The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-03-15
Written lor the Sunday Sentinel.
Tommy's 'Scurston.
"All aboard, ell aboardin

'All aboard, ell aboard
The conductor OF the cheap excursion
train showed the bewildersd passengers into
the shabby second class cars. already crowded
and uncomfortable.
keep close 10 Uncle Maurice, aud promise
ne, Tommy. not TO talk TO strangers" coun-
seled an anxious young mother with her
widoawako looking ton.year old son in
chocolate oolorol ulster and sailor hat.
"Y,s man. answered Tommy Dodd
obodently, as II came his turn 10 be showed
into the or wded aIale Of restless humanity.
Nov ! shall not have al easy moment
until Tommy returns; but then his Uncle
Maurice will see that be does not fall into tho
take or get buried Ia the ssnd,' though Mrp.
Dodd ~ tho cheap excursion train, with flags
tying. bands playing ana engines footing,
was OF for Lake Michigan and e day nj
Michigan City, Indiana.
Truth TO tell, absentmlnded Uncle Man.
rice had forgotten his promise 20 look after
Tommy and TO board the train. AZ that
very moment be waa In bis room at the State
| University deeply interested with brother
college professor Ia collection OF native
woods.
But Tommy didn't know that, aud kept
looking out for Uncle Maurice Old aud
| young, homely AID pretty women, elbowed
| Tommy right and left, aud tho conductor
| glaTed ~ him a. II hs thought boys had
| husints, on tho excursion.
Thirty i've mules OF travail aud standing
up, or trying 10, was telling upon Iommya
enduring powers, and Unoie Maurice was
| yet Invisible.
what should be do II Uncle bal not
Gomez" and a tear rolled OF the end OF his
note, when cheofy Here In seat, my
| lntle man" < addened bis heart.
Tommy knew that he hat io1nd "A friend
IN the white haired Old gsntlemaD, aud went
| straight 10 him.
wei. we'll, It's lucky that am goirg TO
Chicago by the way of Michigan City. so II
doesn' matter one BIT II Ucle Maurice isn't
on hoard.
Here we are at the battle ground. Now,
| Tommy. there WAS battle fought Ia th 8 en.
| closure In 1911, between the Indians and
General Harrison's troops. We sec the old
heads,ones marking the graves and there
were bodies bur ed in secret places and tres
built over the spot the better to conceal
them from tho savages. Aud upon tho right
is the fiat rock where the prophet sat and
| sang and urged the warriors on 10 battle aud
victory.
"In the long grass the savagss crept until
they reached the higher ground, tho site OF
the battle, where they fought until obliged
10 retreat.
Ibid you ever see an indian, Tommy"
81 hope that never shall bat / like 10
hear about them"
There TENT time, or wo could 60 into the
graveyard. Gee some OF the excursionisls
are left" and Tommy laughed Mt the scram.
bic TO the morning train, OF the.scared ra7el'
eis
Passengers must not leave the train
Grossly shouted tho conductor.
"All thege lands ones belonged 90 the In.
indians, anf they considered themselves
cheated when the white settlers came and
cleared away the fofesN. Mitch OF these
lands are now waste, wet, and fall OF quick.
ssnds, and produces only wild swamp grass
ard pond lilits."
oh, the funny white birds, with long
necks and slim legs" laughed Tommy, as "a
number OF white herons or sand hill cranes
stalktd along the water edge.
"Oh yes, The white heron is an nngainly
bird. Now we have reached the Kankakee
River.p
II don't see the river" aud Tommy looked
out the car window upon q luxuriant growth
Of pond liliea In full bloom, and "A bed OF
black soft mud.
1.-THE kankakee River Is a peculiar stream !
IL spreads over great many acres OF what Is
believed TO be fertile land II properly dIal med
The Government hes tried 10 forward the
draining OF this good land many scientific
men have tried TO oevise way ID do it. but
thus far the shallow, sluggish and deceptive
kanl akee continues 10 spread over them
and render unfit for any purpose many
acres Now We come 10 the trsstls work aud
fishing houses "
Slowly the heavy train crept along over
the Kankakee River, giving Tommy an OPP
portunity TO see the q1eer fishing houses
built upon blocks, with their occu pants,
! men, women and children sitting in the
door fishing.
"These ale summer houses. and many
| uCioptifp m hrfpU thair fapattfaa 70 a N
or two to these buIs. Fish of fine sizs and
| quality is caught here, split, sslted and
cured for home use. II must have been a
paradise for theiIndian in olden timss-ish
and game In abundance. Are you tired
Tommy
But Tommy was fast asleep and did not
rouse up until they reached the cranberry
swamps Under the water many OF the
berry vines grew.
els q tollsome work the cranberry pick
ers Rave Tommy. With little scoop and
. rake the vines are lifted and the fruit cara
. fully gathered, bat the standing in mud and
, water is the hard part. No pains have been
taken with these swamps, yet they produce
an abundant crop every year."
An hours time brought them to "San
| Pierre" cleanly city where mud was I'M
known. The sandy soil did not look produc.
tive, yet ii belied its appearance.
Ten miles more and Tommy was in Michi-
/. gan City. and soon hurrying with the crowd
3 | to the lake shore.
: Round and big were Tommys eyes at the
first glimpse OF the broad, clear sheet OF
I water. The steamers were gliding over its
! bosom, excursion boats were rapily filed
and sailed away toward Chicago.
a Tommy and his friend secured a Eat near
the orchestra stand. Upon one side the
D State OF Michigan lay and Illinois wa:
within four hours travel. Tommy was be
I wilaered.
!. Dinner, dinner" called the steward
: and they went into the dining room aud sal
= down 10 the very best dinner Tommy eye
4 ale in his HE.
Too soon the return boat came along. and
, Mr.. Tounley selected motherly looking ole
I lady to look after Tommy. Regretfully thel
{ separated, and for time Tommy was shy
), and bashful with his new friend.
= The excursion train was late In starting
3 home, and the great white hills OF silve
: sand on the shores of Lake Michigan alluret
the boys and young people to try the ascent