St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-07-03
A Trip to Quebec.

Our party of seventy five left Mon
treal Monday morning June 10, leav-
ing swarm of cabmen swearing round
ly at the Americans who refused to
pay double fare, and entering n special
train, we were soon whizzed along over
the long, level North Shore road at a
fine rate. While making forty mile
run without IA stop, we suddenly felt
the car humping over the ties. Rush
ing from the train, we find that a
wagon heavily loaded with lumber had
been struck and completely demolished
while many timbers are under the
wheels and have thrown the trucks
from the rails. Huge boards were
twisted like single threads and all the
debris shows how narrow an escape
we have had. Soon the company
gathers on the broken timbers and
with uncovered heads and grateful
hearts, sing "Praise GOd"l Even the
rongh old lumberman tipped his great
Canadian hat and seemed to recognize
the fitness of offering praise to the God
whose good hand had kept the train
from being dashed over the embank-
ment.
AT half past three we sight Quebec
and almost Immediately notice Wolfe's
monument at the lower end of the city,
the outstretched hand seemingly in
viting a nearer approach and acquaint-
ance. How the people stared as we
marched along the street! AS we ap-
preached the city gate (St. Johns gate)
it was rs widely open as the doors and
hearts in the Y. NJ. G.. A. building.
After Il cordial welcome, and then re-
freshing baths, we enter "A large hall,
and having been presented to the
mayor, whose offer of the freedom of
the city is cheerfully accepted, we sit
down to II most bOuntiful collation.,
prepared by the woman's auxiliary of
the city Y. NJ. C. A. Whatever may
have been the Canadian views about
| United States secretaries before the
dinner, we are sure that after the ban
quet there were no doubts in the good
ladies minds that we were closely al
lied to the clergy of whom Mrs. Stowe
writes in cold Town Folks" for, says
Sam Lawson, ministers alters eats
powerful ~
Refreshed by the kind words and
acts and provisions of our Quebec
friends, and guided by Y. NJ. c. A.
President Thompson, we wend our
way, two by two, the observed of all
observers, to the steamer provided for
us, and are treated to IA sail out of one
of the finest harbOrs in the world, up
this noble river of the north, to within
il short distance of the Montmorenci
falls. We have a magnificent view OF
these falls, which, though so much mar
rover, far surpass Niagara in height;
the latter being l64 feet high while
MOntmorenci is 265 feet in falling to
the river below. Descriptions of his
tOric interest, and incidents about the
falls, are given to us i'll very enter
tanning way, by the Spanish minister
who is on board. The spot where the
suspension bridge used to swing is
shown us, and we hear how one day
while a father and mother and child
were crossing, the cables broke and
all were swept into the yawning gull
below. Only a week or so ago, a young
lady from one of the best families OF
the city was driven to the falls, where
she dismissed the cOachman. Not re-
turning, a search was made, but the
only thing found was her bonnet and
Il ribbon. We are saddened by this
story of one who made the fatal mis-
take of taking her eyes off Him whom
to believe and follow is eternal life
But we look into the blue above and
below; we glance at those mighty
rocks chiseled out by the dashing water
which is Obedient to His touch; we
feel His breath in the western breez,
which the waving palms of many tree.
send to us we taste the freshness o
the air, so cool and invigOrating; and
thus seeing, feeling, knowing His liv-
ing, loving presence, we are gladdened
and ready to again look for the beautie:
above, below, around, which He ha.
| ready to meet Our eyes
Alighting from the steamer, having
viewed the spot where Montgomery
fell, which is marked by a large, gold
lettered sign set into the huge cliff
below the citadel, we enter the oper
market place, and then street will
sidewalks so narrow that two of IL,
can hardly walk abreast, and having
twisted and turned and plodded pas
musty stores smelling as if they haC
not been aired for at least half a cen
tury; through winding alleys wher,
every door and window is crowded
with laughing, staring, questionin!
faces we come to the "break- knock
stairs y the street seems to end at til,
foot of these, but we begin to climb
almost straight up, for about twent,