CHICAGO, AND THE RIDE THITHER.
Chicago! thou shalt shine in verse,
As my adopted pet;
Thou newest slice of this New World,
Save what is newer yet.
Thy structures seem of yesterday,
And shine like scenery in the play
Just pushed upon the stage.—F. G. H.
The ride was very agreeable: boundless views of rolling prairie, that
looked like English park scenery; scattered groves, pretty farm houses,
thriving villages, afforded a constant succession of agreeable objects.
Far to the west was seen a threatening cloud, at length descending in
torrents of rain to the westward, while the sudden, violent wind that
swept across the track of the cars was succeeded by dashes of rain. A
curious optical illusion was produced by the sun shining from behind a
dark cloud, and throwing lines of light across the prairie, producing
the effect of a fort, and of long rows of white buildings. The sun was
setting behind clouds of crimson and gold when the train arrived at
Joliet, and stopped twenty minutes for refreshments.
Joliet, named in honor of the citizen of Quebec who first trod the soil
of Iowa, is a handsome town, ornamented with numerous spires. Here are
fine quarries of the beautiful cream-colored stone used so much in
Chicago, and transported thither by a canal running over the low wet
prairies parallel with the railroad.
While waiting till the train from Chicago should pass them, Norman had a
fine view of some splendid rockets in honor of the arrival of a noted
politician in the city.
At the station they found their kind friend, Mr. Percy, and he drove
them to his house very rapidly. Late as it was, Mrs. Percy and Miss Ray
were at the door to welcome them, and, after a few words of greeting, to
show them to their rooms.
The next morning Norman went fishing with Charley Percy, and while he
was gone his Uncle and Aunt Lester came in Mrs. Hunter’s carriage to
take them for a drive. Mrs. Hunter took them to her house, where they
had iced lemonade; and Mrs. Lester returned, promising to take tea and
stay all night with Mr. and Mrs. Lester at her brother’s, where they
were staying. This brother was a minister, and his home had an
atmosphere of taste and refinement and piety. Choice books, in every
room, invited perusal; illustrated works attracted the eye; a canary
warbled its sweet notes, especially when the piano was touched; and the
mistress of the house sang the songs her husband had written. Most
pleasantly did every object harmonize with the repose of the Sabbath.
The new Methodist church edifice was in the next street, and the
services were held for the last time in the lecture-room, as on next
Thursday the church was to be dedicated to the worship of God. At the
love-feast in the afternoon there was an earnest expression of gratitude
to God for the abundant mercies he had showered upon them during the
past winter, and for the prosperity that had attended their efforts to
erect a house to his service.
Mrs. Percy sent the carriage for them in the afternoon, and they found
the family assembled in the parlor, singing sacred songs. Each one had
the music of the hymns, and the hour before tea thus passed most
pleasantly. In the evening Norman and his mother went with Mr. and Mrs.
Percy to church, and heard an excellent sermon from Dr. Rice, on the
breast-plate of faith and love, and the helmet, the hope of salvation.
“How much reason have we for thankfulness,” said Mrs. Lester to Norman
in the evening, “that everywhere we have found Christian homes;
everywhere family prayer, and a love for God’s house and service. How
many such privileges have we enjoyed!”
The next morning Dr. Davis called to invite them to pay him a visit;
Norman went with Albert Davis, and a few hours afterward the doctor
called in his carriage for Mrs. Lester. Norman’s uncle and aunt were in
the carriage, and when they arrived at the doctor’s country place, they
found Norman lying on the grass, contemplating Albert’s pony.
Norman found some very interesting books filled with large colored
plates of birds, and plants, and Indians. He looked at these portraits
of the red men, taken by Mr. Catlin, and read sketches of their history
with great interest
In the afternoon Dr. Davis drove them to see the pretty grounds of a
gentleman in the neighborhood, and to the Lake View House, where they
drank some iced lemonade, and wandered on the beach. It seemed very much
like the sea-shore, the great waves rolling in and dashing against the
sand, and, a little below, the hulk of a vessel blown ashore and
stranded in the recent storm. Such proofs of the power of old Michigan,
when its waves rise up in their might, may be seen all along its shores,
unprovided as they are with harbors for vessels to take refuge in at the
approach of the tempest.