Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-10-20

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cities and towns of Texas, or who has
put up, say for a night at that hotel in
Alleyton, Texas, will thoroughly appre-
ciate the following vivid and realistic
sketch from the Marshall, Mimi, Prairie
Schooner:
We will first state that wife and baby
are absent on visit. Also that we
cannot afford any Injuries while run
ming 7x9 country newspaper. Hence,
we are no better of, so far as heas are
concerned, than women and barking
Quadrupeds. OF course we board.
Thinking to save expense, we concluded
| TO furnish our own bed. Put up in q
vacant house rented for housekeeping
purposes when our better-half returns.
The house was formerly occupied by
railroad boarders. About five minutes
after retiring, we experienced a feeling
of dozen or more needles pricking diff
ferent parts of the body at the same
time. Our hands were passed spas
medically about to ascertain the cause,
but we could feel nothing unusual. Just
then the printer who bunked with US
began series of quick, convulsive move
ments, reaching for his shoulder with
one hand and his left foot with the
other at the same time, changing hands
every second, and twisting his body like
| a streaked snake in the grass. Thinking
he had an attack ofSt Anthony dance
we arose and lit the lamp. The printer
said he felt better, but there was some
thing in the bed. Cautiously turning
down the bed clothes, we discovered
what seemed to be quantity Of onion
seed nicely distributed over the sheet.
Immediately the seeds commenced
dancing like kernels of pop corn on a
hot griddle. Simultaneously we shouted
"Fleas" and rushed to the attack.
There they were, great hungry fellows
that probably had had nothing to eat
since the railroad hands left some three
weeks since, and they didn't seem at all
inclined TO run. Not until we had
killed seventy.three of the varmints did |
they beat retreat. After clearing the
bed and sighting through one or two un-
mentionable garments fer the twentieth |
time, we again sought horizontal posi-
ton, hoping soon to forget our troubles
in refreshing sleep. Vain hope. Scarcely
had the lamp been extinguished be-
fore the implacable foe again as
sembled in myriads and COM
menced an onslaught upon our per
sons compared with which the frs
was scarcely foretaste. All at once
we thought of method of defense which
promised success. We would try kero-
sene. Quietly the burner was removed
from the lamp, fingers we're dipped in
the unusually repulsive fluid, and We
began our kerosense bath. The neck
and one shoulder were nicely saturated
when there came to our mind the horrid
remembrance of kerosene incident
which filled us with dismay. Our big
brother once poured kerosene upon the
back Of calf to kill insects less active
and less respected than the flea, and the
result was dead insects--also dead calf
Lucky we thought of it in time. With
feeling of relief, at having cheated
some editor ont of kerosene item, we
again lie down, thinking the disagree
able smell Of the oil would certainly
drive away anything that had life and
little sense No So however. On the
neck and that CREASED shoulder was
where they bit the worst. 1t seemed to
give them an appetite. In despair, the
two of us made forlorn-hope attack
with thumb and finger. But the enemy
came in countless numbers and closed
in upon MS in front, flank, and rear. just
as the printer was coming down hand
somely on boss flea, he received bite
ON the great.toe which caused him to
turn double somcrsault and Int square
upon the lamp which been placed on the
he'd. Fortunately the lamp was ex-
but the bed stats gave way,
and the next instant two printers, about
5O00 leas, and quart OF kerosene oil
we're rolling promiscuously on the tioor.
When birthstone was again brought to
hear upon that lamp wick there was re
vealed a scene for an artist. On the
aoor sat the printer, his form doubled up
:, tho shane of a letter the cor
pers of his mouth drawn in opposite d.
rectiens. making it resemble the sound.
bole Of a violin, while his hands and
arms we're wildly describing circles IN
,he air like the safe-rake gear OF
Woods improved reaper. We cant re- ]
u,auber lust exactly bow we spent the
rsnainder Of that eventful night. There
eomes At times a vision OF a man, with
~ sunerHuous clothing about him, driv.
- +. regiment Of heas from a pair oil
White linen pants, where they we're pa,
t.eutly waiting for their breakfast, and
ensconscing himself for an hour or more
mon a table in an adjoining room, with
nsugbt but a quilt about him. Next
We saw the sun rise. SO did
IL printer. That day when friends
ssled he cause Of our constant gaping E
= expressed fear Of an immediate
.,isck Of fever and ague; bat up 70 the
1,essnt time We have been unable 70
ind anything that WI neutralize the
.csst of Kerosene oil We don't furnish
our oan bed any more, just 70 save ez-
psnse.