What Norman Saw in the WestOlin, Julia M. (Julia Matilda)
General
What Norman Saw in the West
Olin, Julia M. (Julia Matilda)
Christian life -- Juvenile fiction; United States -- Description and travel -- Juvenile fiction
“Norman,” said his mother, “just think of the courage it must have
required when, more than two hundred years ago, two French missionaries
sailed over these lonely lakes. They were seventeen days in a light bark
canoe. They sailed past the pretty islands we shall soon see in Georgian
Bay, and over the clear waters upon which we are now sailing, up the
river St. Mary, which the captain showed you, which leads to Lake
Superior, and there, at the Sault St. Marie, they told the Indians about
Jesus:
“‘A birch canoe with, paddles,
Rising, sinking on the water,
Dripping, flashing in the sunshine,
And within it came a people
From the distant land of Wabrun,
From the farthest realms of morning
Came the black-robe chief, the prophet,
He the priest of prayer; the pale-face
With his guides and his companions.’”
A lady showed Norman a picture of the rapids at the Sault St. Marie,
with a number of Indians in their canoes; and the captain said they
would paddle their canoes up the rapids, and then throwing their nets in
the water as they came down, would catch the fish going up the stream.
After tea they seated themselves in the stern of the vessel, and looked
at her track far over the lake. The air was cool and exhilarating, and
it was with devout gratitude to God for the wonderful display of his
mighty works, and for his abundant blessings, that some of the company
gazed upon the serene glory of the sunsetting. It was not gorgeous, as
was the sunset on Lake Michigan, with clouds of purple and crimson, but
slowly, slowly the shining orb dipped behind the waters. The evening
star hung trembling in the sky, faintly shining out from that region of
pale gold; while the moon, high in the western heavens, promised for
many hours her silvery light.
Norman brought out his trolling-hook, that he might have the pleasure of
throwing it into Lake Huron, as he was denied that of fishing in Lake
Superior. He let it out at the end of a long and strong fishing line,
and amused himself watching it bounce out of the water, and feeling the
twitches it gave his hand as the boat moved rapidly onward. A lady, who
sat near, was very much amused at the stout resistance of the waves. At
length Norman drew in his line, and lo! and behold the hook was gone.
The action of the waves had worn away the stout cord, made still
stronger by being wound around with thread.
“There,” said Norman, “I have lost the hook which cost me twenty-five
cents.”
“I think it has given us twenty-five cents’ worth of pleasure,” said the
lady, who had been watching the dancing line.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account