The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-10-15
Grandma OId~yays.


We did not go to Marquette to zee the iron
mines as We hoped to do, but VISITED some Other
places which greatly interested us.
Escanaba claims the largest ore-docks in the
world. They are built far out over the waters
OF the Little Nocque bay have no idea how
Tar, but L know there IN room for ut least
dozen vessels to anchor beside them TO receive
their freight OF iron ore, and so high that the
tops OF the masts were but little above them
AL the shore end Is an inclined plane leading up
TO the top OF the docks, and little railway on
which small cars loaded with ore ran ND on one
SIDE, ana, when they reached the vessel TO be
loaded, dumped their load into " shutes
or long wooden box, one end of which rested
over the hold OF the schooner, and down it
rushed with laundering sound sending ND
cloud Of rusty dust which covered everything
with rudy tint for long distance around
Then the empty car rolled on to the end of the
docks, where the rails went around in a semi
circle, and passing down the other side rolled
down the incline to be refilled for another trip.
A continuous line of these busy little cars are
kept constantly in motion, and think there
were seldom less than a half-dozen vessels wait
hg to be loaded at the same time.
From the docks we went to the signal
service Office, by the kind invitation
of the gentlemanly officer in charge,
who explained the process of "making the
weather" as Madge expressed il. 1t was won
derful to MS to see how the elements were
made to whisper their secrets in the ear of sci
ence. Then the Sergeant had business at tho
lighthouse. and invited us to go with him,
which, of course, we did. The building is of
solid masonry, monument shaped, and IL built
on the sand beyond the line Of vegetation,
where the peninsula runs off in sharp point
into the water, and where it defies the bowling
wind and raging waves in perfect security, not
wlthstanding its unscrptural foundation. Its
sole occupants were woman OF 60 or therea-
bouts, whose brown, care-seamed face showed
that life for her had been anything but bed of
roses, and her family of CATS did not count
them, but there must have been hall score,
L think-cats on the doorstep, blinking in the
sunshine-cats in the neat, coy sitting-room
cats on the stairs-cats everywhere, except in
the great glass dome ITSELF where they must
not come for fear of accidents to the lamps and
renectors, which were as exquisitely bright and
clean as hands and faithful work could make
them, and from which every night, as soon az
the sun had fairly set, the clear, strong light
poured out over the world of waters-a
welcome to the coming guest and God-speed
to those departing. In the windows, as we'll as
all around the house. are large boxes filled with
earth, carried by the old lady herself from
those places where soil was TO be had and in
which were growing many varieties of flowers
and vines, and even some vegetables. There
were chickens and ducks in pens on the shingly
sand which seemed as comfortable and fat AZ
if their homes had been in the midst of tropi-
cal luxuriance. And there, winter and summer,
the stout-hearted old lady. lives with her pets,
much as if the day OF doom had passed and
left her, forgotten by Azrael, the Death Anger.
sole inhabitant of a desolate sphere. She said
that once every hour through the night she
had to climb the stairs to see that the lamps
burned clear and bright, and / wondered what
her thoughts were like as she kept her solitary
vigis in the dark and turbulent nights when
the shrleklng winds and the grand diapason of
nearest human presence half mile away. She
seemed perfectly cOntented though, and her
only anxiety seemed to be that the inspector
should approve the spotlcss neatness of her
small domain, and that her lamps should shine
out before those on the opposite shore, three
miles away, had opened their eyes. Bidding
her good-by probably forever, We went back
TO the shore to common people and ordinary
life, which, belonging to the gregarious sort,
must say prefer TO the grandeur of solitude.
Two or three days afterward we said adeu
to Escanaba and its pleasant woods and bays,
and started on our return trip, via Green Bay,
stopping at various points on the way, fishing
little, gathering berries, and finding unend-
ing interest IN the most trivial things. After
day and evening pleasantly passed in the pretty
little city of Green Bay, we started on our re-
turn trip, which was quiet and delightful as
perfect weather, good company and lovely star
lit nights could make it, and on the third morn
ing after we found ourselves again at rest at
the Goodrich landing. below Rush street bridge.
In another hour we were in our OWL home, and
though the streets looked dirtier and sounded
noiser than ever, after the delicious mossy
woods and cool, pure waters, 1t was still our
own home, and we were glad to sec it gain.
So we settled down to humdrum, everyday
cares again, healthier, happier, and L hope
better every way, for our three-weeks' out
ing" GRANDMA OLDwAYs.