A FRANTIC DOCTOR. 41 



fortunately 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 noise that precedes the earth- 

 quake began so loudly, as to awaken the whole party, and drive 

 them out of bed in the greatest consternation. 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, rijshed 

 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 view 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 pre- 

 vent their dancing off the shelves to the floor. Never for a 

 .moment did he think of closing the doors, but, spreading his 

 arms, jumped about the front of the cases, pushing back here 

 and there the falling jars, but with so little success, that before 

 the shock was over he had lost nearly all he possessed. 



" The shock at length ceased, and the frightened females, now 

 sensible of their dishabille, fled to their several apartments. The 

 earthquakes produced more serious consequences in other 

 places. Near New Madrid, and for some distance on the 

 Mississippi, the earth was rent asunder in several places, one or 

 two islands sunk for ever, and the inhabitants who escaped fled 

 in dismay towards the eastern shores." 



