158 ^viLD sroiiTS IX the fah west. 



miles had a veiy respectable appetite. Looking out 

 for a house, I espied one about an hundred paces from 

 the path. The door Avas open, and the family were just 

 sitting jdown to breakfast; nothing better could be 

 wished for. I sprang over the fence, and asked a stout 

 pale man if I could have something to eat by paying for it ; 

 on receiving the expected answer I joined the company. 

 Maize bread, coffee, and bacon, the usual breakfast in 

 this 2)art of the world, was spread out on the table, and I 

 was preparing to set to with a Avill, when the man 

 sitting by my side, after looking at me with a mourn- 

 ful expression, asked if I had ever in my life seen a 

 man who was subject to epilepsy. Now sucli a ques- 

 tion could be nowhere more out of place than when 

 addressed to a hungry man sitting down to a good 

 breakfast, so I answered shortly, " Yes, sir." •' Well 

 then," said he, "don't be surjDrised if you see me 

 attacked before breakfast is over, for at times it comes 

 on very suddenly." If any one had told me that the 

 meat on the table, instead of good pork, was a piece 

 of salted negro, it could not have taken away my 

 appetite more effectually than did this grave announce- 

 ment. I looked at the man in astonishment : he was 

 very pale, and looked serious, and not at all given to 

 joking. I looked at his wafe, who was pale almost to 

 transparency : I looked at the children, who were also 

 deadly pale, but more dirty than transparent. I 

 gulped down the cup of coffee in despair, gave the 

 dog, who probably had not heard the observation, or 

 cared nothing for it, the bread off my plate, which he 

 eagerly took, j^aid my quarter dollar, the usual price 

 for a brealdast, and continued my journey. 



