Tumble-Bug

There were vulgar, ignorant carpers, of course, as there always are and always will be; and naturally one of these was the obscene Tumble-Bug.

Sketches New And Old Twain, Mark, 1835-1910 1922

"And improved it, mayhap," muttered the Tumble-Bug, who was intruding again, according to his idle custom and his unappeasable curiosity.

Sketches New And Old Twain, Mark, 1835-1910 1922

The Tumble-Bug was driven away with stripes, and the draftsmen of the expedition were set to making views of the Monument from different standpoints, while Professor Woodlouse, in a frenzy of scientific zeal, traveled all over it and all around it hoping to find an inscription.

Sketches New And Old Twain, Mark, 1835-1910 1922

It was plain that Man had robbed those bones of their contents, since no tooth - mark of any beast was upon them albeit the Tumble-Bug intruded the remark that 'no beast could mark a bone with its teeth, anyway.'

Sketches New And Old Twain, Mark, 1835-1910 1922

But it was interrupted by rude and derisive laughter -- and the Tumble-Bug appeared.

Sketches New And Old Twain, Mark, 1835-1910 1922

The Tumble-Bug, overhearing this discussion, said he was willing that the parvenus of these new times should find what comfort they might in their wise-drawn theories, since as far as he was concerned he was content to be of the old first families and proud to point back to his place among the old original aristocracy of the land.

Sketches New And Old Twain, Mark, 1835-1910 1922

Not a Tumble-Bug could be found on duty, so the Mound was excavated by a working party of Ants. Nothing was discovered.

Sketches New And Old Twain, Mark, 1835-1910 1922

The Tumble-Bug turned on his heel uncrushed, unabashed, observing to himself, "If it isn't land tilted up, let me die the death of the unrighteous."

Sketches New And Old Twain, Mark, 1835-1910 1922

The Tumble-Bug said he believed it was simply land tilted up on its edge, because he knew he could see trees on it.

Sketches New And Old Twain, Mark, 1835-1910 1922

The Tumble-Bug turned on his heel uncrushed, unabashed, observing to himself, "If it isn't land tilted up, let me die the death of the unrighteous."

Sketches New and Old Mark Twain 1872