“Why, yes, you heathen,” laughed Muggs. “A man isn’t fit to live who don’t keep himself clean. Why, you could have planted potatoes anywhere on your hide, before you went into that tub.”
“I haven’t been washed before since last summer,” added Ole.
“You ought to be hung for it.”
“You spend half your time washing yourselves—don’t you?”
“We spend time enough at it to keep clean. No wonder you Norwegians have the leprosy, and the flesh rots off the bones!”
“But I always go into the water every summer,” pleaded Ole.
“And don’t wash yourself at any other time?”
“I always wash myself once a year, and sometimes more, when I get a good chance.”
“Don’t you wash your face and hands every morning.”
“Every morning? No! I haven’t done such a thing since last summer.”