The largest stream he had ever seen was the trout brook at Berry’s Corner, and this broad expanse of water astonished him.
It was several moments before he could convince himself that he was not upon the Atlantic Ocean. The many craft of every description darting here and there, filled him with wonder and amazement; and so interested was he in all around, that when the boat was made fast at the ferry slip on the New York side, he paid no attention to the fact of its being necessary to go ashore.
Standing at the after end of the steamer, he remained looking out over the river until one of the deck-hands asked:—
“Did you just come aboard, sonny?” intending, of course, to inquire if he was a passenger from that side of the river.
“Yes,” Josiah replied, unconscious of the flight of time. “Say, is this the harbor or the bay?”
“It’s the North River, sonny. Where are you bound for?”
“Well, you see, I jest come from Berry’s Corner, an’ am goin’ to Baker’s Court to visit Bob an’ Tom.”
The man was called away at this moment by the arrival of several heavy teams; and Josiah was so deeply occupied with the strange sights that the boat had started, and was nearly across once more before he became aware that there had been any stop made.
Then he asked one of the passengers standing near by, how long it would be before they arrived at New York.
“We are leaving that side now. Are you going to Jersey City?”