American literature -- 19th century -- Periodicals; Sunday schools -- United States -- Periodicals
The train moves very rapidly, and the sensation is pleasant. No rocking
motion, and not nearly so much noise as we sometimes find. We chat
together pleasantly, without the feeling that we are talking in a
locomotive boiler, where work is going on. We make frequent stops at
pleasant villages, where green fields stretch out, on either side, and
where the air is sweet with the breath of flowers. One name is called
which makes us stretch our necks from the open windows to get as good
a view as we can. This is New Haven, "the city of elms," and the seat
of Yale College. It is a beautiful city; we can be sure of that, even
from the depot view. But we have not time to linger. Some day we will
stop there, and take a walk around the college. Now we must make all
speed to our destination. At last we hear the name: "Ansonia." And we
seize our wraps, and satchels, and umbrellas, and lunch boxes, and make
haste. What a pretty village! And what a strange one! The river cuts it
in two; makes another village on the other side, which, after all, is
the same village, or looks like it. There are many trees, hiding nice
old-fashioned houses, near which we get glimpses of many flowers. But
the buildings which most attract us to-day are not dwelling houses;
unless indeed a race of giants live in them. They are so large!
Manufactories? Yes, you have guessed it; the State of Connecticut, you
know, is famous for its industry. We have spent so much time in getting
here, that we will not be able to stay long in the great building
to-day. Still, let us stop a few minutes before this queer machine;
it is apparently eating wire. What a stomach it must have! Long coils
of fine wire rush into its mouth with such speed that one can hardly
see the process. How fast it eats! Such large mouthfuls as it takes!
about eight inches of wire at a bite. Now what? No, it doesn't swallow
the wire, it simply bites it off, and sends it on. Not far, for as the
wire is scurrying by a corner, some one of the wicked people who dwell
in this machine, seizes it and bends it double! Poor thing! But as you
would naturally expect, it hurries the faster now. Not two inches away,
it meets another enemy who in sheer ill humor, apparently, seizes it
and in an instant of time has given it such a pinch that its right
side is all crinkled; it will bear the marks of that grasp all its
life! It scuds on, without a groan, intent apparently on getting out of
that country as soon as possible. But no, it is seized again, and the
two ends of its poor body are rubbed hastily and mercilessly against
a rough surface, until they are like needles for sharpness. It takes
but a second, and then the wicked sprite seems to have had revenge
enough, and lets the poor wire pass. There is a little open place for
which the wire is evidently making; it hopes to slip down there out
of sight--hurry! almost there! Alas no, one more sprite reaches out a
long finger, and gives that horrid pinch to the other side! "Maimed for
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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