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.
CHAPTER XIX.
ON THE LAKES.
“On the shores of Gitche Gumee,