Kept rumbling1 o’er the rail,
And the frequent whistle sent
Shrieks2 of anguish3 to the gale4;
And the cinders5 pattered down
On the grimy floor like hail.”
Early, very early the next morning, the fifth of July, Mrs. Lester was aroused by the firing of cannon6, to celebrate our national independence. Norman and Willie had kept the third, by firing off crackers7 all day, and winding8 up with wheels, Roman candles, and blue lights, exhibited to an appreciating audience on the portico9 in the evening. After breakfast Norman, his Aunt Clara, and his mother bade good-by, and got in the carriage which was to convey them to Batavia, the spires10 of which were visible 179from Mr. Clayton’s. It was a pleasant drive of two miles in the Fox River valley. The man drove very fast, and they were sorry to arrive so soon at the place of their destination, especially when they were told that they were to wait two hours for the arrival of the train. The hackman, who had come for them before the time, had many demands for the carriage, for which he charged an extra price in honor of the holiday. A number of passengers were waiting for the train; many of them going to the celebration at Aurora11, a pretty town, all astir with gaily12 dressed people, and a procession marching to the grove13 where already a crowd was gathered. It was a most lovely country, soft rolling prairie, with its wealth of golden wheat, of waving corn, of graceful14 barley15, bordered by rich groves16 of timber, and dotted here and there with towns and villages.
At Mendota they left their cars, and 180entered those of the Illinois Central Railroad. There were several trains there, and a great number of passengers hurrying to and fro, and rushing in to dinner. Norman ran first into one store, and then into another, to buy some torpedoes17, as he was very anxious to make some noise, to give vent18 to his patriotic19 feeling. He came back with a large box full, just in time, for the train was soon in motion. And the passengers too, for the road was so rough that the people went dancing up and down in the most violent manner. Mrs. Lester asked the conductor if the road was so rough all the way? No, he said; they had passed over the worst of it. And with that hope Mrs. Lester tried to enjoy the beautiful prairies, and the noble view of the Illinois River as seen from the high embankment over which the road passes.
Norman would like to have seen the “Starved Rock,” somewhere on this 181river, whither some Indians, pursued by their enemies, fled for refuge. They were surrounded, and all escape from the rock prevented by their encircling foes20, who, day after day, waited for them to surrender. At length they scaled the rock, and found the garrison21 all starved to death but one squaw, who calmly awaited the entrance of her enemies.
The Starved Rock, however, was not in sight, nor was any rock recalling thrilling legend and heroic story; but another prospect22, not so agreeable, from the rear of the car near which they were seated—a long strait road, the rails of which were rather too much curved to suggest ideas of safety. “Don’t you think this road very unsafe?” inquired Mrs. Lester of a gentleman who was contemplating23 this retrospective view of dangers passed.
“Not very, but it might be safer.”
Up and down jumped all that car-load of passengers, whose faces wore not the 182calmest and brightest expression. Suddenly there was an explosion that startled people rather ready to be startled, and Mrs. Lester, remembering the torpedoes, turned to Norman, who was looking out of the rear window, and said reproachfully, “Norman, how can you do so?”
Every eye was directed toward the blushing lad, as he earnestly exclaimed, “Mother, it was not me.”
Returning to his seat he looked for the torpedoes, which he found had been jolted24 off the seat on the floor under his mother’s feet, and a sudden movement of her foot had caused the explosion of ten or twelve of them. “There, mother, it was you after all,” said Norman, as he gathered up his remaining torpedoes.
Again they were startled—a prolonged whistle, and a stoppage of the cars on an embankment at a distance from any station. Every head went out of the windows, and some enterprising passengers 183went out on the platform to learn the cause of this ominous25 pause. Again and again that warning whistle; what did it mean? At length the matter was explained. About twenty horses were on the track, galloping26 on in front of the locomotive, which was obliged to pause till they separated to the right and the left.
Right glad were the party when they arrived at Bloomington. Mrs. Lester wished to go to a very handsome hotel, the photograph of which had been shown to her on the Grey Eagle by the proprietor27 thereof. A large unfinished building seemed to her very like the photograph she had seen; but that could not be, as the photograph must have been taken from the hotel in its finished, occupied state, with handsome stores beneath. On inquiry28 she found this was the hotel in question, which stood there, an arrested monument of western enterprise. They went to the hotel opposite, and after tea 184some friends of Aunt Clara’s called to see them, and to ask them to walk.
Bloomington is a large, finely situated29 town, on the rising prairie, not far from the fine groves that mark the course of Sugar Creek30. The president of the Illinois University (situated in a grove near the town) walked with them, and took them to the observatory31 on the Female College, where they had a lovely sunset view of the town, the prairie, and the distant woods. How cool and refreshing32 were those prairie breezes after the intense heat of the day; but they were warned by the fading light that it was time to return. No mountains or hills to prolong the twilight33 in these regions. The sun sinks, and speedily the darkness comes on. Miss Allen, Aunt Clara’s friend, insisted upon their coming in to see her. With kindly34 hospitality she had sent for several of Aunt Clara’s friends to meet her; and while Norman was amused with some fireworks 185in the court-yard, they were refreshed with cake and ice-cream. Miss Allen, her brothers, and Mrs. Lester had very pleasant conversation about some mutual35 friends, and thus passed the evening to an hour rather late for travelers who were to rise at two o’clock in the morning.
At that early hour they were aroused, and the omnibus conveyed them to the station at three o’clock, where they had the satisfaction of being told that the cars had stopped above the junction36, cause unknown. Probably they had run off the track, and they might not arrive before eight o’clock.
“There is the locomotive that is to take us,” said a gentleman, pointing to the expectant iron horse, panting and snorting, and rushing to and fro, as if impatient at the delay. “I saw him in the bank on Saturday, just below here. But he has suffered no harm from running off the track.”
“Near them stood an engineer with his 186arm in a sling37. He had been returning to his post, as he had been off duty, when he threw himself forward to rescue a man who, having missed his footing on the step, would have been under the wheel of the car. As it was, his struggles loosened the footing of his deliverer, who succeeded in dragging him on the truck, from which precarious38 position they were rescued as soon as the train could be stopped. The engineer’s arm was badly broken, but the man whose life he had saved never came to thank him. “I have no money to give him, why should I go?” said he to the conductor, who told him to thank the man who had periled39 life and limb to save him.”
“Men do not risk their lives for money,” replied the conductor, turning away from the ungrateful man.
“The prospect looks rather dim,” said Aunt Clara, the first discouraging word she had spoken.
187“How calm and quiet she was,” said Norman, “when we were so frightened in the rail car.”
The waiting-room of the station-house was not very comfortable for weary passengers; Norman established himself on three chairs, and was soon fast asleep on his hard bed; nor was he wakened when his mother slipped her carpet-bag under his head.
A group near the door was more picturesque40. It was a German family whom they had seen the day before at the cars, and who had passed all night at the station. One little girl lay across a bag, her head tending toward the floor. The younger brother was on his knees, resting his head on a chair, fast asleep; while near them, her head erect41, as if watching over her goods and chattels42, sat the elder sister, a quaint43, prim-looking girl of thirteen, with a short waist, and a little shawl pinned round it, and a broad 188flat over her braids of light hair; while round her were bags, and boxes, and bundles, an incongruous heap, in which it was at first somewhat difficult to distinguish the sleeping children. The little boy at length, weary of his constrained44 position on his knees, had pillowed his head on his sleeping sister’s foot, which, by sundry45 twitches46, and a few energetic kicks, freed itself from the encumbering47 weight. But still the children slept on. The mother was sitting outside of the door, silent, because none knew her language. At length a telegram announced that the cars would be there at five. The locomotive had been stopped because the rails were slippery.
The early twilight brightened into day, the train arrived, the passengers stepped in, and a very short time brought Norman, his mother and aunt to their point of destination; a few houses had been dropped down on the prairie, as the nucleus48 189of a town; not very promising49 as a resting-place. Soon, however, a buggy and a wagon50 drove up for the travelers, who, after a short drive, were welcomed by their relatives.
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1
rumbling
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| n. 隆隆声, 辘辘声 adj. 隆隆响的 动词rumble的现在分词 | |
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2
shrieks
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| n.尖叫声( shriek的名词复数 )v.尖叫( shriek的第三人称单数 ) | |
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3
anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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4
gale
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| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
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5
cinders
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| n.煤渣( cinder的名词复数 )；炭渣；煤渣路；煤渣跑道 | |
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6
cannon
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| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
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7
crackers
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| adj.精神错乱的，癫狂的n.爆竹( cracker的名词复数 )；薄脆饼干；（认为）十分愉快的事；迷人的姑娘 | |
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8
winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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9
portico
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| n.柱廊，门廊 | |
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10
spires
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| n.（教堂的） 塔尖，尖顶( spire的名词复数 ) | |
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11
aurora
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| n.极光 | |
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12
gaily
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| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
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13
grove
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| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
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14
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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15
barley
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| n.大麦，大麦粒 | |
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16
groves
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| 树丛，小树林( grove的名词复数 ) | |
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17
torpedoes
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| 鱼雷( torpedo的名词复数 )； 油井爆破筒； 刺客； 掼炮 | |
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18
vent
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| n.通风口，排放口；开衩；vt.表达，发泄 | |
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19
patriotic
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| adj.爱国的，有爱国心的 | |
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20
foes
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| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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21
garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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22
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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23
contemplating
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| 深思，细想，仔细考虑( contemplate的现在分词 )； 注视，凝视； 考虑接受（发生某事的可能性）； 深思熟虑，沉思，苦思冥想 | |
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24
jolted
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| （使）摇动， （使）震惊( jolt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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25
ominous
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| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
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26
galloping
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| adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
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27
proprietor
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| n.所有人；业主；经营者 | |
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28
inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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29
situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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30
creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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31
observatory
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| n.天文台，气象台，瞭望台，观测台 | |
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32
refreshing
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| adj.使精神振作的，使人清爽的，使人喜欢的 | |
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33
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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34
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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35
mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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36
junction
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| n.连接，接合；交叉点，接合处，枢纽站 | |
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37
sling
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| vt.扔；悬挂；n.挂带；吊索，吊兜；弹弓 | |
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38
precarious
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| adj.不安定的，靠不住的；根据不足的 | |
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39
periled
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| 置…于危险中（peril的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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40
picturesque
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| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
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41
erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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42
chattels
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| n.动产，奴隶( chattel的名词复数 ) | |
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43
quaint
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| adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的 | |
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44
constrained
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| adj.束缚的,节制的 | |
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45
sundry
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| adj.各式各样的，种种的 | |
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46
twitches
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| n.（使）抽动， （使）颤动， （使）抽搐( twitch的名词复数 ) | |
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47
encumbering
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| v.妨碍，阻碍，拖累( encumber的现在分词 ) | |
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48
nucleus
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| n.核，核心，原子核 | |
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49
promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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50
wagon
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| n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车 | |
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