excerpt from the book...Christopher Columbus has always been a object of extreme interest andadmiration to me ever sence I first read about him in my old Olney'sGography, up to the time when I hearn he wuz a-goin' to be celebrated inChicago.I always looked up to Christopher, I always admired him, and in a modestand meetin'-house sense, I will say boldly and with no fear of Josiahbefore my eyes that I loved him.Havin' such feelin's for Christopher Columbus, as I had, and havin' suchfeelin's for New Discoverers, do you spoze I wuz a-goin' to have acelebration gin for him, and also for us as bein' discovered by him,without attendin' to it?No, indeed! I made calculations ahead from the very first minute it wuzspoke on, to attend to it.And feelin' as I did--all wrought up on the subject of ChristopherColumbus--it wuz a coincerdence singular enough to skair anybody almostto death--to think that right on the very day Christopher discoveredAmerica, and us (only 400 years later), and on the very day that Icommenced the fine shirt that Josiah wuz a-goin' to wear to Chicago tocelebrate him in--That very Friday, if you'll believe me, Christopher Columbus walkedright into our kitchen at Jonesville--and discovered me.