train on my return to Rockingham, where I met my wife the same evening, and found her well rested from the fatigue of journeying and much improved in health and strength.

During these journeyings among the hills and dales of Vermont the foliage of the forests was putting on its most beautiful colors. Often as I would gain the top of some eminence, where the eye could take in large tracts of woodland, the scene presented to view was most enchanting. There had been no frost to kill the leaves. But there was a general ripening of the summer foliage. Such gorgeous beauty of forest leaves, such a blending of colors of every kind are unknown to the western States. Having been born and raised among the Green Mountians, of course I had witnessed these autumnal forest changes many times before, but never till now had they seemed so beautiful.

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Bidding farewell to our kind Rockingham friends, we took the train on our homeward journey. Stopping off at Saratoga, we there spent a few days in testing the medicinal properties of the several mineral springs and then proceeded to Niagara Falls. One, whose organ of sublimity is well developed, cannot tire of viewing this wonderful cataract. Here we engaged a carriage and driver, and after a drive about the town, crossed on the new suspension bridge to the Canada side of the river. This bridge seemed like a frail web of gossamer, and crossing, as it does, directly below and in full view of the Falls, and amid their awful thunderings, a thrill of sublime excitement was experienced which pen cannot describe. However the bridge was held to be perfectly safe. and is indeed a great convenience to the wonderloving public-the view from it is so grand and awe-inspiring.

Tourists often complain bitterly of the frauds and impositions practised upon them in and around Niagara, but we fortunately escaped, and, on the

contrary, found everything pleasant and satisfactory. Our hotel and our traveling companions were all of the very best.

From Niagara our next objective point was Chicago. Taking a palace car over the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad at noon, we enjoyed a comfortable night's rest, and the next morning found ourselves in that "Queen City of the West." Phoenix like, Chicago had just risen from her ashes, and at this time was more glorious and attractive than ever before. In this city we tarried a few days, visiting relatives and friends, and viewing the costly and remarkably beautiful edifices erected since the great fire for the accommodation of all the varied requirements of trade and commerce; the stores, warehouses, churches, theatres, dwelling houses. factories, stock-yards, public parks, &c... &c.

Having completed our visit in Chicago, we took passage on board the train of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad. at five o'clock.. P. M., after an absence from home of about two months, and next day, at two o'clock, P. M., found ourselves once more safely ensconced in our own domicile in Charles City, Iowa. happy to be at home again; happy to have a comfortable home to call our own; happy in the recollection of a thousand pleasant incidents connected with our journey: and happy that no accidents and nothing of an unpleasant nature had occurred to mar its enjoyment.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

THE TEMPERANCE CAUSE.

N 1860 Mr. and Mrs. Hildreth took an active interest in the work of instituting a lodge of Good Templars, and were charter members of the first lodge of that kind in Charles City. The membership comprised the leading gentlemen and ladies of the place, numbering some hundreds. and the influence it exerted upon the community was very salutary. The following allusion to this institution is copied from the History of Floyd County," published in 1882:

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The Good Templars took the lead in celebrating upon the 4th of July, 1860, in Charles City. The day was beautiful and the attendance large. ly in the morning the stars and stripes were floating from many a flag-staff and edifice, and at the appointed hour the marshals, mounted on beautifully caparisoned horses, formed a procession in the following order: Music; citizens generally. both ladies and gentlemen; Worthy Master and Worthy Deputy Master; male initiates; female initiates; banner; male degree members: Officers of the Lodge; Officers of the Grand Lodge; Vice Presidents of the Day: Reader and Chaplain; President and Orator. The procession was a long one. and presented a gay and lively appearance. A large number of banners were borne in the pro

cession, several of which were rich and elegant, and had various appropriate mottoes and devices. A procession so attractive and imposing had never before been seen in Floyd county, possibly in the State.

On arriving at the grove, a scene of beauty and enchantment burst upon the vision; due in most part to the skill of woman's fairy hand. The grounds were arranged in the order of a lodge room, and were well furnished and ornamented. At this place the order of exercises were- Martial music: prayer by the Chaplain, Rev. A. D. Bush; singing by the entire audience, the opening ode of the Good Templars, "Friends of Temperance, welcome here," to the tune "Watchman, tell us of the night;" reading of the Declaration of Independence, by James Jackson; singing the national hymn. "America," by the entire audience; oration by John G. Patterson; martial music; temperance address by J. Q. Detwiler; and succeeding these exercises, A. B. F. Hildreth, who had been appointed Toast Master, announced the following sentiments, each of which was in turn responded to by some one of the audience:

1. The Day we Celebrate: Glorious in the past. honored in the present, may its lustre brighten in the future.

The Memory of our Revolutionary Fathers: Let it be embalmed in the hearts of posterity.

3.

4.

Washington: "God caused him to be child

less that a nation might call him father." The Presidency of the United States: The noblest office in the world; its occupant should be one of the noblest of men.

5. The Order of Good Templars: An invading cold water army," at whose command the hosts of King Alcohol ever surrender at discretion.

6. The Ladies: Gentle, patient, affectionate, and ever zealous in a good cause; without them our men would be savages and our prairies deserts.

7. The Musicians: Without their harmonious strains the celebration could not go on.

8. Our Common Schools: Caskets containing the jewels of our country; we expect the teachers, as artisans, will see that they are rightly set.

9. The Farmer: One of nature's noblemen.

10.

The Clergy: Patient defenders of the Cross; may their reward be "manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting."

11. St. Charles Lodge, No. 62, I. O. of G. T.: A moral reformer whose services are invaluable.

12. The Benevolent Societies of the Day: Their "secrecy" is the tie that unites their members in the work of social reform.

13. Manual Labor: The stepping stone to virtue, health, happiness and independence.

14. Iowa, the Home of our Adoption: May she. like Cornelia, point to her sons and say, "These are my jewels.

15. The Officers of the Day: Well have they discharged their duties, and the thanks of the audience are theirs.

After listening to martial music, the closing ode of the Order was sung.-"Heavenly Father, give thy blessing"-to the air, "Sicilian Hymn."

The marshals then formed a procession of nearly all who were upon the ground and conducted them to the lodge hall, whence the people dispersed for dinner. No accident or blunder occurred to mar the perfection of the day, and every one went home happy.