170 HILLS AND LAKES. 



many more, travelling in different directions over my 

 bars flesh. I did not stay long in bed after that. Un- 

 der pretence of some temporary ailment, I threw on 

 my clothes, and went down to the lake, thanking 

 Providence that enough of me was left to bathe in its 

 pure waters. I hate a bed-bug and a flea, with Un- 

 mitigated malignity. I do not love a musquito or 

 black fry ; but they have some decency about them ; 

 they will eat their fill, and fly away and leave you. 

 If a bed-bug or flea, would eat and lay down, I could 

 bear them ; but after feasting upon iny blood, to make 

 a highway of my body to travel round on, is a thing 

 I can't stand. 



" Squire," said my guide, as he came down to the 

 margin of the lake where I was sitting, and the rascal 

 grinned when he said it, " What started you out so 

 early?" 



" Perdition seize the bud-begs and fleas," said I, in 

 my wrath, at the unclean vermin. 



" I've tried that bed," said he, " once, and I wasn't 

 disposed to quarrel with you, as to who should 

 sleep in it last night. I'm blamed if I hadn't as 

 Boon sleep on a hetchel, as between them sheets. 

 Them cussed bed-bugs and flea^, ain't a common 



