Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1873-07-23
INITIATING A MINNEsOrAIN.
He Visits His esCountry COusIns.v

He Visits His ssCountry Cousins"
A certain city chap, who, to be suff1-
ciently personal to make our story
interesting, we will imagine once
lived less than one hundred miles
from Warren, but who now resides in
that portion of Minnesota where
mosquitoes disturb not the peaceful
slumbers Of the weary, desiring to en-
joy a short season of rural felicity,
determined upon paying his cousin a
visit, whose residence happens to be
in wild ,sequestered spot overlooking
the tranquilwaters of Mosquito Creek.
This he accordingly did.
Whether the following graphic de-
scription was written for the purpose
of depicting the incidents of this par
ticular visit or not, no matter it tells
the story well.
The day Of arrival passed pleasantly,
and as the timefor retiring drew near
our country gentleman assigned the
'spare room" to his friend, and bid
ding him an affectionate good night,
retired to rest. Now the tuneful mos
quito, whose exclusive possession Of
the region above mentioned, has been
established by seeming Iez loci right,
has had his trombone reconstructed,
and begins the new season in animat-
ed style. Near the small hours of
night the slumbers of the country
cousin were disturbed by an incipient
earthquake up stairs. Hastily dom
ming his trousers, he proceeded to his
guests room, from whence the uproar
came. When that unbridled indiYidu-
al went to bed he had thrown open
the window to draw untrameled
breath and preserve the idea of his
native freedom. The mosquito, scent
ing foreign produce from afar. whet-
ted up his knife and fork upon the
stone window still and humming a
short grace before meat took a chair
uDOn the Minnesotain's nose and
tucking his napkin under his chin,
set to work. The sensitive foreigner
said an ungentle thing about the musi-
cal bird Of night, and, springing from
his couch, struck s light to meet his
unseen adversary face to face. No
sooner had he deserted him than
with uplifted pillow he snote upon
the wall where sat the patient insect.
But TO no effect, for so quickly had
the intruder gathered up his traps,
and so silently stole away that the
blow was spent on empty spsce. Two
more unsuccessful attempts 1pon the
Door mosquitoes life exaspented the
gentleman and the scene became ex.
citing. Blow followed blow IN quick
succession as the irate victim danced
in fantastic pursuit about the room.
Just as he had taken cArefulaim at
the artful dodger, who sat UPON
panel of the door with a mirthfu twin
kle in his eye, enjoying the spot, the
proprietor of the mansion popped his
head in and received the whatk in
tended for the mosquito full II the
face. He laid down unpremeditaedly
and called for the neighbors. When
outside reinforcements appeared an
enhance was effected. into the ,oom
and fearful scene of ruin met the
gaze of the intruders. The only whole
remaining article of furniture wa the
bedstead, upon which sat the disson-
solate Minnesotain, picking the f,ag-
ments Of the loOking-glass out of his
bare feet and saying terrible thing
He was ineonsolable. and next dayhe
left without offering to pay for he
broken furniture.