ON FRESH AIR. 155 



a bed ? " " Uncommonly well," said he. 

 • * My apprenticeship," continued he, " to the 

 hard floor only cost me a fortnight, and after 

 that all went right." 



He then informed me that the advantages 

 which he had acquired by abandoning the bed 

 for ever, were incalculable. He said that so 

 long as there was a current of fresh air in the 

 place where he laid him down to rest, he was 

 excellently accommodated for a fair spell of 

 sleep. Travelling had no longer any nocturnal 

 terrors for him. Whilst others were anxious 

 about the paraphernalia of their bed-rooms, 

 and peevish when things were not to their 

 liking, he stood smiling on, pitying their dis- 

 tresses, and happy with the thought that he 

 could stow himself away for the night in a 

 moment, free from bad bugs, bad breaths, and 

 bad bedding. " And will you never more sleep 

 in a bed ? " said I. " Never," said he, with a 

 smile of contentment on his face. 66 Nature 

 has accommodated herself to me, and I to 

 Nature. What more can I wish ? " He 

 ceased on saying this. I entered fully into his 

 feelings, and ere I retired to rest I thought if 

 we had more of fortitude and less of self-love, 



