Chapter X: The Homeward Trip

Why the wild-cat was not caught—A long 166
storm—The dissected map—How it was
made—A pleasant and profitable
diversion—Preparations for going
home—The trap returned—Whistler’s
attachment for his Brookdale
friends—The hour of parting—The ride
to the Cross Roads—The stage coach—The
train—The locomotive—Clinton’s
knowledge of steam engines—View from
the car windows—A talk about a cross
engineer—Bad and good traits—The
engineer’s responsibility—Who takes
the credit, and who the blame—Some of
the engineer’s duties—High speed—What
a locomotive might do without a
master—A runaway engine, and how it
was stopped—Another runaway—A
frightful race—Fortunate
termination—Tediousness of railroad
travelling—Attention attracted by the
train—The boys on the water—The dog,
horse, sheep, cow, &c.—Arrival at
Boston—Ralph,

CHAPTER XI.

THE CITY HOME.

Morning—First 179
impressions—Bouncer—Whistler’s frolic
and talk with him—Bouncer’s message to
Clinton—The view from the
windows—Blocks of
buildings—Description of Whistler’s
home—His chamber—How it was
furnished—Whistler’s father—A loud
summons—A quiet joke—The
dining-room—Breakfast—Conversation—Boston
sights—Three strange rules for a
country boy—Clinton’s
perplexity—Whistler’s attempt to
relieve him—Mr. Davenport’s early
“greenness”—His brother’s rebukes—His
reply—Clinton’s decision—City
greenhorns—Whistler and the cows—A
good rejoinder—Ettie’s queer
question—A talk about cows—Mr.
Davenport’s twofold motive—The golden
mean,