The book is divided into three sections: "Fables of Zambri, the Parsee," an assortment of over 100 fables; "Brief Seasons of Intellectual Dissipation," discussions between a fool and a philosopher, a doctor and a soldier, respectively; and "Divers Tales," 28 different stories of an eclectic nature, including "The Grateful Bear," "Dr. Deadwood," "I Presume," "Mrs. Dennison's Head," and "Jim Beckwourth's Pond."