And so they bundled into the carriage, and within a few minutes the entire party was seated in one of the magnificent palace cars which are attached to the Michigan Central Limited Express.
"All aboard!" shouted the conductor. "We're off," smiled the Deacon. The big clock in the depot struck the half after four, and the magnificent train composed of five sleepers, three coaches, a palace dining car and a couple of baggage cars, slowly pulled out of the station.
May and Nellie glued their noses to the window, and their delight as they whizzed through the beautiful suburbs of South Chicago, seemed unbounded. With Lake Michigan, tranquil and glittering with the rays of a summer sun, on one side, and a succession of lovely suburban residences on the other, the sight was a most lovely one. A few minutes later the train was flying through green fields and beautiful woods.
"Here, children," suddenly cried the Deacon from the other side of the car, "come quick and see the magic city of Pullman." In a minute May was on one of the Deacon's knees and Nellie on the other, and the train passed rapidly by the most wonderful evidence of modern enterprise.
"Three years ago," said the Deacon, in answer to an enquiring look of admiration in the children's eyes, "the ground on which stands this most beautiful city, which is without doubt the model city of the world, was nothing but a swamp. See what it is now. Some day, when we get back home, I will bring you here and let you learn more closely what the creator of the beautiful place which bears the name of Pullman has done for his country."
A minute later the train flew past Kensington, and then fairly started on its iron way for its first stopping place, Michigan City, better known as the City of Sand. Then came Niles, with its wonderful bridge and its fairy valley. Then Kalamazoo, the biggest village in the world, and the flower bed of creation. Then Marshall, Battle Creek and Jackson, the latter place the centre of railway industry of the beautiful State of Michigan. Then Ann Arbor, where is situated the University of the State of Michigan, and then, last, but not least, Detroit.
By this time, of course, the babies had been tucked in bed. The Deacon had taken them into the dining car and feasted them with all the inexhaustible luxuries for which these cars on the Michigan Central R. R. are so famous.