hs,likemanyadownycloudwhichIhaveseen,highintheheavens,unfoldingitsmassestothelight,—asifthistravellingdemigod,thiscloud-compeller,woulderelongtakethesunsetskyfortheliveryofhistrainwhenIheartheironhorsemakethehillsechowithhissnortlikethunder,shakingtheearthwithhisfeet,andbreathingfireandsmokefromhisnostrils,(whatkindofwingedhorseorfierydragontheywillputintothenewMythologyIdon’tknow),itseemsasiftheearthhadgotaracenowworthytoinhabitit.Ifallwereasitseems,andmenmadetheelementstheirservantsfornobleends!Ifthecloudthathangsovertheengineweretheperspirationofheroicdeeds,orasbeneficentasthatwhichfloatsoverthefarmer’sfields,thentheelementsandNatureherselfwouldcheerfullyaccompanymenontheirerrandsandbetheirescort.
IwatchthepassageofthemorningcarswiththesamefeelingthatIdotherisingofthesun,whichishardlymoreregular.Theirtrainofcloudsstretchingfarbehindandrisinghigherandhigher,goingtoheavenwhilethecarsaregoingtoBoston,concealsthesunforaminuteandcastsmydistantfieldintotheshade,acelestialtrainbesidewhichthepettytrainofcarswhichhugstheearthisbutthebarbofthespear.Thestableroftheironhorsewasupearlythiswintermorningbythelightofthestarsamidthemountains,tofodderandharnesshissteed.Fire,too,wasawakenedthusearlytoputthevitalheatinhimandgethimoff.Iftheenterprisewereasinnocentasitisearly!Ifthesnowliesdeep,theystraponhissnow-shoes,andwiththegiantplow,plowafurrowfromthemountainstotheseaboard,inwhichthecars,likeafollowingdrill-barrow,sprinklealltherestlessmenandfloatingmerchandiseinthecountryforseed.Alldaythefire-steedfliesoverthecountry,stoppingonlythathismastermayrest,andIamawakenedbyhistrampanddefiantsnortatmidnight,wheninsomeremotegleninthewoodshefrontstheelementsincasediniceandsnowandhewillreachhisstallonlywiththemorningstar,tostartoncemoreonhistravelswithoutrestorslumber.Orperchance,atevening,Ihearhiminhisstableblowingoffthesuperfluousenergyoftheday,thathemaycalmhisnervesandcoolhisliverandbrainforafewhoursofironslumber.Iftheenterprisewereasheroicandcommandingasitisprotractedandunwearied!
Farthroughunfrequentedwoodsontheconfinesoftowns,whereonceonlythehunterpenetratedbyday,inthedarkestnightdartthesebrightsaloonswithouttheknowledgeoftheirinhabitantsthismomentstoppingatsomebrilliantstation-houseintownorcity,whereasocialcrowdisgathered,thenextintheDismalSwamp,scaringtheowlandfox.Thestartingsandarrivalsofthecarsarenowtheepochsinthevillageday.Theygoandcomewithsuchregularityandprecision,andtheirwhistlecanbeheardsofar,thatthefarmerssettheirclocksbythem,andthusonewellconductedinstitutionregulatesawholecountry.Havenotmenimprovedsomewhatinpunctualitysincetherailroadwasinvented?Dotheynottalkandthin