Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1876-05-31
THERE .wERE MILLIONS IN 1T!

TnERE.wERE MILLIONS IN 1T!
This subject is one not often read
of in the newspaper, and is one of
but little interest to people generally,
save and except bed bugs, potato
bugs, chinch bugs, june bugs, &c. 1t
is none of these in particular that we
have to speak, but of all collectively,
and more too. FL LII
In the near suburbs lives family
Of good people, and they own boy
who is as mischievous as he is long,
and he is longer in proportion than
Joe Hills catfish. He is usually
good natured and always kind to the
folks at home even though OCCASION
ally he does get out of sorts.
The other evening about dark, he
fancicd himself sighted or insultcd,
and concluded to leave his home for
ever. He showed a spare shirt into
his coat pocket, lighted lantern,
shouldered his gun and left the house.
He wandered Off a short distance
and stopped to think the matter over.
His box of trinkets which was left
partially open set on the bank beside
him, and the light from the lantern
drew the bugs in myriads. The box
in short time was nearly full of bugs
of all sorts-black, blue, green, red,
and yellow, long and short legged,
some with nippers half an inch in
length, and some without. While he
was watching the struggling mass, he
forgot his passion and concluded to
play trick OH the old man and lei that
settle the difficulty. lie shut up the
box, enclosing the bugs and returned
to the house, put away his gun and
making his way to the bed where the
old folks were sleeping. gently raised
the bed-clothing and dumped i'm
about quart of the contents of the
box and then tumbled into his own
bed to await results. In a few mo-
ments the old gentleman commenced
rolling and grooming uncasily, He
felt something crawling over his nose
and on feeling he felt bug, there
were bugs IN his ears, bugs were try
ing to get in his eyes, and when he
1
opened his mouth the bugs entered
in platoons. He did not know what
to think or do, and in despair squcal.
ed out "Mariar, for Gods sake. the
bugs are eating me up alive. Get up
and strike a light, quick!" The light
was forthcoming and when The sheets
were turned down the bed was alive
with the insects, and the old gentle
man flew around there lively in
scant garments as he gathered them
up by the handful and carried them
out doors. 1t was then that that long,
slim boy even wished he were dead.
He crammed the sheet into his mouth
and doubled the pillow over his head
to keep from laughing outright
The old folks, after removing the
most of the disturbers of their peace
from their own, concluded that the
bugs would not naturally all take to
one bed and ii was cruelty to let the
poor boy lie there and be eaten up
alive. With the light shaded they ap-
preached his couch, and when they
commenced to turn down the cloth
ing he sprang to the floor, exclaim-
ing 81 didn't do il, | didn't do it y
He backed up into corner of the
room and stood at bay. A light SEEM
ed to dawn on the old gentleman, and
he appointed committee Of one who
retired to a wood shed and returned
with the fragment of a barrel stave.
II was transferred to the head of the
house who applied II quite vigorous
ly, each gentle tap raising a blister,
There was a lull in the proceedings,
and the boy, seeing a chance, made a
bound for the door and in an instant
he was on the outside, the cool night
winds gently tanning his naked
limbs. The novelty soon wore of,
but he was compelled to dance about
the yard all night TO keep warm, as
he was afraid to return. About day.
light some one placed his clothes on
the outside of the house and for the
time being he moved his boarding
place. However, he says if he had
known the old man was going TO get
mad about ii he Wonld not have
caught the bugs.