Westward by the Big-Sea Water.
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Can it be the sun descending,
Sinking down into the water?
All the sky is stain’d with purple,
All the water flush’d with crimson!”
Lake Superior, the mighty lake, fed by two hundred rivers and streams, plunging down falls and rapids to mingle their waters with those of this inland ocean; with its stern rocky walls, and overhanging crags; with its rich mines of copper, silver, and iron; with its abundant fisheries of trout, pickerel, pike, carp, black fish, and white fish; and with its grand pictured rocks, presenting columns, towers, arches, and ruins, and hollowed out into vast caverns, echoing with tremendous roar to the dash of the waves. An excursion proposed to this lake offered great attractions, and Mrs. Lester was tempted to go on the fine steamer that was to take a party thither.
Norman supplied himself with trolling-hook and fishing tackle, as the steamer was to stop frequently to allow the passengers to fish in those cold, clear, transparent waters. Charley Percy and his friend, Alfred Scarborough, somewhat older than himself, were going in the steamer to Collingwood, on their way to Niagara; so in the evening they went to the boat, accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Percy, and Alfred’s father and mother. The saloon was gayly lighted up, the band playing; the state-rooms were very comfortable, and the beginning of the voyage at least was very promising.
Good-by was said to their kind friends, and the steamer moved slowly down the river, past the warehouses, and through the bridges, in the darkness, amid the gleaming lights here and there, and to the sound of music, and it all seemed very dream-like. At length they reached the lake, and the regular lines of light on Michigan Avenue sparkled as they sailed away. It was very late, near eleven o’clock, and the travelers soon sought the repose of their berths. Mrs. Lester only wakened in the morning in time to see the graceful spires of Racine, sleeping in the early morning light.
About ten o’clock they sailed into the harbor of Milwaukee, built on both sides of the Milwaukee River, on a high bluff overlooking the lake. Most of the town is built of the Milwaukee brick, which is of a light straw-color; and though this brick is a very fine building material, yet it harmonizes too much with the color of the sandy streets and sandy bluff to give a fine effect to the town. A stronger contrast would be better. There are some very fine buildings; a hotel of beautiful and elaborate design, and a custom-house of fine architecture, built of white stone.