Sam Lawson's Oldtown Fireside Stories

“Well,” said I, “nobody could say there wasn’t any use in that spirit’s coming (if spirit it was): it had a most practical purpose.”

“Well,” said the captain, “I’ve been all round the world, in all sorts of countries, seen all sorts of queer, strange things, and seen so many things that I never could have believed if I hadn’t seen ‘em, that I never say I won’t believe this or that. If I see a thing right straight under my eyes, I don’t say it couldn’t ‘a’ ben there ‘cause college-folks say there ain’t no such things.”

“How do you know it wasn’t all a dream?” said my chum.

“How do I know?’ Cause I was broad awake, and I gen ‘lly know when I’m awake and when I’m asleep. I think Mr. More found me pretty wide awake.”

It was now time to turn in, and we slept soundly while the “Brilliant” ploughed her way. By daybreak the dome of the State House was in sight.

“I’ve settled the captain’s story,” said my chum to me. “It can all be accounted for on the theory of cerebral hallucination.”

“All right,” said I; “but it answered the purpose beautifully for the old mother.”