A minute later the train flew past Kensington, and then fairly started on its iron way for its first stopping place, Michigan City, better known as the City of Sand. Then came Niles, with its wonderful bridge and its fairy valley. Then Kalamazoo, the biggest village in the world, and the flower bed of creation. Then Marshall, Battle Creek and Jackson, the latter place the centre of railway industry of the beautiful State of Michigan. Then Ann Arbor, where is situated the University of the State of Michigan, and then, last, but not least, Detroit.
By this time, of course, the babies had been tucked in bed. The Deacon had taken them into the dining car and feasted them with all the inexhaustible luxuries for which these cars on the Michigan Central R.R. are so famous.
Then the colored porter having made up their beds they were soon fast asleep and dreaming of the treat in store for the morrow.
The Deacon, however, was determined at least that his grown-up friends should lose none of the beauties of the trip, and so he insisted that Mr. and Mrs. Trevellyan should remain up until they had crossed the famous Detroit River. The night was a beautiful one, and they were amply rewarded by witnessing one of the most thoroughly picturesque pieces of scenery in the world. The entire train was placed on one of the immense ferry steamers, and the landing shortly afterwards made at Windsor, a picturesque and quaint little town on the Canadian side of the river. At this point commences the Canada Southern Division of the Michigan Central Railroad, famous alike for the magnificence of its equipment and smoothness of track. Here our friends, so to speak, turned in, and it was only a few minutes before every one on board was fast asleep.
The next thing was the morning sun and Niagara Falls. The run had been made from Chicago in the remarkable time of fifteen hours.
"Oh, how good of you, Deacon Fitney," said little May a short while later, as standing on a verandah of Joe —— House, she gazed with rapture at the Falls in all their splendor; "how good of you to bring us to such a nice place and by such a delightful road."
"I am glad you like it," said the Deacon, with a smile; "but you must not credit me with too much goodness, for I could hardly have brought you by any other way. The Michigan Central road is the only direct road running to the Falls, and you could hardly expect that I could take you there by any line which is not entirely the best."
Mr. and Mrs. Trevellyan heartily joined May in her expressions of thanks to the Deacon, and more than endorsed every word he had said in praise of the wonderful Michigan Central Limited Express.
They spent the day at the Falls—a day of merry sunshine and happiness. The Falls never looked grander and nature never smiled with more sweetness. The time passed only too quickly, and when the children stepped on the cars once more to return to Chicago it was with a twinge of regret which was only offset by the knowledge that they had another delightful trip in store for them on the Michigan Central Road.
Now May has the following time table hung up among her pictures on the wall in her bed room. She says it serves to remind her of one of the happiest days of her life. Above it, in a baby's handwriting, she has scrawled: