The Land of the O-O; Facts, Figures, Fables, and Fancies

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XX. THK STRANGE DREAM OF OLD-FORTY-NINER. IWASN'T feeling very well last night; that infernal barber npset my nerves so. I never was so mad in all of my life, and when I got over it, I was all broke np; I seemed to sort of collapse. I don't know what it was that got hold of me, but I was stupid and sleepy-like, and every bone in my body felt as if it had a wooden leg; so I crept up to bed pretty early, and was soon sound asleep. I don't think I'd been abed half an hour, when it appeared to me, some one was shaking me. I opened my eyes to see who it was, but the light was out, and the room was dark as pitch, so I couldn't discern anything around me. Presently the bed shook again. 'What's that?' said I to myself; and then it flashed into my mind, that maybe some of you fellows had come up to play me a trick, so I concluded not to say anything, but just lay still and keep a dark eye on you. Pretty soon it shook again, this time a good deal harder than before, and the windows rattled like an ice wagon. I had been so drowsy, at first, that I didn't more than half have my wits about me, but that last shake acted for all the world like an invitation to take something; it was a regular eye-opener. ' By gosh !' said I, ' that's an earthquake, sure;' and up I jumped and ran to the window to look out. I pushed open the blinds, and then could see a little something what was going on outside; but everything seemed to be quiet and regular, so after a minute or two, standing there, I concluded it was all over and prepared to go back to bed. Just as I was about to close the blinds again, so I could sleep in the morning, jeeminy-crimeny! but there came a shake that beat anything I ever heard tell of. Hack I pitched, heels over head, on the floor, down came the...