The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1874-11-27
The Gay and FestiUe Flea.

The average woman hates flee with an
intensity almost d;abolical in its nature.
She will pursue one of these little innocents
with the remorselessness of fiend. and if
you ever expect to see beautiful exempli-
ficatlon of womanly traits never look for it
when she knows shat flee is about. And
in proportion as the woman hates, the flea
seems To love- and is never enjoying ecstatic
bliss unless favored with her society. Nc
likes to seek her couch in the Silly hours
of the night, Woo her from her slumber, and
from a sheltered nook to witness her fever
ish exertiens to escape his caresses; but
perhaps he does not reach the acme of en-
joyment until he can slyly accompany her
to church and not make his presence known
until she has satisfactorily settled her fur
bellows and fiounces on the cushioned seat
all ready to be admired and make note of
how others look. And then the flea begins
his lnanipulations, knowing full well that
he has his victim at a disadvantage. Here
there can be no hasty ninging of skirts, no
assuming of unbecoming postures while
making frantic grabs at the mischieyous
and inaccessible monster If you note the
woman closely, you will see compressing
of the lips and look of hate and pain
creeping into the face which she would fain
conceal and reveal, for are not many
eyes upon her? One moment she settles
herself a little more firmly on one side, as
though hoping to crush the aggressor, but
the next moment feels him scampering up
ward, when she settles backward quickly to
catch him between her back and the rail,
but all in vain-his flag is still there. One
dainty gaiter may run up against its fellow
as far as may be done without disarranging
drapery, and there may be a quiet, yet
nevertheless vicious clutch of a jeweled
hand under the pretonce of arranging flow
ing drapery, but all in vain. And the flea
how he does enjoy it. He eroams hither and
thther at his own sweet will, uncaring for
the boiling wrath which fairly makes the
white flesh upon which he plays shiver be-
meath his light tread. And perhaps the
flea has his mate, and then the anguish is
doubled At one moment they are playing
tag; at another hide and seek, and while the
one is costly nestled away, the other rrIshes
hither and thither TO find it in a way which
is maddening; and then they act the part
of explorers, and prospect every hill and
dale of the form divine. But thing
they do not do, they do not go to sleep.
And during this hour of martyrdom how
the wrath of The wonsan gathers, and how
only thoughts of dire vengeance make the
brief agony endurable. But at last the SER
vice which has seemed so long is ended and
with as much majesty as her writhing form |
will permit, she sails home without loiter- |
ing, you may be sure. The house reached, |
with one bound she is within the privacy |
of her own chamber, and there all restraint /
rs cast aside. With lightning haste off /
comes the barricades behind which the flea |
found intrenchment, and at last she stands .
like gladiator stript for the fight. and .
then the fate Of the invader is sealed. He |
is pursued with remorseless fury, and the !
battle does not end until the victor shakes /
aloft the scalp of the foe, and VOWS that SO
perish always the flea who dares 20 invade
the sacred territory Of her person.