )
and here Jupiter handed me Il not
which ran thus:
My DEAR -
Why have l not seen you for so Ion.
a time? hope you have not been S,
foolish as to take offence at any littl
brusq,terie of mine; but no, that is i'm
probable.
Since | saw you l have had grea
cause for anxiety. l have somethin!
to tell you, yet scarcely know how t
tell it, or whether should tell it at all
have not been quite well for som
days past, and poor old Jup annoys me
almost beyond endurance, by his well
meant attentions. Would you believ
it?-he had prepared huge stick, tn
other day, with which to chastise IN
for giving him the slip, and spending
the day, Solats, among the hills on tn
main land. l verify believe that my il
looks alone saved me tlogging.
/ have made no addition to my cabi
net since we met.
If you can, in any way, make it con
venient, come over with Jupiter. ID
come. / wish to see you tonight, apo
business of Importance. l assure yo
that it is of the highest Importance.
Ever yours, WM. LEGRAND.
There was something in the tone o
this note which gave me great uneas
ness. Its whole style differed materia
ly from that of Legrand. What coul
he be dreaming of? What new crotcht
possessed his excitable brain? Whf
"bnsiness of the highest importance
could he possibly have to transact
Jupiter's account of him boded no goo'
| dreaded lest the continued pressure
misfortune had, at length, fairly unse
tied the reason of my friend. Withol
moments hesitation, therefore, pr
pared to accompany the negro.
Upon reaching the wharf, noticed
Is scythe and three spades, all apparent
i new, lying in the bottom of the boat
i .,,l,ioI, x,,a xvaro IN nn1hurk