ARRIVAL AT MONTREAL. 29 



Albans somewhere in the small hours of the morning. After a little 

 refreshment, and a short stay here, not long enough, however, to 

 enable me to get much of a glimpse of this queer old Canadian 

 and American town, yet with plenty of time to secure the latest 

 New York and Boston newspapers, the train which was to take 

 us to Montreal arrived ; and soon we were whirling off in the di- 

 rection of that place, comfortably seated in a car whose atmosphere 

 was a pleasing variation from that of the car we had so lately 

 left, in that its purity was its main attraction. We had now daylight 

 before us, and though still rather tired and sleepy, could at least 

 vary the monotony of our trip with the natural objects that pre- 

 sented themselves to our gaze through the car windows. An 

 officer soon awakened those disposed to slumber with the in- 

 telligence that we were crossing the line and must soon submit 

 to having our baggage inspected. I thought it very kind of him to 

 give us notice beforehand of this most important event, and also 

 most kind of the inspector when he appeared, and most indicative 

 of his ability to judge of human character by the face, that he 

 gave us so little trouble with our bundles. These contemplations, 

 however, did not long deter me from another attempt at a nap, and 

 once more settling myself down I tried to sleep. 



As our train went along slowly it was sometime before we reached 

 Victoria bridge spanning the St. Lawrence below Montreal ; after 

 a long rumbling through this covered bridge, whose little skylights 

 far above the head on the side of the building shed but a feeble 

 occasional gleam, we emerged into the light again only to pass along 

 through low flats of land or near high walls of buildings, both of 

 which seemed equally the abodes of poverty and dirt, and reached 

 Montreal two hours late since we were due at 8 and it was 

 then lo A. M. Here our trunks were inspected with the same 

 kindness that our bundles had been in the cars — mine not being 

 opened at all — and we were soon rumbling over the stones to the 

 hotel where an abundance of good warm substantial food soon 

 revived us again. It is quite unnecessary to enter into a description 

 of this old-fashioned place, as that has been too often done 



