"Perhaps you need new seeds," said Uncle Robert. "They are apt to do better if they are raised on different soil." "I have some nasturtiums this year, Jennie," said Susie. "They are just beginning to blossom. I'll save you some seed if you want me to." "Come out some day and see Susie's flowers, Jennie," said Uncle Robert kindly, as they left the store. "Good-by, Jennie," said Susie. "Time for dinner," said Uncle Robert. "I'm hungry." Susie's eyes danced. They went into the dining-room and sat down at the long table. Through the window they could see the hotel garden from which the flowers on the table had been gathered. "What shall we do now?" asked Uncle Robert as, after dinner, they stood upon the porch, looking up and down the street. No sound was heard but the sleepy noonday song of the grasshopper and the occasional rattle of a wagon going down to the store. "Let's go to the mill," said Susie. "The mill wasn't running when we passed there this morning," said Uncle Robert. "Suppose we wait until some time when the boys are with us. Then we can go all through it, and see just how wheat is changed into flour." "Oh, yes," said Susie, "that will be the nicest." "We might go to the station and see the train come in," suggested Uncle Robert, looking at his watch. "Oh, that's fun! Come on, uncle," cried Susie, running down the steps. "See, they are all going down now!" "All right," said Uncle Robert, "but don't hurry; there's plenty of time." As they looked down the track they could see the steel rails gleaming in the hot sunshine. The two shining lines stretched away until they seemed to meet in the distance. In the other direction a faint line of smoke appeared over the trees. It grew more and more distinct, until at last an engine rounded the curve and came puffing heavily up the track, pulling a long line of cars behind it. "That's a freight train," said Uncle Robert. "It stops here to let the passenger go by," said the station master, who stood near. "Expecting some one to-day, sir? The train isn't due for ten minutes." "Not to-day," replied Uncle Robert. "Do many trains stop here?" "Not many," said the station master as he hurried away to the switch. [Illustration: A freight train.] The great engine, drawing its heavy load after it, turned into the side track. When the small caboose at the end had passed the switch a man, who was running upon the tops of the cars, waved his arms and the long line stood still. "The engine breathes hard--just like Barri after a long run," said Susie. "I wonder what is in all these cars, uncle." "Here is one marked 'Furniture,' from a large factory in Grand Rapids," said Uncle Robert, reading the white card that was tacked on the side. "It is going to a town in Nebraska." "What funny cars these open ones are!" said Susie; "the ones with the shelves in. What are they for? They're empty, too. I shouldn't think they'd want to drag empty cars about."