IN DAYS OF POVERTY 93 



and other sanguinary apparatus, but all the drugs which he 

 employed for the relief of his patients, arranged in jars 

 and vials of different sizes. These had some days before 

 made a narrow escape from destruction, but had been for- 

 tunately preserved by closing the doors of the cases in 

 which they were contained. 



" As I have said, we had all retired to rest. Morning 

 was fast approaching, when the rumbling sound that pre- 

 cedes the earthquake began so loudly as to awaken the 

 whole party, and drive them out of bed in the greatest con- 

 sternation. The scene which ensued was humorous in the 

 extreme. Fear knows no restraint. Every person, old and 

 young, filled with alarm at the creaking of the log house, 

 and apprehending instant destruction, rushed wildly out to 

 the grass enclosure fronting the building. The full moon 

 was slowly descending from her throne, covered at times 

 by clouds that rolled heavily along, as if to conceal from 

 her the scenes of terror which prevailed on earth below. 



" On the grass plot we all met, in such condition as 

 rendered it next to impossible to discriminate any of the 

 party, all huddled together in a state of almost perfect 

 nudity. The earth waved like a field of corn before the 

 breeze; the birds left their perches, and flew about not 

 knowing whither; and the doctor, recollecting the danger 

 of his gallipots, ran to his office to prevent their dancing 

 off the shelves to the floor. Never for a moment did he 

 think of closing the doors, but, spreading his arms, jumped 



