There was no paving of the streets, which, now deep in dust,
would turn to quagmires when the rain came. At long intervals were wooden
posts with projecting arms from which hung oil lamps, to be lighted when
nightfall came.
Long Jim uttered an exclamation of disgust, and gripped his nose firmly
between the thumb and forefinger of his right hand.
"I never smelt sech smells afore in all my life," he said, pointing to the
heaps of garbage scattered about. "A big town like this here is pow'ful
interestin', but it ain't clean. Paul, remember them great forests up thar
in Kentucky an' across the Ohio! Remember how clean an' nice the ground
is! Remember all them big, fine, friendly trees, millions an' millions uv
'em! Remember all them nice little springs uv clean, cold water, clear
enough to be lookin' glasses, one, an' sometimes more, every three or four
hundred yards! Remember all them nice smells uv the wild flowers, an' the
trees, an' the grass, an' me settin' at the foot uv the biggest tree uv
'em all, cookin' on a roarin' fire, fat, juicy buffaler an' deer steaks
fur you fellers!"
"I remember," replied Paul smiling. "I remember it all, and I do believe,
Jim, that you are homesick for the woods."
"Not homesick eggzackly, but I jest want to say that a big town like this
kin be mighty interestin', but after I've seed it, give me back our own
clean woods.
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