In the cars of the Central Railroad; how rapidly they were borne onward! how hot and dusty it soon became! Lockport, with its wild scenery, its commanding views, and its splendid locks on the canal, letting down its waters from a great height, interested Norman more than anything he saw. Then the salt lakes, near Syracuse, and the great salt works there! But Norman was in no mood for enjoyment. The water, of which he drank so freely at Niagara, had disagreed with him, and he suffered a good deal of pain. “Mother, please do not go to Trenton Falls.” “O Norman, you would enjoy seeing them very much; they are so very beautiful!” “I would not enjoy them at all now; but do not let me keep you from going.” Mrs. Lester hesitated. She was most anxious to visit that spot, so perfectly satisfying in its wild beauty; but it would be a great drawback to enjoy it alone, and she concluded to defer it till some more auspicious moment. She little thought of the tragedy that would have saddened her visit! That afternoon a boy of fourteen fell from one of the rocky ledges, and was at once swallowed up in those engulfing waters. His brother, who was with him, missed him, and saw his hat floating in the rapid stream. They had been brought there, with their mother, to spend a few weeks, by their father, who had returned to his business in town. And so, at Utica, instead of going to Trenton, as she anticipated, Mrs. Lester resumed her place in the cars, and looked that afternoon upon the lovely Mohawk Valley, as it was unrolled before her view. At East Albany Norman was looking out of the cars at the up-train, which had just arrived, and at a little boy running under the cars, in front of those great wheels that would crush him to atoms if the train moved while he was in his perilous position, when Mrs. Lester exclaimed, “Why, there’s your Aunt Augusta and Aunt Helen!” Glances of recognition, mute gestures, but no words possible, as the train was just starting. “They are going to Trenton and Niagara,” said Mrs. Lester. “If we had gone to Trenton we would have met them there. There is your Uncle Charles waving good-by from the platform.” “And there were Bessie and Edith,” said Norman, mournfully. “I think not,” replied Mrs. Lester. “I did not see them.” “But I am sure I saw them,” said Norman; “and that will take away half my pleasure in getting home. I was looking forward to telling them about all what I had seen.” At the depôt Mrs. Lester was kindly greeted by Mrs. Eiledon, who insisted upon sending her home in her carriage. After leaving Mrs. Eiledon at Ellesmere, they drove on to the Glen. How beautiful everything looked in this region of valleys and hills! How glorious was the sunset behind those grand, blue mountains! How refreshing the soft evening breezes, after the heat and dust of the cars! Home again. Norman’s heart leaped up within him.