The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1870-04-02
~ ise [runIsHEp BY sEeuFsr.l So
THE sGOID- BUG.
m BY EDGAR A. POE.

of the mainland, proceeded in north
westerly direction, through tract of
country excessively wild and desolate,
where no trace of human footsteps was
to be seen. Legrand led the way with
decision pausing only for an instant,
here and there, to consult.what appeared
to be certain landmarks of his own con-
trivance upon former occasion.
In this manner we journeyed for about
two hours, and the sun was just setting
when we entered region infinitely more
-dreary than any yet seen. 1t was
species of table land, near the summit of
an almost inaccessible hill, densely wood
ed from base to pinnacle, and inter
spersed with huge crags that appeared
to be loosely upon the soil, aud in many
cases were prevented from precipitating
themselves into the valleys below, merely
by the support of the trees against which
they reGincd. Deep ravines, in various
ulSStiouS, SaNe All air Oi Sttll SteTncT
solemnity to the scene.
The natural platform to which We had
clambered was thickly ovcrgrown with
brambles, through which we soon dis
covered that it would have been impossible
to force our way but for the scythe; and
Jupiter, by direc ion of his master, pro-
ceeded to clear for us path to the foot
of an enormously tall tulip tree, which
stood, with some eight or ten oaks, upon
the level, and far SURPASSED them all, and
all other trees which | had then ever
seen, in the beauty Of its fniagc and
form, in the wide spread of its branches,
aud in the general majesty of its appear
ance. When we reached this tree, lie.
grand turned to Jupiter, and asked him
if he thought he could climb it. Jlhc
old man. scared n little staggered by the
question, and for some moments made no
reply. At length he approached the
huge trunk, walked slowly around it, and
examined it with minute attention.
When he had completed his scrutiny, he
merely said,
"Ycs, massa, Jup climb any tree he
ebbcr see in he life"
"Then up with you as soon as possible,
for it will soon be too dark to sec what
we are about"
Glow far mus go up, massa 2" in
quired Jupiter.
"Get up the main trunk first, and
then will tell you which way to GO
and here-stopl take this beetle with
you p
"De bug, Massa Will de goole bug!"
cried the negro, drawing back in dis
may-"what for must tote dc bug way
up de tree ?-d-n if | do"
"lf you are afraid, Jup, great big
negro ike you, to take hold of harm
less little dead beetle, why you can carry
it up by this string-but, if you do not
take it up with you in some way | shall
be under the necessity of breaking your
head with this shovel"
"What de matter now, massa 2" said
Jup, evidently shamcd into compliance
always want for to raise fuss wild old
niger. Was only funnn any how. Ne
icered dc bug what kcer for de
bug = here he took cautiously hold of
the extreme end of the string, and,
maintaining the insect as far from his
person as circumstances would permit.
prepared to ascend the tree.
In youth, the tulip-tree, or Ljrjo lem
dron Taip!ferun,, the most magnificent
of American lorcstcrs, has a trunk pecu-
liarly smooth, and often rises to a great
height witl ,ut Ia.eyal branches hut, in
its ripper age, the bark becomes gnarlcd
and uneven, while manJ short limbs
make their appearance on the stem
Thus the difficulty Of ascension, in the
present case, lay more in scmblance than
in reality. Embracing the huge cylin-
der, as closely as possible, with his arms
and knees, seizing with his handsome
projections, and resting his naked toes
upon others, Jupiter, after one or two
narrow escapes from falling at length
wriggled himself into the first great fork
and seemed to consider the whole bust
ness as virtually accomplished The
risk of the achievement was, IN fact
now over, although the climber was
some sixty or se"enty feet from the
ground.