Niagara Falls 



1834 peeped over the rock, and evinced his approbation by a broad 

 Hawthome g r j n p^j s S p 0Usej a ver y robust lady, afforded a sweet example 

 of maternal solicitude, being so intent on the safety of her little 

 boy that she did not even glance at Niagara. As for the child, 

 he gave himself wholly to the enjoyment of a stick of candy. 

 Another traveler, a native American, and no rare character 

 among us, produced a volume of Captain Hall's tour, and labored 

 earnestly to adjust Niagara to the captain's description, depart- 

 ing, at last, without one new idea or sensation of his own. The 

 next comer was provided, not with a printed book, but with a 

 blank sheet of foolscap, from top to bottom of which, by means 

 of an ever-pointed pencil, the cataract was made to thunder. 

 In a little talk, which we had together, he awarded his appro- 

 bation to the general view, but censured the position of Goat 

 Island, observing that it should have been thrown farther to the 

 right, so as to widen the American falls, and contract those of 

 the Horseshoe. Next appeared two traders of Michigan, who 

 declared, that, upon the whole, the sight was worth looking at; 

 there certainly was an immense water-power here; but that, 

 after all, they would go twice as far to see the noble stone-works 

 of Lockport, where the Grand Canal is locked down a descent 

 of sixty feet. They were succeeded by a young fellow, in a 

 homespun cotton dress, with a staff in his hand, and a pack over 

 his shoulders. He advanced close to the edge of the rock, where 

 his attention, at first wavering among the different components 

 of the scene, finally became fixed in the angle of the Horseshoe 

 falls, which is, indeed, the central point of interest. His whole 

 soul seemed to go forth and be transported thither, till the staff 

 slipped from his relaxed grasp, and falling down — down — 

 down — struck upon the fragment of the Table Rock. 



In this manner I spent some hours, watching the varied impres- 

 sion, made by the cataract, on those who disturbed me, and 

 returning to unwearied contemplation, when left alone. At 

 length my time came to depart. There is a grassy footpath, 

 through the woods, along the summit of the bank, to a point 



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