62 LETTERS FROM FLORIDA.

an opossum was caught in the night, making trouble


in the hen-house.


eyed colored


boy,


The next morning a little, bright-
of eight or nine years, lay on his


back


watching


animal,


was


confined


to t


stake in the yard.
 "Well, Smart, did you everbsee a 'possum before ?"


"Oh,


es 'em.


"What do you do when you find them?


"I'ze


em.


"Did you ever see a coon ? "


"Oh,


'es 'em."


"Well, what do you do with them? "


"I'ze
"Did


leaves / "


ever


come


across


a moccasin


in the


woods ?"
 "'Es em."
 "What do you do then ?"


"I'ze kills


em," said he, with a merry laugh.


"Did you ever meet a rattlesnake ?
"'Es 'em."
"What do you do then, my boy ?"


" I'ze


leaves quick /"


Mosquitoes are no worse


North, but


here than in large cities


we are told they are more troublesome still


farther South.


It may be so.


I have


been annoyed


by the


black or sand fly here, but no more than I am


every fall when at the


White Mountains.


They are


very provoking and


annoying, however, and we have


not one word to say in their behalf.


They are a nui-


sance wherever found, but
time is short.


comfort is that


their