Nye and Riley's Wit and Humor — A Fall Crick View of the Earthquake

[Illustration: A Fall Crick View of the Earthquake] I kin hump my back and take the rain, And I don't keer how she pours, I kin keep kindo' ca'm in a thunder storm, No matter how loud she roars;

I haint much skeered o' the lightnin', Ner I haint sich awful shakes Afeared o' _cyclones_--but I don't want none O' yer dad-burned old _earth_-quakes!

As long as my legs keeps stiddy, And long as my head keeps plum, And the buildin' stays in the front lot, I still kin whistle, _some_!

But about the time the old clock Flops off'n the mantel-shelf, And the bureau skoots fer the kitchen, I'm a-goin' to skoot, myself!

Plague-take!

ef you keep me stabled While any earthquakes is around!

-- I'm jist like the stock,--I'll beller, And break fer the open ground!

And I 'low you'd be as nervous, And in jist about my fix, When yer whole farm slides from inunder you, And on'y the mor'gage sticks!

Now cars haint a-goin' to kill you Ef you don't drive 'crost the track;

Crediters never'll jerk you up Ef you go and pay 'em back;

You kin stand all moral and mundane storms Ef you'll on'y jist behave-- But a' EARTHQUAKE:--well, ef it wanted you It 'ud husk you out o' yer grave!