EPISODES 237 



On the grass-plat 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 great dishabille. 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 shop room, 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 about the front 

 of the cases, pushing back here and there the falling jars ; 

 with so little success, however, that before the shock was 

 over he had lost nearly all he possessed. 



The shock at length ceased, and the frightened women 

 now sensible of their undress, fled to their several apart- 

 ments. The earthquake produced more serious con- 

 sequences in other places. ^ Near New Madrid and for 

 some distance on the Mississippi, the earth was rent asun- 

 der in several places, one or two islands sunk forever, 

 and the inhabitants fled in dismay towards the eastern 

 shore. 



THE HURRICANE 



Various portions of our country have at different periods 

 suffered severely from the influence of violent storms of 

 wind, some of which have been known to traverse nearly 

 the whole extent of the United States, and to leave such 

 deep impressions in their wake as will not easily be for- 

 gotten. Having witnessed one of these awful phenomena, 

 in all its grandeur, I shall attempt to describe it for 

 your sake, kind reader, and for your sake only; the 

 recollection of that astonishing revolution of the ethereal 

 element even now bringing with it so disagreeable a sen- 

 sation that I feel as if about to be affected by a sudden 

 stoppage of the circulation of my blood. 



