MONDAY-Itwas，ifIrememberrightly，fiveo'clockwhenwewereallsignalledtobepresentattheFerryDepotoftherailroad。AnemigrantshiphadarrivedatNewYorkontheSaturdaynight，anotherontheSundaymorning，ourownonSundayafternoon，afourthearlyonMonday；andasthereisnoemigranttrainonSundayagreatpartofthepassengersfromthesefourshipswasconcentratedonthetrainbywhichIwastotravel。Therewasababelofbewilderedmen，women，andchildren。Thewretchedlittlebooking-office，andthebaggage-room，whichwasnotmuchlarger，werecrowdedthickwithemigrants，andwereheavyandrankwiththeatmosphereofdrippingclothes。Opencartsfullofbeddingstoodbythehalf-hourintherain。Theofficialsloadedeachotherwithrecriminations。Abearded，mildewedlittleman，whomItaketohavebeenanemigrantagent，wasallovertheplace，hismouthfullofbrimstone，blusteringandinterfering。Itwasplainthatthewholesystem，ifsystemtherewas，hadutterlybrokendownunderthestrainofsomanypassengers。
　　Myownticketwasgivenmeatonce，andanoldishman，whopreservedhisheadinthemidstofthisturmoil，gotmybaggageregistered，andcounselledmetostayquietlywhereIwastillheshouldgivemethewordtomove。Ihadtakenalongwithmeasmallvalise，aknapsack，whichIcarriedonmyshoulders，andinthebagofmyrailwayrugthewholeofBANCROFT'SHISTORYOFTHEUNITED
　　STATES，insixfatvolumes。ItwasasmuchasIcouldcarrywithconvenienceevenforshortdistances，butitinsuredmeplentyofclothing，andthevalisewasatthatmoment，andoftenafter，usefulforastool。IamsureIsatforanhourinthebaggage-
　　room，andwretchedenoughitwas；yet，whenatlastthewordwaspassedtomeandIpickedupmybundlesandgotunderway，itwasonlytoexchangediscomfortfordownrightmiseryanddanger。
　　IfollowedtheportersintoalongshedreachingdownhillfromWestStreettotheriver。Itwasdark，thewindblewcleanthroughitfromendtoend；andhereIfoundagreatblockofpassengersandbaggage，hundredsofoneandtonsoftheother。IfeelIshallhaveadifficultytomakemyselfbelieved；andcertainlythescenemusthavebeenexceptional，foritwastoodangerousfordailyrepetition。Itwasatightjam；therewasnofairwaythroughthemingledmassofbruteandlivingobstruction。Intotheupperskirtsofthecrowdporters，infuriatedbyhurryandoverwork，clovetheirwaywithshouts。Imaysaythatwestoodlikesheep，andthattheporterschargedamonguslikesomanymaddenedsheep-
　　dogs；andIbelievethesemenwerenolongeranswerablefortheiracts。Itmatterednotwhattheywerecarrying，theydrovestraightintothepress，andwhentheycouldgetnofarther，blindlydischargedtheirbarrowful。Withmyownhand，forinstance，I
　　savedthelifeofachildasitsatuponitsmother'sknee，shesittingonabox；andsinceIheardofnoaccident，Imustsupposethatthereweremanysimilarinterpositionsinthecourseoftheevening。ItwillgivesomeideaofthestateofmindtowhichwewerereducedifItellyouthatneithertheporternorthemotherofthechildpaidtheleastattentiontomyact。ItwasnottillsometimeafterthatIunderstoodwhatIhaddonemyself，fortowardoffheavyboxesseemedatthemomentanaturalincidentofhumanlife。Cold，wet，clamour，deadoppositiontoprogress，suchasoneencountersinanevildream，hadutterlydauntedthespirits。Wehadacceptedthispurgatoryasachildacceptstheconditionsoftheworld。Formypart，Ishiveredalittle，andmybackachedwearily；butIbelieveIhadneitherahopenorafear，andalltheactivitiesofmynaturehadbecometributarytoonemassivesensationofdiscomfort。
　　Atlength，andafterhowlonganintervalIhesitatetoguess，thecrowdbegantomove，heavilystrainingthroughitself。Aboutthesametimesomelampswerelighted，andthrewasuddenflareovertheshed。WewerebeingfilteredoutintotheriverboatforJerseyCity。Youmayimaginehowslowlythisfilteringproceeded，throughthedense，chokingcrush，everyoneoverladenwithpackagesorchildren，andyetunderthenecessityoffishingouthisticketbytheway；butitendedatlengthforme，andIfoundmyselfondeckunderaflimsyawningandwithatrifleofelbow-roomtostretchandbreathein。Thiswasonthestarboard；forthebulkoftheemigrantsstuckhopelesslyontheportside，bywhichwehadentered。Invaintheseamenshoutedtothemtomoveon，andthreatenedthemwithshipwreck。
　　Thesepoorpeoplewereunderaspellofstupor，anddidnotstirafoot。Itrainedasheavilyasever，butthewindnowcameinsuddenclapsandcapfuls，notwithoutdangertoaboatsobadlyballastedasours；andwecreptovertheriverinthedarkness，trailingonepaddleinthewaterlikeawoundedduck，andpassedeverandagainbyhuge，illuminatedsteamersrunningmanyknots，andheraldingtheirapproachbystrainsofmusic。Thecontrastbetweenthesepleasureembarkationsandourowngrimvessel，withherlisttoportandherfreightofwetandsilentemigrants，wasofthatglaringdescriptionwhichwecounttooobviousforthepurposesofart。
　　ThelandingatJerseyCitywasdoneinastampede。Ihadafixedsenseofcalamity，andtojudgebyconduct，thesamepersuasionwascommontousall。Apanicselfishness，likethatproducedbyfear，presidedoverthedisorderofourlanding。Peoplepushed，andelbowed，andran，theirfamiliesfollowinghowtheycould。
　　Childrenfell，andwerepickeduptoberewardedbyablow。Onechild，whohadlostherparents，screamedsteadilyandwithincreasingshrillness，asthoughvergingtowardsafit；anofficialkeptherbyhim，butnooneelseseemedsomuchastoremarkherdistress；andIamashamedtosaythatIranamongtherest。IwassowearythatIhadtwicetomakeahaltandsetdownmybundlesinthehundredyardsorsobetweenthepierandtherailwaystation，sothatIwasquitewetbythetimethatIgotundercover。Therewasnowaiting-room，norefreshmentroom；thecarswerelocked；andforatleastanotherhour，orsoitseemed，wehadtocampuponthedraughty，gaslitplatform。Isatonmyvalise，toocrushedtoobservemyneighbours；butastheywereallcold，andwet，andweary，anddrivenstupidlycrazybythemismanagementtowhichwehadbeensubjected，Ibelievetheycanhavebeennohappierthanmyself。Iboughthalf-a-dozenorangesfromaboy，fororangesandnutsweretheonlyrefectiontobehad。Asonlytwoofthemhadevenapretenceofjuice，Ithrewtheotherfourunderthecars，andbeheld，asinadream，grownpeopleandchildrengropingonthetrackaftermyleavings。
　　Atlastwewereadmittedintothecars，utterlydejected，andfarfromdry。Formyownpart，Igotoutaclothes-brush，andbrushedmytrousersashardasIcouldtillIhaddriedthemandwarmedmybloodintothebargain；butnooneelse，exceptmynextneighbourtowhomIlentthebrush，appearedtotaketheleastprecaution。
　　Astheywere，theycomposedthemselvestosleep。IhadseenthelightsofPhiladelphia，andbeentwiceorderedtochangecarriagesandtwicecountermanded，beforeIallowedmyselftofollowtheirexample。
　　TUESDAY-WhenIawoke，itwasalreadyday；thetrainwasstandingidle；Iwasinthelastcarriage，and，seeingsomeothersstrollingtoandfroaboutthelines，Iopenedthedoorandsteppedforth，asfromacaravanbythewayside。Wewerenearnostation，noreven，asfarasIcouldsee，withinreachofanysignal。Agreen，open，undulatingcountrystretchedawayuponallsides。LocusttreesandasinglefieldofIndiancorngaveitaforeigngraceandinterest；
　　butthecontoursofthelandweresoftandEnglish。ItwasnotquiteEngland，neitherwasitquiteFrance；yetlikeenougheithertoseemnaturalinmyeyes。Anditwasinthesky，andnotupontheearth，thatIwassurprisedtofindachange。Explainithowyoumay，andformypartIcannotexplainitatall，thesunriseswithadifferentsplendourinAmericaandEurope。Thereismorecleargoldandscarletinouroldcountrymornings；morepurple，brown，andsmokyorangeinthoseofthenew。Itmaybefromhabit，buttomethecomingofdayislessfreshandinspiritinginthelatter；ithasaduskierglory，andmorenearlyresemblessunset；
　　itseemstofitsomesubsequential，eveningepochoftheworld，asthoughAmericawereinfact，andnotmerelyinfancy，fartherfromtheorientofAuroraandthespringsofday。Ithoughtsothen，bytherailroadsideinPennsylvania，andIhavethoughtsoadozentimessinceinfardistantpartsofthecontinent。Ifitbeanillusionitisoneverydeeplyrooted，andinwhichmyeyesightisaccomplice。
　　Soonafteratrainwhiskedby，announcingandaccompanyingitspassagebytheswiftbeatingofasortofchapelbellupontheengine；andasitwasforthiswehadbeenwaiting，weweresummonedbythecryof"Allaboard!"andwentonagainuponourway。Thewholeline，itappeared，wastopsy-turvy；anaccidentatmidnighthavingthrownallthetraffichoursintoarrear。Wepaidforthisintheflesh，forwehadnomealsallthatday。Fruitwecouldbuyuponthecars；andnowandthenwehadafewminutesatsomestationwithameagreshowofrollsandsandwichesforsale；
　　butweweresomanyandsoravenousthat，thoughItriedateveryopportunity，thecoffeewasalwaysexhaustedbeforeIcouldelbowmywaytothecounter。
　　OurAmericansunrisehadusheredinanoblesummer'sday。Therewasnotacloud；thesunshinewasbaking；yetinthewoodyrivervalleysamongwhichwewoundourway，theatmospherepreservedasparklingfreshnesstilllateintheafternoon。Ithadaninlandsweetnessandvarietytoonenewlyfromthesea；itsmeltofwoods，rivers，andthedelvedearth。These，thoughinsofaracountry，wereairsfromhome。Istoodontheplatformbythehour；andasI
　　saw，oneafteranother，pleasantvillages，cartsuponthehighwayandfishersbythestream，andheardcockcrowsandcheeryvoicesinthedistance，andbeheldthesun，nolongershiningblanklyontheplainsofocean，butstrikingamongshapelyhillsandhislightdispersedandcolouredbyathousandaccidentsofformandsurface，Ibegantoexultwithmyselfuponthisriseinlifelikeamanwhohadcomeintoarichestate。AndwhenIhadaskedthenameofariverfromthebrakesman，andheardthatitwascalledtheSusquehanna，thebeautyofthenameseemedtobepartandparcelofthebeautyoftheland。AswhenAdamwithdivinefitnessnamedthecreatures，sothiswordSusquehannawasatonceacceptedbythefancy。Thatwasthename，asnoothercouldbe，forthatshiningriveranddesirablevalley。
　　Nonecancareforliteratureinitselfwhodonottakeaspecialpleasureinthesoundofnames；andthereisnopartoftheworldwherenomenclatureissorich，poetical，humorous，andpicturesqueastheUnitedStatesofAmerica。Alltimes，races，andlanguageshavebroughttheircontribution。PekinisinthesameStatewithEuclid，withBellefontaine，andwithSandusky。Chelsea，withitsLondonassociationsofredbrick，SloaneSquare，andtheKing'sRoad，isownsuburbtostatelyandprimevalMemphis；theretheyhavetheirseat，translatednamesofcities，wheretheMississippirunsbyTennesseeandArkansas；andboth，whileIwascrossingthecontinent，lay，watchedbyarmedmen，inthehorrorandisolationofaplague。Old，redManhattanlies，likeanIndianarrowheadunderasteamfactory，belowanglifiedNewYork。ThenamesoftheStatesandTerritoriesthemselvesformachorusofsweetandmostromanticvocables:Delaware，Ohio，Indiana，Florida，Dakota，Iowa，Wyoming，Minnesota，andtheCarolinas；therearefewpoemswithanoblermusicfortheear:asongful，tunefulland；andifthenewHomershallarisefromtheWesterncontinent，hisversewillbeenriched，hispagessingspontaneously，withthenamesofstatesandcitiesthatwouldstrikethefancyinabusinesscircular。
　　Lateintheeveningwewerelandedinawaiting-roomatPittsburg。
　　IhadnowundermychargeayoungandsprightlyDutchwidowwithherchildren；theseIwastowatchoverprovidentiallyforacertaindistancefartherontheway；butasIfoundshewasfurnishedwithabasketofeatables，Ileftherinthewaiting-roomtoseekadinnerformyself。Imentionthismeal，notonlybecauseitwasthefirstofwhichIhadpartakenforaboutthirtyhours，butbecauseitwasthemeansofmyfirstintroductiontoacolouredgentleman。Hedidmethehonourtowaituponmeafterafashion，whileIwaseating；andwitheveryword，look，andgesturemarchedmefartherintothecountryofsurprise。HewasindeedstrikinglyunlikethenegroesofMrs。BeecherStowe，ortheChristyMinstrelsofmyyouth。Imagineagentleman，certainlysomewhatdark，butofapleasantwarmhue，speakingEnglishwithaslightandratheroddforeignaccent，everyinchamanoftheworld，andarmedwithmannerssopatronisinglysuperiorthatIamatalosstonametheirparallelinEngland。Abutlerperhapsridesashighovertheunbutlered，butthenhesetsyourightwithareserveandasortofsighingpatiencewhichoneisoftenmovedtoadmire。Andagain，theabstractbutlerneverstoopstofamiliarity。
　　Butthecolouredgentlemanwillpassyouawinkatatime；heisfamiliarlikeanupperformboytoafag；heunbendstoyoulikePrinceHalwithPoinsandFalstaff。Hemakeshimselfathomeandwelcome。Indeed，Imaysay，thiswaiterbehavedhimselftomethroughoutthatsuppermuchas，withus，ayoung，free，andnotveryself-respectingmastermightbehavetoagood-lookingchambermaid。Ihadcomepreparedtopitythepoornegro，toputhimathisease，toproveinathousandcondescensionsthatIwasnosharerintheprejudiceofrace；butIassureyouIputmypatronageawayforanotheroccasion，andhadthegracetobepleasedwiththatresult。
　　Seeinghewasaveryhonestfellow，Iconsultedhimuponapointofetiquette:ifoneshouldoffertotiptheAmericanwaiter？
　　Certainlynot，hetoldme。Never。Itwouldnotdo。Theyconsideredthemselvestoohighlytoaccept。Theywouldevenresenttheoffer。Asforhimandme，wehadenjoyedaverypleasantconversation；he，inparticular，hadfoundmuchpleasureinmysociety；Iwasastranger；thiswasexactlyoneofthoserareconjunctures……Withoutbeingveryclearseeing，Icanstillperceivethesunatnoonday；andthecolouredgentlemandeftlypocketedaquarter。
　　WEDNESDAY-AlittleaftermidnightIconvoyedmywidowandorphansonboardthetrain；andmorningfoundusfarintoOhio。
　　Thishadearlybeenafavouritehomeofmyimagination；IhaveplayedatbeinginOhiobytheweek，andenjoyedsomecapitalsporttherewithadummygun，mypersonbeingstillunbreeched。MypreferencewasfoundedonaworkwhichappearedinCASSELL'SFAMILY
　　PAPER，andwasreadaloudtomebymynurse。ItnarratedthedoingsofoneCustaloga，anIndianbrave，who，inthelastchapter，veryobliginglywashedthepaintoffhisfaceandbecameSirReginaldSomebody-or-other；atrickIneverforgavehim。TheideaofamanbeinganIndianbrave，andthengivingthatuptobeabaronet，wasonewhichmymindrejected。Itoffendedverisimilitude，likethepretendedanxietyofRobinsonCrusoeandotherstoescapefromuninhabitedislands。
　　ButOhiowasnotatallasIhadpicturedit。WewerenowonthosegreatplainswhichstretchunbrokentotheRockyMountains。ThecountrywasflatlikeHolland，butfarfrombeingdull。AllthroughOhio，Indiana，Illinois，andIowa，orforasmuchasIsawofthemfromthetrainandinmywakingmoments，itwasrichandvarious，andbreathedanelegancepeculiartoitself。Thetallcornpleasedtheeye；thetreesweregracefulinthemselves，andframedtheplainintolong，aerialvistas；andtheclean，bright，gardenedtownshipsspokeofcountryfareandpleasantsummereveningsonthestoop。Itwasasortofflatparadise；but，Iamafraid，notunfrequentedbythedevil。
　　ThatmorningdawnedwithsuchafreezingchillasIhaverarelyfelt；achillthatwasnotperhapssomeasurablebyinstrument，asitstruckhomeupontheheartandseemedtotravelwiththeblood。Daycameinwithashudder。Whitemistslaythinlyoverthesurfaceoftheplain，asweseethemmoreoftenonalake；andthoughthesunhadsoondispersedanddrunkthemup，leavinganatmosphereoffeverheatandcrystalpurenessfromhorizontohorizon，themistshadstillbeenthere，andweknewthatthisparadisewashauntedbykillingdampsandfoulmalaria。Thefencesalongthelineborebuttwodescriptionsofadvertisement；onetorecommendtobaccos，andtheothertovauntremediesagainsttheague。Atthepointofday，andwhilewewereallinthegraspofthatfirstchill，anativeofthestate，whohadgotinatsomewaystation，pronouncedit，withadoctoralair，"afeverandaguemorning。"
　　TheDutchwidowwasapersonofsomecharacter。Shehadconceivedatfirstsightagreataversionforthepresentwriter，whichshewasatnopainstoconceal。Butbeingawomanofapracticalspirit，shemadenodifficultyaboutacceptingmyattentions，andencouragedmetobuyherchildrenfruitsandcandies，tocarryallherparcels，andeventosleepuponthefloorthatshemightprofitbymyemptyseat。Nay，shewassucharattlebynature，and，sopowerfullymovedtoautobiographicaltalk，thatshewasforced，forwantofabetter，totakemeintoconfidenceandtellmethestoryofherlife。Iheardaboutherlatehusband，whoseemedtohavemadehischiefimpressionbytakingheroutpleasuringonSundays。
　　Icouldtellyouherprospects，herhopes，theamountofherfortune，thecostofherhousekeepingbytheweek，andavarietyofparticularmattersthatarenotusuallydisclosedexcepttofriends。Atonestation，sheshookupherchildrentolookatamanontheplatformandsayifhewerenotlikeMr。Z。；whiletomesheexplainedhowshehadbeenkeepingcompanywiththisMr。Z。，howfarmattershadproceeded，andhowitwasbecauseofhisdesistancethatshewasnowtravellingtotheWest。Then，whenI
　　wasthusputinpossessionofthefacts，sheaskedmyjudgmentonthattypeofmanlybeauty。Iadmiredittoherheart'scontent。
　　Shewasnot，Ithink，remarkablyveraciousintalk，butbroideredasfancyprompted，andbuiltcastlesintheairoutofherpast；
　　yetshehadthatsortofcandour，tokeepme，inspiteofalltheseconfidences，steadilyawareofheraversion。Herpartingwordswereingeniouslyhonest。"Iamsure，"saidshe，"weallOUGHTtobeverymuchobligedtoyou。"Icannotpretendthatsheputmeatmyease；butIhadacertainrespectforsuchagenuinedislike。A
　　poornaturewouldhaveslipped，inthecourseofthesefamiliarities，intoasortofworthlesstolerationforme。
　　WereachedChicagointheevening。Iwasturnedoutofthecars，bundledintoanomnibus，anddrivenoffthroughthestreetstothestationofadifferentrailroad。Chicagoseemedagreatandgloomycity。Irememberhavingsubscribed，letussaysixpence，towardsitsrestorationattheperiodofthefire；andnowwhenIbeheldstreetafterstreetofponderoushousesandcrowdsofcomfortableburghers，Ithoughtitwouldbeagracefulactforthecorporationtorefundthatsixpence，or，attheleast，toentertainmetoacheerfuldinner。Buttherewasnowordofrestitution。Iwasthatcity'sbenefactor，yetIwasreceivedinathird-classwaiting-
　　room，andthebestdinnerIcouldgetwasadishofhamandeggsatmyownexpense。
　　Icansafelysay，Ihaveneverbeensodog-tiredasthatnightinChicago。Whenitwastimetostart，Idescendedtheplatformlikeamaninadream。Itwasalongtrain，lightedfromendtoend；
　　andcaraftercar，asIcameupwithit，wasnotonlyfilledbutoverflowing。Myvalise，myknapsack，myrug，withthosesixponderoustomesofBancroft，weighedmedouble；Iwashot，feverish，painfullyathirst；andtherewasagreatdarknessoverme，aninternaldarkness，nottobedispelledbygas。WhenatlastIfoundanemptybench，Isankintoitlikeabundleofrags，theworldseemedtoswimawayintothedistance，andmyconsciousnessdwindledwithinmetoamerepin'shead，likeataperonafoggynight。
　　WhenIcamealittlemoretomyself，Ifoundthattherehadsatdownbesidemeaverycheerful，rosylittleGermangentleman，somewhatgoneindrink，whowastalkingawaytome，nineteentothedozen，astheysay。Ididmybesttokeepuptheconversation；foritseemedtomedimlyasifsomethingdependeduponthat。Iheardhimrelate，amongmanyotherthings，thattherewerepickpocketsonthetrain，whohadalreadyrobbedamanoffortydollarsandareturnticket；butthoughIcaughtthewords，IdonotthinkI
　　properlyunderstoodthesenseuntilnextmorning；andIbelieveI
　　repliedatthetimethatIwasverygladtohearit。WhatelsehetalkedaboutIhavenoguess；Irememberagabblingsoundofwords，hisprofusegesticulation，andhissmile，whichwashighlyexplanatory:butnomore。AndIsupposeImusthaveshownmyconfusionveryplainly；for，first，Isawhimknithisbrowsatmelikeonewhohasconceivedadoubt；next，hetriedmeinGerman，supposingperhapsthatIwasunfamiliarwiththeEnglishtongue；
　　andfinally，indespair，heroseandleftme。Ifeltchagrined；
　　butmyfatiguewastoocrushingfordelay，and，stretchingmyselfasfarasthatwaspossibleuponthebench，Iwasreceivedatonceintoadreamlessstupor。
　　ThelittleGermangentlemanwasonlygoingalittlewayintothesuburbsafteraDINERFIN，andwasbentonentertainmentwhilethejourneylasted。Havingfailedwithme，hepitchednextuponanotheremigrant，whohadcomethroughfromCanada，andwasnotonejotlesswearythanmyself。Nay，eveninanaturalstate，asI
　　foundnextmorningwhenwescrapedacquaintance，hewasaheavy，uncommunicativeman。Aftertryinghimondifferenttopics，itappearsthatthelittleGermangentlemanflouncedintoatemper，sworeanoathortwo，anddepartedfromthatcarinquestofliveliersociety。Poorlittlegentleman!Isupposehethoughtanemigrantshouldbearollicking，free-heartedblade，withaflaskofforeignbrandyandalong，comicalstorytobeguilethemomentsofdigestion。
　　THURSDAY-Isupposetheremustbeacycleinthefatigueoftravelling，forwhenIawokenextmorning，Iwasentirelyrenewedinspiritsandateaheartybreakfastofporridge，withsweetmilk，andcoffeeandhotcakes，atBurlingtonupontheMississippi。
　　Anotherlongday'sridefollowed，withbutonefeatureworthyofremark。AtaplacecalledCreston，adrunkenmangotin。Hewasaggressivelyfriendly，but，accordingtoEnglishnotions，notatallunpresentableuponatrain。Foronestageheeludedthenoticeoftheofficials；butjustaswewerebeginningtomoveoutofthenextstation，Cromwellbyname，bycametheconductor。Therewasawordortwooftalk；andthentheofficialhadthemanbytheshoulders，twitchedhimfromhisseat，marchedhimthroughthecar，andsenthimflyingontothetrack。Itwasdoneinthreemotions，asexactasapieceofdrill。Thetrainwasstillmovingslowly，althoughbeginningtomendherpace，andthedrunkardgothisfeetwithoutafall。Hecarriedaredbundle，thoughnotsoredashischeeks；andheshookthismenacinglyintheairwithonehand，whiletheotherstolebehindhimtotheregionofthekidneys。ItwasthefirstindicationthatIhadcomeamongrevolvers，andI