The National tribune., 1886-03-11

me what kind o. bug this is. I'm jest little
bit Gurus to know"
And 81 pointed to the object of his inquiry
that was lesurely creeping toward hole i'll
the elbow of his outer garment.
"Well, Josiah" said tho Captain, after
brief inspection, 81 presume l don't know
quite as much as some people think do; but
/ guess l can tell you something about that
insect. | never had any of them myself, but
I've read of them"
Never had 'em himself" thought 81. "What
N the world does he mean?" And Sis big eyes
opened with wonder and fear at the thought
that whatever it was he had "got 'em."
Il suppose" continued the Captain, "you
would like to know the scientific name?"
Il reck'n that'll do S we'll S any"
"Well, sir, that is PediculuS. That's Latin
word, but it's his name"
Purity big name fer sich leetle bug, aint it,
Perfessor?" observed ST. "Name's big enough
for an eFfant er potamus."
at may seem so, Mr.. Klegg; but when you
get intimately acquainted with him | think
you will find that his name isn't any too large
for him. There is a good deal more of him
than you think"
The young soldiers eyes opened still wider.
81 was going on to tell you" continued the
Captain, that there are several kinds of pedicHi
we don't say pediculuses. There is the
pediculus capitis-Latn again, but it means the
kind that lives on the head. presume when
you were a little shaver your mother now and
then narrowed your head with fine-tooth
comb?"
"Ya-as," said 81; "she almost took the hide
off sometimes, n made me yell like an Injun."
Nov, Corporal. l don't wish to cause you
unnecessary alarm, but l will say that the
head insect isn't circumstance to this one on
your arm. As you would express it, perhaps
he can't hold a candle to him. This fellow is
the Pedicalus COrpOris,"
Il S pose that means they eats up Corporals!"
said 81, with terrified glance at the two stripes
on his arm.
q do not think the PedicuIlts Corpori8 con-
fines himself exclusively to Corporas, rs his
name might indicate" said the Captain, laugh
ing at Sis literal translation and his personal
application Of the word. " lie no doubt likes
juicy and succulent Corporal, but l don't be-
Heye he is any reSpecter of persons. That's my
opinion, from what I've heard abOnt him. 1t
is likely that [ will be able to speak more def
nitely, from experience, after a while. COrp0riS
means that he is the kind that pastures on the
human body. But there's one thing more about
this fellow. They sometimes call him PedicuIHs
VeSti1ne,,fi; that is because lie lives around in
the clothing.
"But we don't wear no rests" said ST, taking
a practical view of this new word; :" "nothin'
but blouses, n pants, N shirts"
"Iou are too literal, Mr.. klegg. That word
means any kind of clothes. But l guess Eve
told you as much about him as you care to
know at present. If you want any more in
formation, after two or three weeks, come and
see me again. | think by that time you will
not find it necessary to ask any more questions"
81 went back to his cooking, with the pedic-
ulas still on his arm. He wanted to show it
to Shorty. The Captains profound explana-
ton, with its large words was little too much
for ST. He did not yet clearly comprehend the
matter, and as he walked thoughtfully to where
Shorty was "blin'" the coffee he was trying
to get through his head what it all meant.
Hello, ST." said Shorty; "whar ye bin q?
What dye mean, gon' off m leavin' yer SOW
belly half done?"
"Sh-h!" replied 81. "Ye needn't git yer
back up about it. Bin talkin' to the Cap'n.
Shorty, look at that ere bug!"
And ST pointed to the object of the Captains
lecture on natural history that was still creep
ing on his arm. Shorty slapped his thigh and
burst into loud laugh.
"Was that what ye went to see the Cap'n
'boutf" lie asked as soon as he could speak.
"Why-ya-as," replied 81, somewhat sur
prised at Shorty's unseemly levity. Il saw that
thing crawlin' round, N l was a-wondern'