HOME AGAIN.
Then tell me, what have you brought home? If but an olive leaf, let
us have it; come, unpack your budget.
MRS. JAMESON.
Up at four o’clock; the Falls yet unvisited by the sun’s early beams.
The birds were singing their merriest song, as Norman and his mother,
after an early breakfast, got into the carriage, and rode along that
wonderful river to the Suspension Bridge. A wondering glance at the
fearful depths below, as the water rolled on beneath, mighty in its
seeming stillness, a last lingering look at the Falls as they crossed
the Suspension Bridge, and they were at the station.
In the cars of the Central Railroad; how rapidly they were borne onward!
how hot and dusty it soon became! Lockport, with its wild scenery, its
commanding views, and its splendid locks on the canal, letting down its
waters from a great height, interested Norman more than anything he saw.
Then the salt lakes, near Syracuse, and the great salt works there!
But Norman was in no mood for enjoyment. The water, of which he drank so
freely at Niagara, had disagreed with him, and he suffered a good deal
of pain.
“Mother, please do not go to Trenton Falls.”
“O Norman, you would enjoy seeing them very much; they are so very
beautiful!”
“I would not enjoy them at all now; but do not let me keep you from
going.”
Mrs. Lester hesitated. She was most anxious to visit that spot, so
perfectly satisfying in its wild beauty; but it would be a great
drawback to enjoy it alone, and she concluded to defer it till some more
auspicious moment. She little thought of the tragedy that would have
saddened her visit!
That afternoon a boy of fourteen fell from one of the rocky ledges, and
was at once swallowed up in those engulfing waters. His brother, who was
with him, missed him, and saw his hat floating in the rapid stream. They
had been brought there, with their mother, to spend a few weeks, by
their father, who had returned to his business in town.
And so, at Utica, instead of going to Trenton, as she anticipated, Mrs.
Lester resumed her place in the cars, and looked that afternoon upon the
lovely Mohawk Valley, as it was unrolled before her view.
At East Albany Norman was looking out of the cars at the up-train, which
had just arrived, and at a little boy running under the cars, in front
of those great wheels that would crush him to atoms if the train moved
while he was in his perilous position, when Mrs. Lester exclaimed, “Why,
there’s your Aunt Augusta and Aunt Helen!” Glances of recognition, mute
gestures, but no words possible, as the train was just starting.
“They are going to Trenton and Niagara,” said Mrs. Lester. “If we had
gone to Trenton we would have met them there. There is your Uncle
Charles waving good-by from the platform.”
“And there were Bessie and Edith,” said Norman, mournfully.
“I think not,” replied Mrs. Lester. “I did not see them.”
“But I am sure I saw them,” said Norman; “and that will take away half
my pleasure in getting home. I was looking forward to telling them about
all what I had seen.”
At the depôt Mrs. Lester was kindly greeted by Mrs. Eiledon, who
insisted upon sending her home in her carriage. After leaving Mrs.
Eiledon at Ellesmere, they drove on to the Glen. How beautiful
everything looked in this region of valleys and hills! How glorious was
the sunset behind those grand, blue mountains! How refreshing the soft
evening breezes, after the heat and dust of the cars!
Home again. Norman’s heart leaped up within him.
“How surprised they will be! Mother, put your vail down, and they will
think it is Mrs. —— come to pay a visit.”
As they drove through the wood, and came in sight of the cottage, Norman
sprang to his feet, and waving his hat round and round, shouted a loud
hurra. Even then the party on the veranda did not recognize the
returning travelers in the gathering twilight. They fancied them on the
distant waters of Lake Superior, and were greatly astonished to see
their familiar faces, as they sprung out of the carriage. There was a
loud and prolonged shout of welcome, and cordial embraces from mother,
and sisters, and aunts, and cousins. Yes, Norman’s little cousins,
Bessie and Edith, were there, in spite of the vision he had had of them
in the up-train, and their voices were loud and merry all the evening.
It was with deep gratitude to God that Norman and his mother retired to
rest that evening. They were thankful that his kind providence had
watched over them in their journey of more than three thousand miles,
and had brought them home again, to find those whom they loved well and
happy.
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Transcriber’s note:
1. Changed “take them a drive” to “take them for a drive” on p. 204.
2. Changed “h ls and parlors of the Rossin House, a to” to “halls
and parlors of the Rossin House, and into” on p. 246.
3. Silently corrected typographical errors.
4. Retained anachronistic and non-standard spellings as printed.