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 UC3B LIBRARY
 
 From the Pacific, San Francisco 
 _^ nowerful argu 
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 SChv, - tull . ,-*--. UUB ^.^ ^-.c,. c 
 
 No temperance book is calculated to do better service or to make a 
 deeper popular impression. 
 
 From Rev. Win. M. Tliayer, Secretary Mass. Temperance Alliance. 
 
 One of the most fascinating and instructive temperance volumes ever 
 published a mental and moral stimulant. The Bible doctrine of tem- 
 perance, licence and prohibition is set forth so as to compel attention, 
 and we are not surprised that moderate drinkers and rum-sellers are 
 stirred up by reading it. Every friend of temperance should have 0110 
 to loan, and every Sabbath School Library should have several of them 
 ill circulation. 
 
 From Prof. G. N. Webber, Middlebury College. 
 The most readable and effective book on temperance that has been 
 published in these latter days. 
 
 From the New York Observer. 
 Will do as much as the best in training the young. 
 From the American Missionary. 
 
 A book which every minister and Sabbath school teacher will be glad 
 to read. 
 
 From the Advocate of Peace. 
 
 Most happily conceived and executed. Its perusal will afford sincere 
 delight to thousands of readers. It is not too much to hope, that by tho 
 blessing ot God it will prove a most effective instrumentality for pre- 
 venting theovils of intemperance . 
 
 From the Gardian of Health. 
 
 The book will be read by millions. It advocates prohibition and 
 moral suasion, and shows that the church is the source whence must 
 llow the lull uence which is to sweep away this curse of curses. 
 
 From the Vermont Chronicle 
 
 An allegory of great clearness, and so full of scripture sentiment that 
 like a gospel parable, the drunkard and the man who puts the cup to 
 Ms lips may see themselves as in a glass, while the promise of salvation 
 both temporal and eternal appears iu the "pure river of water of life 
 clear as crystal proceeding out of the throne of God and the Lamb." A 
 powerful argument for temperance on the right basis. 
 
 From the Wellspring. ' 
 
 Should be in all our Sabbath school Libraries, and every boy in the 
 land should read it. 
 
 From Rev. S. If, Hayes, Seamen's Chaplain, Boston, 
 The best thing on the subject In the language. It is capital for Sab- 
 baih school Superintendents and ministers, each chapter furnishing 
 precisely the picture and the point for a lecture.
 
 TESTIMONIALS. 
 
 I have never seen any document, tract, book, or illustration, that, 
 as a powerful exhibitor of truth, is at all comparable with it." 
 John Ji. Gouffh. 
 
 A bookseller says, "From my store-window it preaches temper* 
 ance all day long to multitudes whose attention it arrests." 
 
 A sea-captain writes, "An intemperate shipmaster saw it in the 
 "West Indies. It led him to sign the pledge, and discharge all the 
 bottles in his ship into the sea. He returned to his family a sober 
 man." 
 
 A pastor wri tes, " I have known four exceedingly interesting re- 
 formations by it. Two young men read it together. One said to the 
 other. ' We are on that road, and pretty near the last stopping-place. 
 I will leave the train if you will.' I will do it,' said the other; and 
 both stopped drinking. Afterward the father of one did the same.'' 
 
 Another writes, ""We have had a public meeting to request our 
 peleetrnen to close up all the Ticket-offices of the Black Valley 
 .Railroad ; and they have done it." 
 
 From a man-of-war, a sailor missionary writes, " One hundred 
 and fifty have signed the pledge. It is the best thing I ever saw in 
 print." 
 
 From Port Natal, Africa, another writes, "It has led to the or- 
 ganization of an efficient temperance society." 
 
 Another writes, " I think it adapted to produce great moral ef- 
 fects. It will save many from a drunkard's life and death." 
 
 Another writes, " If it cotild be introduced into all our schools, 
 it would be the cheapest, most impressive, and most successful way 
 of teaching temperance to the rising generation." 
 
 A company of boys, mistaking it for the advertisement of.a rail- 
 road excursion, while trying to find where to go after tickets saw its 
 meaning, and exclaimed, "It is the road to hell. Let us get no 
 tickets." 
 
 " Should induce all, young or old, to pause before entering the 
 train leading to this valley of "horrors." lion. Edward C. Delavan, 
 Albany. 
 
 " Your ideas of Intemperance, as embodied in the picture of the 
 Black- Volley Railroad, I think adapted to produce a great moral 
 effect in the minds of the young. The little folks take great pleas- 
 ure in tracing out the truth written all over it. I wish every school 
 in the land might have one of those pictures in it. It attracts the 
 eyes of the young, and instrumentally will save many of them from a 
 drunkard's life, death, and eternity." Jtev. H. M. J'arsons, Boston. 
 
 " "NVe wish that on the walls of each Sabbath School were hung 
 up the powerful and terrific picture, the Black-Valley Railroad, 
 which maps out the whole tour of the tipler from Sippington to To- 
 persville, clear on to Demonland and Destruction." Independent, 
 b>j Rev. T. L. Cuyler. 
 
 " One of the most wonderful things of the age, vividly exhibiting 
 the way to ruin by intemperance." Quincy (III.) Republican.
 
 THE 
 
 BLACK VALLEY: 
 
 THE BAILEOAD AND THE COUNTKY; 
 
 WITH AX ACCOUNT OF 
 
 THE INTRODUCTION OF WATER, 
 
 BY S. W. HANKS. 
 
 WITH STRIKING ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 " This book is writ in stieh a dialect 
 As may the minds of listless men affect. 
 It seems a novelty, and yet contains 
 Nothing but sound and honest gospel strains. 
 Truly 'twill make no traveller of tnee, 
 If by its council thou \yilt ruled be." 
 
 BUNYAN. 
 
 BOSTON : 
 CONGREGATIONAL PUBLISHING SOCIETY, 
 
 No. 13 CORNHILL.
 
 Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1871, by 
 
 8. W. HANKS, 
 In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 
 
 STEREOTYPED BY C. J. PETERS & SON, 
 $ WASHINGTON ST., BOSTON.
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 THIS book has grown out of the tract called 
 " The Black-Valley Road $- more than three mil- 
 lions of which have been called for since its first pub- 
 lication. It was prepared for the benefit of seamen, 
 but has been found to be useful among landsmen, 
 as well. The allegorical style has been chosen, as 
 best adapted to accomplish the object in view. It 
 has been written with the hope of helping to 
 direct attention to the evils of the liquor-traffic, 
 now more terrible than war, pestilence, or famine. 
 The author is impressed with the belief, that the 
 Bible, rightly undei-stood, and applied by the 
 agencies of the Church, co-operating with other 
 instrumentalities, is the most efficient weapon to be 
 used in the war against the evil. Those who are 
 familiar with the facts, methods, and results of the 
 dram-shop business, will have no difficulty in 
 
 5
 
 6 PREFACE. 
 
 understanding what is meant by the Black- Valley 
 Country ; while those who have paid even slight 
 attention to the symbolic meaning of the Bible 
 will see that the water which has swept away the 
 Black- Valley Road means Christian truth, produ- 
 cing spiritual life, with its accompanying moral 
 influences. 
 
 The poetry is not ours. I. N. Tarbox, D.D., 
 furnishes " A ride on the Black- Valley Road," 
 The " Water Song " is by Rev. J. Pierpont, and 
 " Delirium Tremens " by J. Allison. The statis- 
 tics refer to the United States. The author has 
 avoided personalities, and made garments for the 
 general market ; but, if individuals find a good fit, 
 it is hoped they will appropriate freely, according 
 to their own ideas of fitness. 
 
 S. W. H 
 
 CAMHIUDGK, 1871.
 
 CHAPTER I. PAGE. 
 Boundaries and Characteristics 13 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 Starting-Place of Travellers 21 
 
 CHAPTER HI. 
 Excursions for Health 28 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 Last Stopping-Place. Express-Trains. Flag-Men. Mr, 
 
 Konshunts, &c 35 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Principal Places. Rowdyville, Fightington, Brothelton, Beg- 
 garstown, Prisonton, Maniacvillc, Demonland, Idiot 
 Flats, &c 48 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 Attempts to check the Business of the Road. License. -^Mr. 
 
 Chusctts, &c 79 
 
 CHAPTER VH. 
 
 Prosperity of the Road. Water and Forcing-Instruments. 
 
 Flooding of Sipplngton 95 
 
 CHAPTER Vm. 
 
 Sippington annexed to Fountainland. Great Disturbance at 
 Medicincvillc. Arrest and Trial of fifty-five Black- Valley 
 Men . . -. . v- V>. HI 
 
 7
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. PAGE. 
 
 Great Excitement about the Flood. Mcdicineville Ddpot 
 
 swept away, aud thu Plaea improved 127 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 Meeting called to annex Medicincville to Fountainland. 
 
 Speeches, Resolutions passed, loud Cheers, &c. . . . 131 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 Change in the Condition of the Country. Old Stagemen 
 turn Boatmen. Great Wash-out. Prince of the Black 
 Valley calls a Council. Bridges, Depots, Broken Cars, 
 Skeletons, &c 144 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 Groat Joy in the Black-Valley Country on Account of the 
 Flood. Outcasts welcome the Water. The Great Des- 
 ert blossoms 151 
 
 CHAPTER XIH. 
 
 Confiscated Property of the Black- Valley Corporation used 
 for the Construction of a Prison. Prisonton Water- 
 Works. Exhibition of the Power of Water. Treat- 
 ment of Prisoners. Music. Trip-hammers . . . 157 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 Origin of the Waters. Report of Special Commission. 
 
 Reading from an Ancient Book 175 
 
 The volume contains 200 pages and 16 striking 
 illustrations, with Dr. Sewall's Stomach Diagrams. 
 Price $1.00; forwarded by mail. 
 
 OOUG'L PUBLISHING SOCIETY, 
 
 13 Cornhill. Boston.
 
 9 
 
 BLACK-VALLEY RAILROAD. 
 
 Sippington. 
 
 GREAT 
 
 Deliriumton. 
 
 Medicineville. 
 
 CENTRAL 
 
 Demonland. 
 
 
 FAST 
 
 
 Tippleton, 
 
 ROUTE, 
 
 Hornets'-Nest 
 
 
 / 
 
 Thicket. 
 
 Topersville. 
 
 FROM 
 
 
 
 SIPPINGTOH 
 
 Screech-Owl 
 
 Drunkards' 
 
 
 Forest. 
 
 
 TO THE 
 
 
 Curve. 
 
 
 
 Rowdyville. 
 
 Black Valley, 
 
 Horrorland, 
 Serpentland. 
 
 
 ACCIDENTS 
 
 
 Quarrelton, 
 
 
 Maniacville. 
 
 
 BY COLLISIONS 
 
 
 Riotville. 
 
 ENTIBELY AVOIDED, 
 
 idiot Flats. 
 
 
 AS ONLY 
 
 
 Beggarstown. 
 
 Down-Trains 
 
 Black Valley. 
 
 Woeland. 
 
 ARE RUN 
 
 Great Desert. 
 
 
 OVER THE ROAD. 
 
 
 
 Gamblersville, 
 
 
 Cloudland. 
 
 Fightington. 
 
 TICKETS 
 
 Thunderland. 
 
 
 SOLD AT 
 
 Stormland. 
 
 Brothelton. 
 
 ALL 
 
 
 
 
 Whirlwind 
 
 Robbers' Den. 
 
 LIQUOR 
 
 Crossing. 
 
 Prisonton. 
 
 SHOPS. 
 
 Destruction.
 
 An emigrant to the Blaek Valley Country, transacting a delicate item 
 of business at an office of the Black Valley Kail Road.
 
 SPECIAL NOTICES. 
 
 LOOK OUT FOR PICKPOCKETS 
 
 WHILE PURCHASING TICKETS. 
 
 &g~ From DHUNKARDS' CURVE the Train is an Express; all 
 TAKING IN being done above that station, and principally of re- 
 spectable people. Passengers for all the places beyond are THROWN 
 OUT without stopping the Train. 
 
 JKj Passengers not allowed to stand on the platform, or to put 
 their heads out of the windows below Rowdyville, the Corpora- 
 tion not wishing to alarm persons who are not patrons of the Road. 
 
 ;8- Persons desiring to leave the Train will find the FOUN"- 
 TAIIT-LAND Stages at Drunkards' Curve, and all the Stations 
 above, ready to convey them free to any of the villages upon 
 CRYSTAL WATER RIVER. Below Drunkards' Curve, AMBU- 
 LANCES will be used. 
 
 KS~ Persons living in the vicinity of this Road must " look out 
 for the engine," as no bell is rung or brakcmen employed below 
 Drunkards' Curve, and the Company disclaim all responsibility for 
 damages. 
 
 4S~ All Baggage at the risk of the owners. Widows and 
 orphans in pursuit of baggage lost by friends on this Road arc in- 
 formed that the Corporation will adhere strictly to the usages of the 
 Road, and positively will not restore lost baggage. 
 
 JK^- Passengers in the sleeping-cars, especially Stockholders, will 
 be waked up at Screech-Owl Forest, Thunder land, and at the End 
 of the llocul. 
 
 10
 
 ANNUAL BUSINESS 
 
 BLACK-VALLEY RAILROAD. 
 
 (1.) It is carrying annually over six hundred thousand travellers 
 Into the Elack Valley Country, where more than two millions of 
 men, women, and children are kept under a cloud of untold misery 
 and wretchedness. 
 
 (2.) It carries down, and throws out, annually, at Beggarstown, 
 more than four hundred thousand persons, of whom two hundred 
 thousand are orphans. 
 
 (3.) It carries annually one hundred thousand men and women 
 to Prisonton, three hundred of whom are murderers. 
 
 (4.) It carries down to disgrace and destruction multitudes of the 
 most talented and promising men from every profession in life. 
 
 (5.) It consumes sixty millions of bushels of grain annually for 
 its Engine, the Distillery. 
 
 (6.) It carries over twelve hundred millions of dollars out of the 
 pockets of travellers. 
 
 (7.) It carries annually from sixty to one hundred thousand 
 people to a premature grave. 
 
 (8.) It gives employment to five hundred and seventy thousand 
 people, most of whom are voters.
 
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 m
 
 BLACK-VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Boundaries and, 'Distinffuisltinff Characteris- 
 tics. 
 
 \S the country of which this volume 
 treats now contains a very large 
 and rapidly-increasing population, all 
 of whom have gone down over the aforesaid 
 road, and made a permanent settlement of 
 themselves and their families in the Black- 
 Valley Country ; and as the corporation of the 
 road, by its great wealth, shrewd management, 
 and indomitable energy, is exerting a world- 
 wide influence socially and morally, as well as 
 politically and financially, having more than 
 
 13
 
 14 BLACK-VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 five hundred thousand employees, and receiving 
 more than twelve hundred millions of dollars 
 annually from its patrons, it seems desirable 
 tliat the subject should be studied by the 
 Christian and philanthropist as well as the 
 statesman and political economist. 
 
 The candid and intelligent reader who has no 
 stock in the road, and who extends no patronage 
 to it, will find it easy to comprehend what is 
 here written ; while those who have an interest 
 in the road, and occasionally take excursions 
 upon it, and especially those who are within the 
 ring of the corporation, will find it difficult to 
 understand the meaning of the volume, as 
 persons who suppose themselves to have beau- 
 tiful features sometimes find it hard to believe 
 their own eyes when looking into the face of 
 the person who always confronts them in a 
 looking-glass. 
 
 The Black- Valley Country is situated in an 
 extensive lowland, lying between an elevated
 
 BLACK -VALLEY RAILROAD. 15 
 
 and extremely fertile and beautiful region 
 bounding it upon its upper limits and a vast and 
 unexplored desert forming its lower boundary. 
 The country lying above it, and forming iu 
 upper boundary, is called Fountainland, from its 
 great abundance of water. Cascades and 
 waterfalls are numerous'; so that the whole 
 country can be irrigated and enriched by an 
 abundant supply of the purest water. Living 
 springs are found in every part of the land" 
 forming multitudes of rivulets, which/uniting' 
 fldw-into and form at last what is known as the' 
 great Crystal -Water River, of which the reacfer 
 wffi learn more in the progress of this volume. 
 In the vicinity of the streams and lakes of 
 Fountainland, numerous flourishing 1 villages 
 and large cities have been built up. These" 
 places are all famous for the h'ealth arid thrift ' 
 and enterprise and good character 1 of their 
 inhabitants. Wealth, too, abounds ; and nearly 
 all the people live in their own houses in a state
 
 16 SLACK -VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 of comparative independence. The morals and 
 good order of the place are such, that no police 
 force is required for the protection of life and 
 property. Prisons, almshouses, and lunatic hos- 
 pitals, are entirely unknown. The taxes levied 
 upon the people are principally for the support 
 of educational institutions and the general 
 improvement of the country. A case of 
 delirium tremens is never known ; and no 
 native-born drunkard is ever seen in the place. 
 One section of this Fountainland is occupied 
 by emigrants from the Black- Valley Country, 
 who have removed there on account of the 
 excellence and abundance of the water, as 
 well as the good effects of it upon themselves 
 and their families. These emigrants have built 
 up many flourishing villages upon the banks 
 of the Crystal- Water River. Before their 
 removal from the Black- Valley Country, they 
 were extremely poor, as well as low in the 
 scale of civilization. Their houses were
 
 LLACK-VALLEY RAILROAD. 17 
 
 mostly wretched hovels, into which all the 
 winds and rains of heaven had the freest 
 access. Rags and demolished hats supplied 
 the place of window-glass ; while clapboards, 
 dangling by a single nail, clattered doleful 
 music to all the storms which prevailed with- 
 out and within. In process of time, these 
 emigrants became the most ardent admirers of 
 the institutions, laws, and customs of Fountain- 
 land, and supplied much valuable information 
 and efficient aid to the explorers and invaders 
 of the Black- Valley Country, as will appear in 
 the sequel. 
 
 On its lower limits, the Black- Valley 
 Country is bounded by a vast desert, whose 
 inhabitants are continually wandering in dry 
 places, seeking rest, and finding none. Over 
 this desert thick clouds are always gathering 
 and rolling, indicating approaching storms and 
 tempests. Winds war with winds, and storms 
 howl to storms ; while forked lightnings cross,
 
 18 BLACK-VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 and thunders mutter sounds of sullen wrath. 
 It is " a land of darkness as darkness itself," 
 where no light comes save what the lurid 
 flames of the volcano at the end of the road 
 "cast pale and dreadful." It is sometimes 
 called Tophet, from its resemblance to an 
 ancient place of that name, where " the 
 breath of the Lord, like a stream of brimstone, 
 doth kindle the flame." Here are continents 
 of desert gloom, where every thing is in a state 
 of disorder, beyond the bounds of light and 
 life and love ; " where gravitation, shifting, turns 
 the other way," forever drawing men from all 
 that is good. It is a place of outer darkness, 
 where there is weeping and wailing, and gnash- 
 ing of teeth, and where all shapes and forms 
 and modes of wretchedness are gathered. 
 Here are doers and sorcerers and whoremon- 
 
 O 
 
 gers and murderers and idolaters, and whatso- 
 ever loveth and maketh a lie. 
 
 Here is the worm that dieth not, and the fire
 
 BLACK-VALLEY RAILROAD. 19 
 
 that is not quenched. Here is found the 
 reptile whose tooth is like the " cruel venom of 
 asps, and which, at the last, bitetU like a ser- 
 pent, and stingeth like an adder." 
 
 The number of travellers passing annually 
 through the Black- Valley Country into these 
 lower regions beyond is estimated at from 
 sixty to a hundred thousand. 
 
 One of the most noticeable characteristics of 
 the inhabitants is their aversion to water. 
 Though water can be easily procured, the 
 people seem quite disinclined to use it, even for 
 purposes of irrigation. In some cases they 
 have such a horror of it, that symptoms of 
 hydrophobia have been indicated at the appear- 
 ing of a watering-cart on the dry and dusty 
 streets of some of their cities in the lower 
 portions of the country." 
 
 Another remarkable fact about the inhabit- 
 ants is, that not one of the vast population of
 
 20 
 
 SLACK-VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 the country was lorn in the land. They have 
 all gone down upon the Black- Valley Railroad ; 
 and their aversion to water is commonly attrib- 
 uted to the effect of travel on that road.
 
 CHAPTER. II. 
 
 Shows where Travellers get themselves ready 
 for their Departure to the *Black -Yalley 
 Country, and what Efforts have been made 
 to demolish the Great 2)epot at that Tlace. 
 
 IS the traveller enters the country, 
 the first thing which arrests his 
 attention is the smokiness of the 
 atmosphere and the great scarcity of pure water. 
 The effect of this condition of the air is, com- 
 monly, to produce a nausea, and sense of uneasi- 
 ness ; so that travellers are not unfrequently 
 induced to return. If this nausea is overcome, 
 the condition of the air soon ceases to be 
 noticed ; and at length travellers come to prefer 
 a smoky to a clear atmosphere. This phe- 
 nomenon is peculiar to the country. Many 
 
 21
 
 22 BLACK-VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 philosophical explanations liavc been given of 
 it ; the most plausible of which is, that the 
 smoke of the country affects the brain, and 
 puts travellers into a dreamy state, and more 
 especially young travellers, who are often 
 made to feel that their ability to overcome the 
 nausea which they experienced on entering the 
 country is an evidence of a capacity for some- 
 thing promising in the future. The first place 
 of magnitude which the traveller enters, as he 
 advances, is 
 
 SIPPINGTON, 
 
 the great upper terminus of the Black -Valley 
 Railroad. Here a vast population, mostly 
 of young people, are busy in getting ready to 
 emigrate to the Slack -Valley Country. The 
 population of the place is estimated at two 
 millions. Every year, great numbers come in 
 from the country above ; and, were it not for 
 the fact that they soon leave to go farther, the 
 place would be overflowing with its inhabitants.
 
 BLACK-VALLEY RAILROAD. 23 
 
 Boys and young men come to this place in 
 vast numbers ; and it is a striking peculiarity 
 of the place, that few middle-aged or old men 
 are seen here. They that come pass on 
 quickly to the places below ; and thronging 
 ranks come in after them. 
 
 Upon several occasions, this place has been 
 attacked with the design of destroying it. 
 Once its inhabitants were principally driven out : 
 so that for nearly twenty years the great 
 depSt, at one time more splendid than the 
 famous Crystal Palace, was in a dilapidated 
 condition ; and for a long time it was thought 
 it would fall down. This state of things was 
 brought about by persuading young people not 
 to enter the place, and the inhabitants to re- 
 turn to the country from which they came. 
 Several famous trumpeters were sent down 
 from Fountainland to rouse the people to a 
 sense of their danger. These trumpeters blew 
 a blast so loud, that many of the inhabitants
 
 24 BLACK -VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 were frightened. Ticket-masters in the great 
 
 CT o 
 
 depot thought the judgment-day had come, the 
 blast was so long and loud, and made such a 
 dreadful sound in their ears. Many left the 
 place, never to return. At the first sound of 
 the trumpet, they fled in haste ; and many of 
 them became trumpeters themselves ; and all, 
 uniting together, sounded such an alarm, that 
 the houses in the place shook, and the great 
 depot of the Black-Valley Railroad was shat- 
 tered as if it had been struck by lightning. 
 Some of these trumpeters were men of re- 
 nown ; and, when they sounded their trumpets, 
 the blast woke up whole neighborhoods and 
 townships. In some instances, this blast was 
 known to start men to their feet from a deep 
 sleep. 
 
 Each of these trumpeters had his peculiar 
 gift, and each one a trumpet according to his 
 taste. These trumpets were of iron and brass 
 and silver ; and, when they sounded together,
 
 ""^55- 
 page 24
 
 SLACK-VALLEY RAILROAD. 25 
 
 could be heard at a great distance ; and the 
 sound was very terrible, especially to the 
 masters of the depots upon the Black- Valley 
 Road. In many instances, they were induced 
 to abandon their business by reason of the 
 shaking that came upon them when they heard 
 the sound of these trumpets. At Sippington 
 the alarm was almost universal ; so that 
 whole families in great numbers were induced 
 to leave the town forever. 
 
 While the aforesaid trumpeters were sound- 
 ing alarms, and persuading the inhabitants of 
 Sippington to abandon the place and remove 
 to Fountainland, they were greatly surprised 
 at the appearance of a company of old travel- 
 lers upon the Black- Valley Road, who united 
 with them in their attempts to alarm the Sip- 
 pingtonians. These travellers bore witness to 
 the truth of what the trumpeters declared. 
 They said they were all originally from 
 Sippington, having commenced their travels in
 
 26 BLACK -VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 the Black-Valley Country at that place. 
 These ti'avellers were from all the places upon 
 the Black -Valley Road. The men from Topers- 
 mile spoke earnestly of the mischiefs which 
 Sippington had done to them ; and their fiery 
 faces imparted impressiveness to their words. 
 From Rowdyville, Quarrelville, and FigJiting- 
 ton, the men with faces bruised and battered 
 gave in similar testimony. From Beggarstown, 
 Prisonton, Deliriumton, and Demonland, the tes- 
 timony was the same ; all uniting in declaring 
 that the great Black- Valley Country was in- 
 habited by those who had gone down to those 
 regions from Sippington. 
 
 Among this company were some from the 
 very lower regions of the country in which the 
 road terminates. Some of these declared that 
 they bad seen the volcano at the end of it, and 
 that the hissing and thundering of its fiery 
 flood could be heard for many miles, and was 
 enough to appall the stoutest heart. Some even
 
 SLACK-VALLEY KAILItOAD. 27 
 
 declared that they had seen the prince of the 
 country hovering among the flames which shot 
 up from the burning mountain at the end of the 
 road. 
 
 For a long time it was hoped that the great 
 ddp6t at Sippington would never be repaired, 
 and that the place would go to decay. But, as 
 soon as the trumpeters stopped sounding the 
 alarm, the depot began to be repaired, and the 
 place to be rebuilt; and now it is said that 
 the business of the Black- Valley Road is again 
 in a prosperous condition, and that the prince 
 of the Black- Valley Country and proprietor and 
 keeper of the groat de"p6t at the lower terminus 
 of the road is enjoying as much satisfaction in 
 contemplating the prosperity of his business as 
 the nature of the case will allow. The reader 
 will hear more of this place by and by, wlien 
 the plan for attacking and demolishing it shall 
 be made known.
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Shows fiow Excursionists for Health found 
 themselves ticketed in the Wrong ^Direction, 
 and 2"opersville. 
 
 MEDICINEVILLE. 
 
 [HIS is a flourishing village within 
 the limits of Sippington, and is re- 
 garded as the court end of the 
 town. Multitudes of travellers on the Black- 
 Valley Railroad take their tickets at this place. 
 Fancy-tickets for excursionists are sold here in 
 great numbers, the purchasers being informed 
 that short trips upon the road are healthful as 
 well as exhilarating. By reason of these rep- 
 resentations, invalids are so frequently persuad- 
 ed to make excursions, that special trains, 
 
 23
 
 SLACK -VALLEY RAILROAD. 29 
 
 called the invalid-trains, start from this place. 
 It is a favorite de"p6t for young ladies, who 
 come to this village in great numbers to take 
 the invalid-trains, which are commonly much 
 crowded during the seasons when the Black- 
 Valley Railroad is doing the most profitable 
 business. The invalid - trains are fitted up 
 with, special accommodations for the class of 
 travellers who patronize them. Seats and 
 sleeping - apartments are so constructed that 
 travellers are made as comfortable as possible, 
 especially during the first part of the journey : 
 indeed, some are made so happy, that they 
 sing and dance as the train bears them along ; 
 and it is reported that some have been so happy 
 that they leaped from the train. These acci- 
 dents have commonly happened at or near 
 Idiot Flats ; when the condition of travellers is 
 frequently such, that they are ready for the 
 most daring feats. 
 
 Persons who have given attention to the
 
 30 SLACK-VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 matter are of the opinion that multitudes of 
 those that are thrown out of the trains alono- 
 
 O 
 
 the track of the road are thrown from the 
 invalid-trains, all of which start from Medi- 
 cineville. It is a noticeable fact, too, in regard 
 to travellers from this village, that they appear 
 less healthful as they advance on the road ; 
 and that, while they think their excursions are 
 improving their health, the evidence becomes 
 abundant that health is departing just in pro- 
 portion to the speed of the trains in which they 
 travel. 
 
 Another noticeable thing about the invalid- 
 trains is, that travellers often have the com- 
 pany of their physicians. Some of these travel- 
 ling physicians are also large stockholders in 
 the road, and have built splendid country-seats 
 in Medicineville out of their profits on the sale 
 of tickets to invalids. In some cases, vast for- 
 tunes have been suddenly accumulated in this 
 way. Amoiig the numerous conspicuous build-
 
 BLACK-VALLEY RAILROAD. 31 
 
 ings in Medicineville is one, over the principal 
 entrance of which is painted in large characters 
 S-T 1860 X. The proprietors of this establish- 
 ment have succeeded by their enterprise in en- 
 ticing multitudes to purchase excursion-tickets, 
 many of which have taken the purchasers to 
 Idiot Flats, and even to the "great bonfire " at 
 the lower terminus of the road. The success of 
 this establishment has led many others to re- 
 move to Medicineville, and establish themselves 
 in the same line of business. 
 
 TIPPLETON 
 
 is the third great dep3t upon the Black - Valley 
 Road. Its vicinity to Slppington and Medi- 
 cineville^ and the similarity of its social customs, 
 have perpetuated a friendly intercourse between 
 the inhabitants of the two places. So great is 
 the similarity of the places, that the traveller is 
 not always aware when he passes from one to 
 the other ; and the inhabitants themselves seem
 
 32 BLACK-VALLEY COUNTRY. -. 
 
 not to be awai'e of the exact place of the boun- 
 dary-line. Along this line they are continually 
 intermingling, and keeping up the most friendly 
 intercourse ; and it is not until the traveller has 
 got into the midst of the place that he is made 
 aware of his progress. At the centre of the 
 town the faces of the inhabitants begin to put 
 on a fiery hue, and the tongue to give forth its 
 utterance with a peculiar glibness. Here, too, 
 the people begin to have an unsatisfied and 
 thirsty look ; and driuking-saloons arrest atten- 
 tion in all the streets. To and from these sa- 
 loons the people are continually thronging, and 
 especially in the evening ; at which time young 
 men in multitudes are seen gathering, as if 
 some charm were drawing them thither. Upon 
 the outskirts of this place are located numerous 
 breweries, which send up a continuous cloud 
 of smoke, which, mingling with the miasmas of 
 the neighboring .^vineyards, impart an impurity 
 to the air which is verv detrimental to health,
 
 A SippingLon gentleman rebukes a Topersville man for 
 traveling on the Black Valley lload, who leplies, "only a 
 little ahad of you, sir." p. 33.
 
 SLACK-VALLEY RAILROAD. 33 
 
 in many cases laying the foundation of the 
 most fatal diseases. 
 
 A noticeable peculiarity of this place is, that 
 the people generally deny the name of their 
 town, and contend that they belong within the 
 limits of Fountainland ; inasmuch as they use 
 all the good things of God temperately, and with 
 thanksgiving, as all grateful people should, who 
 enjoy so many blessings from their breweries 
 and drinking-saloons. 
 
 TOPERSVILLE 
 
 is the fourth place of importance in the Black- 
 Valley Country. The appearance of the place 
 distinguishes it at once from the places above it 
 on the Great Central Road. The faces of the 
 inhabitants look fiery and fierce ; the eye is 
 red and inflamed, as if continued watching 
 without sleep were the business of the people ; 
 the tongue, too, moves irregularly, clipping its 
 wurds into all manner of abbreviations, and mov- 
 
 3
 
 34 BLACK-VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 * 
 
 ing with surprising speed and volubility, so that 
 with the utmost care it is often impossible to 
 extract any meaning from the flood of words 
 which is poured forth. The principal char- 
 acteristic of this place is the number of its 
 taverns and other liquor-selling establishments.
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 ^Drunkard's Curve the last Stopping-JPlace of 
 the Trains. Through Tict^ets. Express- 
 Trains. Alarmists with 3ied flags. 
 Travellers leaving ttie Trains. Mr. JCon- 
 shunts throws Arrows into the Sleeping- 
 cars. Old Soy on the Engine. 
 
 DRUNKARD'S CURVE 
 
 i!S the last stopping-place -upon the 
 road. The annual number of arri- 
 vals at this place is estimated at 
 six hundred thousand* Here the long trains for 
 the through route are all made up; and all 
 who do not leave the cars at or before they 
 arrive at this place are understood to be ticketed 
 for the end of the road. 
 
 * U. S. Branch. 
 
 85
 
 36 BLACK-VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 At this point all the branches of the Black- 
 Valley Road make their junction for the great 
 through routes. These branches are construct- 
 ed from the outskirts of Sippington, for the ac- 
 commodation of its rapidly-increasing popula- 
 tion. They run nearly parallel to the main 
 road, coming together at this junction. Here 
 the through express-trains are made up, and 
 passengers begin to take their through tickets ; 
 and it is found that moat persons who come to 
 this place go on to the end of the road, unless 
 their money fails so that they cannot maintain 
 the style "of genteel travellers, when they are 
 thrown out by the conductors at Beggarstown 
 and other places upon the road. At this junc- 
 tion immense quantities of freight and bag- 
 gage are taken in. The excitement which 
 arises from the coming-together of so many 
 travellers seems to create a good fellowship 
 which is found to be favorable to the sale of 
 through tickets, and also to the obtaining of
 
 BLACK-VALLEY RAILROAD. 37 
 
 freight and baggage for the road. In the good 
 cheer that prevails, travellers sometimes dispose 
 of every thing that they possess, exchanging it 
 for whole packages of tickets, to be given away 
 even to strangers, if they will consent to travel 
 in company with them. By this social influ- 
 ence, many are persuaded to continue their 
 travels who otherwise would be persuaded to 
 return by the Fountainland stages, which are 
 always stationed at this place. Many, too, 
 who have never travelled on this road are per- 
 suaded by the strong social influences of the 
 place, and the good companionship of travellers, 
 to go into the saloons of the trains ; where they 
 sometimes find themselves moving in a direction 
 that they had not intended, and at length, when 
 too late, learn that they are ticketed for the 
 Black - Valley Country. By this social influence, 
 the great company of gamblers, who are au- 
 thorized freight -agents and baggage-masters of 
 the road, are able to carry on to great advantage
 
 38 BLACK-VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 their operations, In connection with which vast 
 quantities of baggage, as well as its owners, are 
 taken in for the through route. 
 The curve which the road makes at this 
 point is very sharp, and runs along the edge of 
 a frightful chasm, into which whole trains are 
 often thrown as they sweep around this sudden 
 bend. Here begin to be seen the bruised and 
 wounded and dead that have been thrown out 
 of the trains which have gone down over the 
 road. 
 
 Soon after leaving this station, the trains 
 plunge into a horrible thicket, from which 
 wolfish faces are seen peering out;, and huge 
 serpents are seen coiling around the mutilated 
 bodies of those which have been thrown out 
 along the road. Beyond, the country looks 
 black and stormy ; so that travellers who have 
 come down to this place sometimes become 
 alarmed, and are often persuaded to leave the 
 trains.
 
 SLACK-VALLEY RAILROAD. 39 
 
 For the accommodation of this class of trav- 
 ellers, a line of stages to all the villages in 
 Fountainland has been established. The pro- 
 prietors of these stages have established this 
 line from purely benevolent motives, and offer 
 a free pass to .all travellers ; and, in order the 
 more effectually to secure patronage, they em- 
 ploy a large number of persons to alarm travel- 
 lers, and persuade them to abandon this road. 
 Flag-men are stationed here, who keep up a 
 continual waving of flags in the daytime, and 
 of colored lights in the night. Upon some of 
 the flags very significant mottoes are printed, 
 such as " Smash-up ahead ! " " Drawbridge 
 up ! " " Leap for your lives ! " &c. While these 
 flag-men are displaying their flags and red 
 lights, they are in the habit of calling with loud 
 voices, and blowing trumpets, and ringing bells 
 as the trains approach, so as to alarm all pas- 
 sengers, by warning them of their danger, and 
 especially for the purpose of waking up any 
 who may be sleeping.
 
 40 BLACK-VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 On account of these demonstrations by the 
 stao'e-men, a conflict is sometimes brought on 
 
 O O 
 
 between them and the conductors and stock- 
 holders of the road. The Black -Valley Road- 
 men complain that the stage-men are interfering 
 with their business. They call them noisy 
 fanatics, and disturbers of peaceful and inoffen- 
 sive travellers, who have a right to travel un- 
 disturbed where and on what road they please. 
 Mr. Konshunts, an old enemy to the road, is 
 particularly offensive to the Black- Valley men 
 at this place, and all the stations above. Com- 
 plaint is made that his voice sometimes shakes 
 the whole train, and makes men jump from a 
 sound sleep, and is particularly offensive to 
 passengers in the sleeping-cars, who are made 
 to dream that their pillows are thunderbolts. 
 The stockholders especially complain that his 
 voice is insufferable, and that all quiet sleep is 
 impossible while he is permitted to keep up his 
 noise. They complain, too, that he has darts ;
 
 A Black Valley Railroad gentleman on receiving a note 
 inviting him to a free ride in the Fountainland Stage, 
 makes au earnest speech about the meddlesome fanatics. 
 
 p. 40.
 
 BLACK-VALLEY RAILROAD. 41 
 
 which he frequently throws into the trains in 
 such a careless way that gentlemen of wealth 
 and the highest standing are sometimes badly 
 wounded. Ofi account' of this annoyance, 
 several attempts have been made to dispose of 
 him, and get him out of the way. 
 
 Bribes have been offered; and, when they 
 have been rejected, they have attempted to drug 
 him, and so quiet his noise. Free rides on the 
 road in good company, as they call it, and 
 a free use of the good things in the saloon, have 
 been offered. In some cases, they blindfolded 
 him, so that he could not see plainly which 
 way the cars were going. In this condition of 
 things, they attempted to persuade him that 
 they were running up trains on the road, and 
 transporting sick people on excursions for 
 health. In this way he was sometimes kept 
 quiet for a time; but when the blindfold fell 
 off, so that he could see which way the trains 
 were moving, and discovered that they all went
 
 42 BLACK-VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 down, and none up, he would set up his noise 
 with redoubled energy, so that passengers 
 sometimes thought that a thunder-storm was 
 
 O 
 
 gathering. 
 
 " What do you think you shall accomplish 
 by your everlasting clamor and noise ? " said a 
 Black- Valley man to Mr. Konshunts, calling to 
 him from *a splendid train which was passing 
 by. " Do you think you can stop us, or throw 
 our trains from the track ? Do you think that 
 a business out of which vast fortunes are made, 
 and by which multitudes are raised from pover- 
 ty to affluence, will be abandoned on account 
 of such slight annoyances as yqu are able to 
 practise upon us ? Will the multitude of trav- 
 ellers, many of whom are sleeping quietly in 
 the cars that have been provided for their com- 
 fort, thank you for rousing them from, their 
 pleasant slumbers ? " 
 
 " I am not certain," replied Mr. Konslumts, 
 " that I shall accomplish any thing by my
 
 SLACK-VALLEY EAILROAD. 43 
 
 clamor and noise, as you call it; and I am 
 aware that the conductors and stockholders of 
 your road, and many of the travellers upon it, 
 are not in the habit of regarding my noise ; but 
 I must do my duty ^i this matter. The num- 
 ber of my friends, too, is rapidly increasing ; and 
 we are determined to do -what we can to pre- 
 vent travel upon your road. In former times, 
 we persuaded multitudes to quit it, and take 
 our stages ; and these multitudes poured bless- 
 ino-s upon us for what we did for them. Upon 
 the banks of the beautiful river to which our 
 stages run, we built up a great city, which 
 abounded in schools and churches and wealth 
 and comfort, and became at length one of the 
 wonders of the world. Whole families which 
 left your road in rags and wretchedness went 
 to that city, and built them houses, and lived in 
 comfort and respectability. Many of them not 
 only left your road, but they left that ' broad 
 road ' by the side of which yours runs, and
 
 44 BLACK-VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 have gone to the city through which runs the 
 river of the water of Life, clear as crystal, 
 proceeding out of the throne of God and the 
 Lamb. 
 
 " In view of our great success when we first 
 began our remonstrance and clamor against 
 your road, we propose to renew it with 
 redoubled energy. A great cloud of witnesses, 
 made up of those who were saved by us, now 
 call us to renew our efforts to persuade travel- 
 lers to leave it, and take our stages to that 
 river upon the banks of which is built that 
 beautiful city, which proved a city of refuge to 
 so many who, at our call, abandoned for- 
 ever your road. I shall, therefore," said Mr. 
 Konshunts in conclusion, " continue to keep up 
 what you call my clamor and noise. I shall 
 also throw my darts among you ; and, though I 
 know that many of you are harnessed in the 
 hardest mail, I shall hope that some of them 
 will pierce the joints in your harness. At all
 
 BLACK-VALLEY RAILROAD. 45 
 
 points upon the road you will hear my voice, if 
 you have ears to hear ; and, if you have not, I 
 am sure you will feel some of my darts ; for 
 they will be sharper and more numerous as 
 you proceed. At liornetsncst Thicket, that 
 place on your road where sleep is so apt to 
 forsake all travellers, I shall shower my 
 arrows thick and fast, and so barbed that some 
 of you will exclaim, " The arrows of the 
 Almighty are within me, the poison whereof 
 drinketh up my spirit;" for that is the place 
 where I am especially commissioned to meet 
 you with messages from him whose servant I 
 am. At Screech-Owl Forest, too, you will 
 hear my voice ; which I am sure will be a 
 dreadful sound in your ears, as the ill-boding 
 birds of that dismal place are in league with 
 me against your business, and will sing to you 
 in tones that will drive sleep far away. At 
 Thunderland also you will hear my voice'; 
 which will remind you of the ' harsh thunder '
 
 4G SLACK-VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 of the gates of that prison towards which you 
 are carrying your victims. At Stormland, too, 
 you will hear it, as if a thousand storms were 
 speaking to you in voices of warning and 
 remonstrance, and pouring hailstones and coals 
 of fire upon you. At Whirlwind Crossing I 
 shall roar in your ears, and make all your 
 trains tremble as they labor on towards their 
 plunge into the great gulf at the end of the 
 road. 
 
 When Mr. Konshunts had concluded his 
 speech, the Black- Valley man " grinned horri- 
 bly, a ghostly smile," saying, "I wonder if that 
 old croaker thinks he shall frighten us while mov- 
 ing on in this splendid train ? I wish he would 
 lay himself across the track, and try to stop us 
 in that way, instead of throwing these arrows." 
 And, calling to the fireman, they said, u Stir up 
 the fire, * old boy ! ' and let us be getting out of 
 fhe noise of this old tormentor, who has been 
 troubling us all the way to this place, and
 
 BLACK -VALLEY RAILROAD. 
 
 47 
 
 whose arrows are beginning to fall in showers 
 along the track, and Avho intimates to us that 
 the very forces of nature are in league with 
 him against our business."
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Noted Tlaces in ttie jBlack-Yallcy Country 
 which have been built up and are kept in 
 a Flourishing Condition by the ^Enterprise 
 of the filack-Yalley Railroad. 
 
 ROWDYVILLE 
 
 |S situated upon the outskirts of the 
 great Black- Valley Forest, which ex- 
 tends from Drunkard's Curve to the 
 lower boundary of the country. This forest 
 is remarkable for the fact, that none of its trees 
 seem to be standing erect. Fallen and falling 
 trees are the first objects noticed ; and, as the 
 observer draws near, his attention is arrested 
 by the coiling of huge serpents around the 
 young trees, many of which seem to be bend- 
 ing and breaking. Hungry and wolfish faces, 
 
 43
 
 BLACK-VALLEY RAILROAD. 49 
 
 too, can be seen peering out from what seems 
 to be a thorn-hedge, extending along the edge 
 of the forest. 
 
 As the trains of the Black- Valley Road 
 enter this forest, these hungry faces seem to 
 be lighted' up with a smile, as if the trains 
 were bringing something to appease the hunger 
 which they indicate. The bending of the 
 young trees, too, as if a strong wind were blow- 
 ing among their tops, indicates unusual activity 
 among the causes which are known to bend 
 and break down so many of their number. 
 These indications impart a peculiar gloominess 
 and terror to the forest ; so much so, that none 
 can be persuaded to enter it except travellers 
 upon the Black -Valley Road. To them is 
 imparted a courage which seems to be the 
 result of their travel ; and the serpents whose 
 coils are bending the trees, and the hungry 
 monsters that are feeding upon the half-dead 
 bodies that have been thrown from the trains, 
 
 4
 
 50 BLACK-VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 seem not to alarm them : indeed, at times 
 they appear to be pleased with what they see 
 around them, and to admire their own courage 
 and strength of mind in being able to witness 
 these things without fear. 
 
 " _ . . 
 
 The rst indication of the approach of the 
 train to Rowdyville is a confused noise, which 
 can be heard at a considerable distance. This 
 noise grows louder as the trains approach, and 
 is soon discovered- to be the noise of a great 
 multitude in a row. As the trains shoot by 
 this place, some are always thrown out of the 
 saloons of the cars for becoming disorderly 
 and making disturbance and noise. These 
 ejected passengers make up the great multitude 
 whose noise is heard as the trains enter the 
 Black -Valley Forest. A large proportion of 
 them are young men ; whose money having 
 failed, and whose friends at the bar of the 
 saloon having also failed, have been given to 
 understand that their room is now better than 
 their company.
 
 SLACK-VALLEY RAILROAD. 51 
 
 As they have struck the ground at the 
 place of their ejection, many of them have 
 been made to feel such a sense of their 
 whereabouts as to fill them wjth anger at 
 the conductors of the road ; and it not unfre- 
 quently happens, that the curses of the whole 
 multitude are poured upon the road and its 
 managers for having brought them to this 
 place. 
 
 FIGHTINGTON 
 
 has a large population ; and, were it not for the 
 absence of all uniform and the very unmilitary 
 walk of its inhabitants, they would be taken 
 for old soldiers just returned from many hard- 
 fought battles. The wounds of these people 
 seem to be mostly about their eyes ; where the 
 settled blood indicates concussions of much 
 severity, as if the bricks from 'the sidewalks 
 had leaped from their places, and struck them 
 in the head. In some cases, huge gashes, in the
 
 52 SLACK-VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 face indicate that severe battles have been 
 fought with the curb-stones ; which it is sup- 
 posed have attacked them when they were 
 ejected from ^the trains that brought them to 
 this place. Sometimes scratches upon the face 
 indicate that the fighting has been of a domes- 
 tic character, and that the wives of these men 
 have entered the lists with such weapons as 
 have been convenient for self-defence. It is 
 related of one of the inhabitants, that he was 
 attacked by the pump, while on his way home 
 in the night, and that the handle of the pump 
 struck him severely on the head ; whereupon he 
 turned upon the pump, and gave it such pun- 
 ishment with his fists, that the pump bore 
 marks of blood for many weeks afterwards. 
 
 BROTHELTON 
 
 is situated on an extensive lake of black mire 
 near the Black- Valley Railroad, called Debauch 
 Slough. When approached, it has the appear-
 
 BLACK-VALLEY RAILROAD. 53 
 
 ance of a placid sea ; upon the shores of which 
 the eye seems to discover pleasant arbors and 
 flowery groves. This slough extends along 
 the track of the road as far as the eye can see. 
 At the head of the slough no current can be 
 perceived ; but, farther down, a strong current 
 is revealed, which, flowing more and more 
 rapidly, at length bears every thing before it. 
 As this current sweeps on, it forms whirlpools 
 and eddies, and at length plunges into a deep 
 gorge, over which hang mists and clouds that 
 no eye can penetrate. Deceived by appear- 
 ances, multitudes who come down upon the 
 Black- Valley Road are persuaded to embark in 
 pursuit of pleasure upon this dangerous sea ; 
 and, ere they arc aware, its eddies and cur- 
 rents bear them rapidly along toward the 
 boiling chasm, into which the turbid waters 
 plunge at the lower terminus of the lake. Of 
 the numbers that are destroyed at this slough 
 no accurate estimate can be made ; though it is
 
 54 LLACK -VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 well ascertained that the average length of the 
 life of pleasure-seekers here is three and a half 
 years, and that the deaths which they die are 
 sad, and terrible, for that "they mourn at the 
 last, when the flesh and the body are con- 
 sumed.'' It is also asserted upon the highest 
 authority, that " none that go there return 
 again, neither take they hold on the path of 
 life ; " yea, that it is " the way to hell, going 
 down to the chambers of death." 
 
 A great king once embarked upon this 
 slough ; and the remembrance of it caused him 
 much suffering during his whole life. When 
 he felt himself going down, he cried, "I sink 
 in deep mire, where there is no standing ; " 
 and, when he was saved, he rewarded the deed 
 of kindness with an overflowing heart, saying, 
 " He sent from above : he took me ; he drew 
 me out of many waters." As soon as he was 
 lifted from the slough, he exclaimed, " Wash 
 me thoroughly ; " " Purge me with hyssop : "
 
 SLACK-VALLEY RAILROAD. 55 
 
 and, from that time henceforth, lie seems to 
 have had a horror of that place. 
 
 BEQGARSTOWN. 
 
 This is one of the largest places upon the 
 road. The number of its inhabitants is esti- 
 mated at four hundred thousand; and the 
 number is constantly kept good by the Black- 
 Valley Road, all of whose trains throw out 
 more or less at this place, as they pass. Some 
 of those that are thrown out are in a most 
 shocking condition. In all cases they come 
 down in rags and wretchedness, being destitute 
 of clothing and food. In many cases they are 
 sick from their long and uncomfortable rides 
 and destitution of food, as only liquor can be 
 procured at the saloons in the trains, and that 
 of a quality very detrimental to health. In 
 other cases those who are thrown out are badly 
 wounded, and need the most careful attendance 
 to keep them alive. In some cases they sur-
 
 66 BLACK -VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 vive their fall but a short time, so great is the 
 shock as they strike the ground. This shock 
 is greater to those who have formerly lived in 
 affluence, and who have come down on the 
 road in the splendid express-trains. They hacl^ 
 no thought of going to this place when they 
 took the cars at Sippington ; and, as they have 
 been carried along, they have had no idea of 
 their progress, or even the direction in which 
 they were going, until they began to feel the 
 iron hands of the conductors as they were 
 thrown from the trains. As they woke to a 
 realization of their condition, and the destitu- 
 tion and horrors of the place, and a sense of 
 the great change which had come over them as 
 memory went back to the time of their pros- 
 perity, it has seemed as if they would sink 
 down in death. 
 
 One of the most painful things witnessed at 
 this ddpot of the Black -Valley Road .is the 
 number of children who are brought along in
 
 A FAMILY SCENE near Beggarstown. A father is going 
 to sell the children's pet lamb for tickets on the Black Yalley 
 Eoad. p. 57.
 
 SLACK -VALLEY RAILROAD. 57 
 
 the arms of their parents, and flung out with 
 them at this point. These children are often 
 very promising ; and as they grow up, and come 
 at length to see where they are, and to know 
 what brought them there, they have a sense of 
 injury done to them which stings them to the 
 quick. 
 
 " Mother," said a bright little girl, who was 
 calling to mind the pleasant scenes of better 
 clays, " Mother, how came we in this horrible 
 place ? Why did we not continue to live in 
 the beautiful house Avhich we occupied at 
 Fpuntainland, when we were all happy, and 
 had enough to eat and drink and wear ? Why 
 did we leave that pleasant country, where I 
 went to school and to the house of God, 
 where pleasant friends called to see us at our 
 own house, and seemed to respect and love us 
 so much ? O mother ! I am distressed as I go 
 around this drear}' place, and see so many in 
 rags, and hear so many people crying for
 
 58 BLACK-VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 bread. I feel like crying too ; not only because 
 I pity them, but because I feel hunger and desti- 
 tution myself: and I cannot but feel that there 
 is some great wrong in my being here. What 
 have I done that my former playmates should 
 now despise me, and refuse to be my compan- 
 ions? I remember I once had good clothes 
 and shoes, now only a ragged dress and a torn 
 bonnet and bare feet. O mother ! do tell me 
 about this, and let me go back to the place from 
 which we have moved ! " 
 
 At the conclusion of this speech, the mother 
 was sobbing as if her heart would break ; and 
 the tears fell like showers, coursing down over 
 her careworn face. 
 
 " O my child ! " she replied, amid sobs of 
 grief, " I cannot tell you all about the cause of 
 our coming to this place, and what has hap- 
 pened to us on our way here. You love your 
 father ; and it would break your heart to know 
 all about what has happened to our family. I
 
 BLACK-VALLEY RAILROAD. 59 
 
 can only tell you, that you and I and all of us 
 came to this place on that dreadful road which has 
 brought so many besides us here also. Near to 
 our beautiful house was a fashionable de*pc>t on 
 that road. Your father was tempted to travel 
 on that road ; and the result is, we are all here. 
 We are a family, and could not be separated, 
 and can only look to God for help in our great 
 trouble. We are suffering for that for which we 
 are not to blame ; and I am sure the conductors 
 and stockholders of the road that has brought 
 
 o 
 
 us here will have a dreadful account to render 
 by and by. I think they will pray for the 
 rocks and mountains to fall on them, for keep- 
 ing up that road which brought your father, and 
 all of us, and all these poor children and their 
 fathers, down into this Black Valley." 
 
 In order to convey those who are thrown 
 out from the numerous daily trains to the 
 buildings prepared for their v reception, a large 
 number of ambulances is required. On the
 
 60 SLACK -VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 arrival of tlio trains, these ambulances are 
 driven to the great ddpSt ; and the ejected men, 
 women, and children are gathered up. Some- 
 times strings of ambulances extending more 
 than ten miles are seen moving from the ddpOt. 
 The number of attendants, including nurses and 
 physicians, is many thousands. The annual 
 cost of maintaining this vast establishment is 
 twenty-seven millions of, dollars, for which a tax 
 is levied upon the whole community. 
 
 PRISONTON. 
 
 The appearance of this place, when seen at 
 a distance, is like that of a fortified city. 
 Walls of solid granite, upon the top of which 
 sentinels are continually moving to and fro, 
 extend quite around the place. Were it not 
 for the grated appearance of the embrasures, 
 and the not very military movement of the 
 sentinels, strangers in approaching would take 
 it for a vast fortification, large enough for the
 
 BLACK -VALLEY RAILROAD. 61 
 
 encampment and manoeuvring of an army. 
 The population of the place is estimated at one 
 hundred thousand. The number residing here 
 is continually varying, as the business of the 
 Black- Valley Railroad is prosperous or other- 
 wise : indeed,- the road may be said to have 
 built the place, as full three-fourths of its popu- 
 lation have come down to the place upon it. 
 It is known, too, that, when any branch of the 
 aforesaid road is for any reason -obstructed, the 
 population of the place decreases according to 
 the decrease of the business of the road. 
 When the trumpeters of which we have 
 spoken aroused the people of Fountainland to 
 attack and demolish the great ddpOt at Sipping- 
 ton, and tear up the track of the road, this 
 place was the principal sufferer. Whole pre- 
 cincts in the place were for a time almost de- 
 serted. In one section, known as the Maine 
 precinct, it was ascertained that tlie stopping 
 of the trains of the Black- Valley Road for a
 
 62 SLACK-VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 short time was followed by a great decrease of 
 population : so much so, that many lodging- 
 houses and workshops were deserted, and re- 
 mained in that condition until the repairing of 
 the road and the rebuilding of the great depot 
 at the head of that branch ; when the place 
 began again to be filled up with travellers, who 
 came down in great numbers to the old de- 
 serted lodgings and workshops. 
 
 The one hundred thousand men and women 
 of the place are furnished with lodgings and care 
 at the expense of the government. They wear 
 a uniform, so as to be distinguished from all out- 
 siders and untravelled gentlemen not belonging 
 to their school ; so that they can be easily found, 
 in case they play truant. 
 
 A system of instruction is continually carried 
 on, every thing in the place having, reference 
 to this. The very architecture of the place has 
 a voice which speaks continually to all the 
 inmates. The lofty corridors and symmetrical
 
 BLACK -VALLEY RAILROAD. 63 
 
 
 
 lodging-rooms, rising tier above tier ; the 
 grated windows ; the orderly movements ; the 
 footfall of sentinels, walking to and fro in 
 the dim-lighted halls ; the click of the hammers, 
 under which the rude stones are putting on 
 forms of beauty ; the noise of the workshops, 
 where busy hands are employed in useful 
 labor ; and, above all, the silent tears that may 
 often be seen trickling down the faces of those 
 who are at their busy toil, as if thoughts of 
 home and friends and better days were throng- 
 ing into the soul, all these things are continu- 
 ally imparting salutary lessons. 
 
 At times, too, a solemn and silent lesson 
 is imparted from a platform erected for that 
 purpose; where some inmate, with hands 
 " thicker than themselves with brothers' 
 blood," comes forth with surroundings such as 
 cannot fail to make an impression, and is 
 launched into eternity as a warning to all 
 travellers upon the Black- Valley Road.
 
 64 BLACK-VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 
 
 DELIRIUMTON 
 
 is situated far down towards the lower regions of 
 the Black- Valley Country. Its vicinity to 
 this lower boundary renders it constantly 
 accessible to the inhabitants of that land of 
 darkness ; who frequently visit it in order to 
 torment before their time those who have 
 come so near their place of misery. The dis- 
 tinguishing characteristic of the place is, that 
 all its inhabitants seem to be possessed by 
 demons ; who drive them into dens and caves, 
 lacerate them with wounds, and make them 
 a terror to all around them. Snakes and mon- 
 sters, - 
 
 " Gorgans and Hydras and Chimeras dire," 
 
 seem to be in pursuit of them, so that the air is 
 always filled with shrieks of distress. Ghosts, 
 too, abound ; and the people are" always in a 
 state of alarm lest something terrible should 
 happen to them. Many who have come to this
 
 BLACK -VALLEY RAILROAD. 65 
 
 land of horrors have been heard in their wild 
 delirium to exclaim, 
 
 Lost, lost ! I know forever lost ! 
 
 To me no ray of hope can come ! 
 
 My fate is sealed ; my doom is 
 
 But give me rum : I will have rum I 
 
 But, doctor, don't you see him there ? 
 
 In that dark corner, low he sits. 
 
 See how he sports his fiery tongue, -T 
 
 And at ine burning brimstone spits ! 
 
 Go chase him out ! look, here he comes 1 
 Now in my bed he wants to stay : 
 lie sha'n't be there ! O God ! O God ! 
 Go 'way, I say 1 go 'way, go 'way ! 
 Quick ! chain me fast, and tie me down 1 
 There, now : he clasps me in his arms 1 
 Down, down the window ! close it tight ! 
 Say, don't you hear my wild alarms ? 
 
 Say, don't you see this demon fierce ? 
 Does no one hear ? Will no one come ? 
 Oh, save me, save me ! I will give, 
 But rum ! I must have, will have, rum !
 
 66 BLACK -VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 All ! now lie's gone ; once more I'm free : 
 He, the boasting knave and liar, 
 He said that he would take me off 
 Down to but there, my bed's on fire 1 
 
 Fire ! water ! help ! come, haste I'll die 1 
 
 Come, take me from this burning bed 1 
 
 The smoke ! I'm choking ; cannot cry ! 
 
 There now, it's catching at my head I 
 
 But see I again that demon's come ! 
 
 Look ! there he peeps through yonder glass : 
 
 Mark how his burning eyeballs flash ! 
 
 How fierce he grins 1 What brought him back ? 
 
 There stands his burning coach of fire ! 
 
 He smiles, and beckons me to come 
 
 What are those words he's written there ? 
 
 " In hell we'll never want for rum ! " 
 
 One loud, one piercing shriek was heard, 
 
 One yell rang out upon the air ; 
 
 One sound, and one alone, came forth, 
 
 The victimls cry of wild despair. 
 
 Why longer wait ? I'm ripe for hell : 
 A spirit's sent to bear me down.
 
 BLACK -VALLEY RAILROAD. 67 
 
 There in the regions of the lost 
 I sure will wear a fiery crown. 
 Damned I know without a hope ! 
 (One moment more, and then I'll come.) 
 And there I'll quench my awful thirst 
 With boiling, burning, fiery rum.* 
 
 MANIACVILLE 
 
 is ill the immediate vicinity of Deliriumton. 
 The boundary-line between the two places has 
 never been settled j and travellers often pass from 
 one place into the other without being aware 
 of it. The peculiarity of the people of Maniac- 
 ville is, that they are permanently settled, so that 
 they never remove from the place : whereas 
 the people of Deliriumton are frequently car- 
 ried to their homes by the Fouutainland stages, 
 where they commonly remain during life, unless 
 some ticket-broker of the Black- Valley Road 
 persuades them to an excursion ; when they 
 
 * By Joseph Allison.
 
 68 BLACK-VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 return quickly to the place, sometimes shooting 
 by it with such speed that they arrive at 
 Maniacville, where all efforts to bring them back 
 are unavailing, and where they are left to die 
 amid the horrors of the place. 
 
 DEMONLAND 
 
 is situated in a deep and gloomy ravine, where 
 no ray of the sun ever conies. High and 
 frowning mountains enclose it on all sides. 
 The mountains are entirely destitute of all 
 vegetation ; and not a flower can be found 
 growing among the clefts of the rocks. At 
 times the winds can be heard sighing and roar- 
 in^ amono- the crags of the mountains, sound- 
 
 O O' O . 7 
 
 ing as if fiends were shrieking in the air. 
 The continued absence of the sun's direct rays 
 imparts a peculiar gloominess to the place. 
 The houses are for the most part in a dilapi- 
 dated condition, and to the eye seem as if they 
 had received a coating of black paint, so deep are
 
 A family scene at Demonlancl. Children remonstrating 
 with their father against the sale of their mother's clock 
 for tickets ou the Black Valley Railroad, p. 69.
 
 BLACK -VALLEY RAILROAD. 69 
 
 the shadows of the clouds which float and frown 
 overhead. No smiles are ever seen in the faces 
 of the inhabitants ; and deeds of darkness, such 
 as no pen can describe or imagination paint, are 
 committed here. The place seems to stand in 
 the very precincts of hell ; and the stoutest 
 hearts are appalled at what is seen and heard : 
 so much so, that travellers on arriving, not 
 unfrequently exclaim, 
 
 " Hell is mpty ; and all the devils are 
 here 1 " 
 
 HORNETSNEST THICKET. 
 
 This place has received its name from the 
 fact, that travellers on the. Black- Valley Road, 
 more especially stockholders and conductors, 
 frequently experience a sensation similar to 
 that of a sting on arriving at this point. 
 Sometimes this sting is so severe, and felt by so 
 many in the train, that a considerable commo-
 
 70 BLACK-VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 tion is produced. Some say that that old tor- 
 mentor Konshunts shoots poisoned arrows into 
 the train at this place. 
 
 Not only those in the trains, but old travel- 
 lers who have come down on the road and 
 built their country-seats here, are annoyed in 
 the same way. Though some of them live in 
 fine houses, and are surrounded with appear- 
 ances of affluence and comfort, they seem 
 never to be happy. At times they are known 
 to start and shriek and turn pale, as if stung 
 by some invisible messenger. 
 
 In their dreams, too, they are frequently 
 disturbed, and cry, "Avaunt, and quit my 
 sight ! " sometimes waking in a state of per- 
 spiration and trembling. " Did I murder your 
 husband ? " exclaimed one in his disturbed sleep. 
 "Did I throw your family from the train at 
 Beggarstown? " " Did I drive you from your 
 beautiful cottage in Fountainland, and put 
 upon you these rags, and give you that hag-
 
 SLACK -VALLEY KA1LROAD. 71 
 
 gard, careworn face ? " Why do you point 
 your skinny finger at me ? I was only fireman 
 upon the road on which your husband trav- 
 elled into the Black-Valley Country. By my 
 engine I supported my family, and accumu- 
 lated the means of making them comfortable. 
 Moreover, I have retired from the business 
 in which I accumulated my wealth. And 
 have I not fed the hungry, and given drink 
 to the thirsty, and taken in the stranger? 
 Why, then, should I be disturbed and stung 
 by such compunctious visitings as yours ? 
 
 " Bring me to my trial, if you will : 
 Died he not in his bed ? Where should he die ? 
 Can I make men live whether they will or no ? 
 Oh I torture me no more : I will confess, 
 Alive again. .... 
 
 Comb down his hair :. look, look, it stands upright, 
 Like lime-twigs set to catch my winged soul 1 
 
 Give me some drink ! and bid the apothecary 
 
 
 Bring me the strong poison that I brought him."
 
 72 SLACK-VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 IDIOT FLATS 
 
 is a portion 'of the Black- Valley Country 
 inhabited by a great company of imbeciles ; who 
 have become such by travel upon the Black- 
 Valley Road, and who have been ejected at this 
 place on account of their unfitness for the 
 society of their fellow-beings. Nearly all of 
 them have come to the place under the delu- 
 sion that excursions upon' that road were 
 favorable to health and good cheer. The exhil- 
 aration produced by travel they have mistaken 
 for intellectual activity ; the sparks .of the 
 engine they have taken to be the scintillations 
 of their own wit ; and the sooty embers and 
 smoke they have regarded as the brilliant cor- 
 ruscations of their genius. 
 
 The class of travellers who are bound for 
 Idiot Flats can easily be distinguished by their 
 appearance on the road. Their politeness is 
 
 sometimes so excessive that they fall down in 
 
 * 
 making bows ; while at other times they are
 
 BLACK-VALLEY RAILROAD. 78 
 
 ready to fight everybody with whom they meet, 
 on account of some fancied insult. Their 
 vacant countenances and lack-lustre eyes, as 
 well as their general deportment, always indi- 
 cate to all who observe them the place of their 
 destination. 
 
 Multitudes of the children of travellers on 
 the same. road are found among the- inhabitants 
 of the place, having been born while their 
 parents were at Topersville and other places 
 upon the route. 
 
 . GREAT DESERT 
 
 is a section of the Black- Valley Country 
 extending many leagues along the track of the 
 .great thoroughfare to the volcano. It is a land 
 of drought and dust and desolation. Neither 
 tree nor shrub nor any green thing meets the 
 eye of the traveller over this desert land. On 
 account of the great drought and heat which 
 constantly prevail, whirlwinds are frequently
 
 74 SLACK -VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 formed ; by which vast clouds of dust are 
 carried across the desert, producing a condition 
 of the atmosphere which not unfrequently 
 causes death. Sometimes these whirlwinds are 
 accompanied with terrific storms, with hail- 
 stones, and coals of fire. The population of this 
 desert is made up of Wanderers, Vagabonds, 
 and Outcasts'; who have been carried away from 
 their homes and families upon the Black- Valley 
 Railroad, and ejected at this place, so far from 
 home and friends that all hope of their return 
 is given up. 
 
 Beyond Idiot Flats and the great desert lies 
 the Great Black Valley, the land of gloom and 
 darkness as darkness itself, stretching far away 
 to the region of perpetual storms ; where travel- 
 lers learn when too late that the road upon 
 which they have come down is a branch of the 
 old " Broad Road," which terminates at the same 
 place, designed and constructed by the prince of 
 the Black- Valley Country, to swell the numbers,
 
 An emigrant to the Black Valley Country meditating 
 upon his tolly, p. 74.
 
 BLACK -VALLEY RAILROAD. 75 
 
 and hasten the speed, of travellers to his great 
 reception-house at the end of the road : where, 
 "grinning horribly with ghastly smiles," he 
 receives the innumerable company of fools 
 and their companions, and those who have led 
 them in their ways of folly, to the place pre- 
 pared for them ; where their unavailing prayers 
 for water, water, are offered in a " land where 
 no water is." 
 
 DEATH RIVER 
 
 rises near the upper terminus of the Black- 
 Valley Railroad. It has two branches, one of 
 them rising in Sippington, near the boundary- 
 line ; the other in Medicineville, directly .under 
 the de'pot at that place. These, uniting, seem to 
 run in the same direction with the Crystal- 
 Water River. On this account it has been con- 
 tended that its general course was nearly the 
 same, and that, as its waters contained a certain 
 exhilarating quality, they were to be preferred
 
 76 BLACK-VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 to the waters of the aforesaid stream ; but 
 faithful explorations demonstrated, that this 
 river soon diverges from the one to which it 
 seems to run parallel, at first gradually, but 
 soon rapidly, until its general course is in the 
 opposite direction. As the river flows on, the 
 quality of its waters is rapidly changed ; until 
 at length they become almost fatal, inducing 
 malignant diseases, and in many instances 
 death itself. 
 
 The lovers of the waters of this river have 
 taken much pains to make them famous, and to 
 build up villages upon its banks ; but all these 
 attempts have failed : and the course of the 
 river -can now be traced by the desolations of 
 the country through which it passes, and the 
 cloud of black fog which hangs continually 
 over it to the place where it disappears in the 
 clouds of smoke and lava, near the lower 
 terminus of the Black- Valley Road. As this 
 river diverges from the Crystal- Water River,
 
 BLACK-VALLEY RAILROAD. 77 
 
 its waters grow more and more bitter as well as 
 poisonous ; and the fog-cloud which hangs over 
 it is charged with miasmas which produce the 
 most pestilential diseases. As its waters are 
 the cause of death to those who use them, and 
 the receptacle of the dead who fall or are 
 thrown into them, it has received the name of 
 Death River. 
 
 All alonfj the course of the river, the dead 
 
 o t 
 
 may be seen floating in ghastly forms upon its 
 waters. As the river flows on, these bodies 
 accumulate : so that at the mouth, where it flows 
 close by the great Black- Valley Road, near its 
 lower terminus, the accumulated dead present a 
 sight most horrible to behold. By an examina- 
 tion of these bodies, it can be determined at 
 what place they were thrown into the river. 
 Those that have floated down from Fightington 
 exhibit bruises and gashes indicative of the 
 causes of their death. Those from Prisonton 
 sometimes have ropes upon their necks ; and
 
 78 SLACK -VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 their " gallows countenances " show plainly 
 from whence they have come. The corpses 
 .from Beggarstown have their rags cleaving to 
 them ; and the ghastly wounds of those from 
 Demonland sometimes indicate the very instru- 
 ments that were used to plunge them into the 
 river.
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Attempts to c?t,eck the Easiness of l?ie Slack- 
 Valley Itoad. 2'fie licensed Trains. 
 Mr. Chusetls and ?iis ^Plantation. 
 
 [HEN it was found that the popula- 
 tion of the Black- Valley Country 
 was becoming very large, and the 
 business of the road was rapidly increasing, and 
 that the cloud which hung over the country 
 was extending over the surrounding regions, 
 fears began to prevail lest the whole neighbor- 
 hood should come under the cloud. This fear 
 was much increased when it was found that the 
 cloud extended just in proportion to the 
 increase of the business of the road. In con- 
 sequence of this apprehension, a system of le- 
 gislation was commenced, for the purpose of 
 
 79
 
 * 
 
 80 BLACK -VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 checking the business of the road. One plan 
 proposed was, to lay a heavy tax upon all who 
 run trains over this road, and then give them a 
 license to run as many trains as they chose'; 
 providing always that the cars should be in 
 good order, and that none but respectable 
 people should be permitted to travel in them, 
 and that the cars should not run on Sundays or 
 after ten o'clock at night. Conductors were 
 also required to be men of standing and respect- 
 ability. By this plan, it was thought that poor 
 people would be prevented from travelling on 
 the road ; as they would not have the means of 
 purchasii>g tickets at the high prices that they 
 must be sold for. It was also thought that the 
 licensed trains would run into the unlicensed 
 ones, and smash them up, or throw them fromTthe 
 track. 
 
 "When this plan was tried, it was found to 
 work very differently from what was antici- 
 pated.
 
 BLACK-VALLEY RAILROAD. 81 
 
 As the track run through a country that 
 could not be easily watched and guarded, and 
 which was always kept in good running condi- 
 tion by the licensed trains, and travelling made 
 respectable ly the protection which the law gave 
 it, a vast multitude of adventurers were found 
 to be running trains for the special accommoda- 
 tion of the poorer classes of travellers, who 
 were not able to ride in the licensed cars. It 
 was also found, that many of the travellers in 
 the licensed cars were continually leaving them 
 for the cheaper trains, especially towards the 
 lower regions of the country. . It was also 
 found, that the licensed trains were continually 
 running late at night, having contrived a plan 
 for darkening the windpws and muffling the 
 wheels, so as to move without noise. 
 
 When the working of this system, after 
 many experiments and observations, became 
 understood, a law was passed authorizing 
 the tearing up of the track, and the total annihi-
 
 82 SLACK-VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 lation of the business of the road. The main 
 point of the law was, that men should not run 
 public trains for carrying travellers or freight 
 over this road, and that the road itself, as a 
 public road, should be destroyed. The law 
 was carefully constructed, so as not to interfere 
 with the rights of individuals who wished to 
 travel in the Black- Valley Country. It only 
 forbade the running of public conveyances, and 
 did not prevent any from travelling in their 
 own private conveyance on a private way clear 
 to 'the volcano at the end of the road. They 
 might even lea'p into the volcano ; but they 
 must not make it a business to carry other 
 people, and more especially 'with the protection 
 and authority of law. -?' 
 
 Nearly upon the boundary-line between the 
 Black- Valley Country and Fountainland was a 
 large plantation, owned by a gentleman who 
 bore the not veuy pleasant-sounding name of 
 Chusetts, This gentleman ;was a friend to
 
 BLACK-VALLEY RAILROAD. 83 
 
 virtue and good order. He was also friendly 
 to all good enterprises. He took a great 
 interest in schools, and established the first free 
 school-system known in history. He was a 
 friend of liberty, too, and was very apt to say 
 severe things about thtfse who deprived their 
 fellow-men of their freedom. 
 
 His ancestors had fought and bled and died 
 for liberty ; and, as they could not secure it, he 
 fled from the country in which -he was born, 
 and, sailing across a wide sea, landed where the 
 " breaking waves dashed high," and purchased 
 his plantation mainly for the purpose of enjoy- 
 ing freedom to worship God as he chose, and 
 make himself generally useful. 
 
 Soon after he had got his plantation in work- 
 ing, order, he began to have trouble with the 
 Black-Valley Railroad. The Black-Valley 
 men on his plantation established several 
 branch-roads, connecting with the great Central 
 Road through the Black- Valley Country.
 
 84 SLACK-VALLEY COUXTItY. 
 
 This was much against his approbation, and 
 caused him a great deal of trouble. As he did 
 not wish to infringe on the liberties of his boys, 
 he did not at 'first absolutely forbid the running 
 of these branches from his plantation. Finding 
 that multitudes of his boys were going down to 
 the Black- Valley Country upon this road, and 
 that the number increased every year, he 
 attempted to check the business of the road by 
 a stringent system of licensing the trains. This, 
 however, did not work : and the matter kept 
 growing worse and worse ; until at length he 
 came to the conclusion, to stop the whole thing, 
 by tearing up all the tracks, and putting all the 
 depot-masters in prison. When he issued his 
 order to this effect, there was much commotion. 
 The Black- Valley men complained, and said 
 that the old man was a fool, and was dreadfully 
 " nosed about " by the priests, who .were 
 always meddling with that which was none of 
 their business. The Crystal-River stage-men
 
 BLACK-VALLEY RAILROAD. 85 
 
 were in ecstasies at what had occurred; and 
 many who had been carried into slavery upon 
 the Black- Valley Road could not restrain their 
 joy. -?:" 
 
 When this edict was issued, the people of the 
 plantation generally submitted ; and the de*p6ts 
 of the Black- Valley Road were nearly all 
 closed up, with the exception of those in the 
 largest village of tlie plantation. As that 
 village had great influence upon the other 
 villages of the plantation, and was the place 
 where he was accustomed to meet his boys 
 every year on a great and general Council, he 
 was much grieved at their conduct; and, in 
 view of the state of things which he found ex- 
 isting, he addressed them as follows : :;p J& 
 
 " Dear boys of my metropolitan village, I 
 am pained to find that you do not intend to 
 obey the law which I have enacted for the sup- 
 pression of the business of the Black- Valley 
 Railroad ; and I am the more pained, as I remem-
 
 86 SLACK-VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 ber that you are professedly the friends of law 
 and order. But a few years ago, you even 
 caused to be executed a very wicked law, be- 
 cause you were professedly a law-abiding com- 
 munity ; and the streets of your village were 
 thronged with many thousand witnesses of 
 your zeal in executing a law which you your- 
 selves declared was very iniquitous, and even 
 against the * higher law.' Now you are re- 
 fusing to execute a law which aims to remove 
 one of the greatest evils from your midst. The 
 road which I have issued my order to have 
 stopped has, in ten years, carried a number equal 
 to forty-two per cent of your population down 
 to Prisonton. From official records, it appears 
 that, out of four hundred tlwusand who went to 
 Prisonton in seventeen years, two hundred and 
 seventy-jive thousand of them went there on 
 the Black- Valley Road ; and that during the 
 same time twenty-eight thousand persons were 
 picked up in a helpless condition by the side of
 
 BLACK-VALLEY RAILROAD. 87 
 
 the same road, and carried to their homes 
 battered, bruised, and begrimed, to the great 
 grief and astonishment of broken-hearted 
 wives and parents. Though but one-sixth of 
 the population of my plantation reside in your 
 village, more than one-half of those who go to 
 Prisonion are from your place, and have gone 
 down on the road which I have ordered to be 
 destroyed. I am spending every year two 
 millions of dollars to promote virtue and order, 
 by the schools which I am sustaining ; while you 
 are spending more than that sum in carrying 
 men directly away from the influences which 
 these schools are designed to exert. In these 
 schools I have twenty-jive thousand pupils 
 whom I am trying to carry up to virtue and 
 respectability ; while your road is carrying 
 thirty thousand down to Beggarstown and 
 Prisonton and other places in the Black- 
 Valley Country. Your road is against all the 
 interests of my plantation ; and I have there-
 
 88 BLACK -VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 fore ordered its business to be stopped. I 
 am not unmindful of your importance as my 
 largest village. Your merchant-princes and 
 your great and good men and your great and 
 good deeds I have not forgotten. I know you 
 fought for the liberty and independence of my 
 plantation, and other plantations in my neigh- 
 borhood, when our liberties Avere in danger 
 
 7 & 
 
 from a foreign foe. I call to mind Avith pride 
 the great tea-party you gave to our common 
 enemy, you furnishing water and they fur- 
 nishing tea. (Oh that you knew the advan- 
 tages of water as well now as in those days of 
 your well-earned fame!) All these things I 
 call to mind with pride ; but, notwithstanding 
 your good deeds and your noble history, I can- 
 riot permit you to break any of my laws. 
 Your power as a government, permit me to re- 
 mind you, comes from me. All your powers 
 are given to you by my laws. You are my 
 agent for executing my laws. What I have
 
 SLACK -VALLEY RAILROAD. 89 
 
 given, I can at any time take back ; and, if you 
 will not act as my agent in executing my laws, 
 I must have an agency that will act. Nor can 
 I allow you to be partial in the execution of 
 my laws ; and I am pained to find, that, in 
 the execution of them, the men whom you 
 appoint to attend to this business have their 
 favorites. 
 
 " Facts have come to my knowledge, showing, 
 that while you caused to be arrested annually 
 nearly twenty thousand travellers upon this 
 Black- Valley Road, a large number of whom 
 had been thrown out of the trains, and picked 
 up in a helpless condition along the track in 
 your streets, you have allowed nearly two 
 thousand masters of depots upon the road to 
 pursue their criminal business with impunity. 
 You have taken the weak and the helpless, and 
 let the strong men go. I moreover learn, that 
 many of the men whom you have appointed to 
 execute my laws are patrons of the road which
 
 90 SLACK -VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 is running contrary to law, and that some of 
 them take frequent excursions upon that road, 
 and have even been seen below Topersville, 
 with their badges of office still on. Instead of 
 helping to close up, these ddpfits, some of them 
 are doing what they can to make them respect- 
 able ; and that in two ways : first, by patroniz- 
 ing them ; and, second, by picking up and 
 putting out of sight the miserable objects that 
 have been ejected from the trains. I must 
 remind you too, and I do it with pain, that, 
 when my law forbidding the running of the 
 Black- Valley Road was first enacted, the gov- 
 ernment of your village issued licenses to all 
 conductors and stockholders of 'good moral 
 character, thus in effect nullifying my law. 
 In constructing my law, I consulted some of 
 my most able and skilful and learned men. As 
 you were the first to violate and trample upon 
 it, I must bring you to submission ; and, when 
 this is done, I shall look after my smaller vil-
 
 BLACK -VALLEY RAILROAD. 91 
 
 lages, unless, seeing what I am doing for you, 
 they conclude to look after themselves. 
 
 " I am happy to find, in doing this, that I have 
 the approbation of so many of the order-loving 
 citizens of your place ; whose property is en- 
 dangered by the Black- Valley Road, and whose 
 sons are tempted by it to travel in the Black- 
 Valley Country. Let me remind you, too, 
 that I once hung a distinguished teacher in one 
 of my great schools in your vicinity, because 
 he broke a law whose penalty was. death. The 
 law which you are violating was not made 
 rashly : it was the result of many thoughts 
 and much deliberation. It has had the support 
 of my great Council for many years. It has 
 already done much good, though not in your 
 village, as the throngs of men and women in 
 Beggarstown and Prisonton who have gone 
 down over the road make painfully apparent. 
 In fine, you must submit. I am your master, 
 and cannot give up my authority over you ;
 
 92 BLACK-VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 and, if you cannot enforce it, I must take the 
 matter into my own hands. I must be obeyed.'" 
 At the conclusion of this address, there was 
 a great murmuring and shaking of fists and 
 deliverance of oaths among the Black- Valley 
 men. The Crystal-River stage-men were 
 again in ecstasies. Old Mr. Konshunts cried 
 at the top of his voice, " All right ! " and a 
 company of old travellers upon the Black- 
 Valley Road, who had just come out of the 
 slavery of the Black- Valley Country, called 
 for three cheers for 
 
 OLD MASSA CHUSETTS ! 
 
 which were given in tones that were heard 
 throughout the plantation. 
 
 The laws against the aforesaid road began 
 now to be thoroughly executed. Constables 
 especially appointed for this object closed up 
 many of the places where tickets were sold.
 
 BLACK-VALLEY RAILROAD. 93 
 
 As soon as this began to be thoroughly done, 
 there was great excitement among the Black- 
 Valley men ; and a vigorous and united effort 
 was made to have the law repealed, and, if 
 this could not be done, to have it so altered 
 that the business of the road would not be inter- 
 fered with, or the public morals injured by 
 having a law that could not be executed. They 
 declared, that, in spite of all the representations 
 to the contrary, the law prohibiting the busi- 
 ness of the Black- Valley Road, and closing up 
 the depOts upon it, greatly increased the num- 
 ber of travellers. Many, they said, who never 
 before travelled on that road, and even were 
 greatly opposed to it, were procuring tickets, 
 not for the purpose of use, but to show their 
 love of liberty, and that, while the water-men 
 " had all the law they wanted, the friends ancl 
 patrons of the road got all the rides, and sold 
 all the tickets they wanted to." 
 
 By various united ancl persevering efforts
 
 94 BLACK -VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 the law was at length amended so as to suit 
 
 
 the Black- Valley men and that class of Foun- 
 
 tainland men who lived upon the borders of the 
 Black- Valley Country r , and occasionally took ex- 
 cursions upon the road, or speculated in its 
 stocks, or wanted some favor from the corpora- 
 tion, or thought it good policy to alter the law. 
 Under the amended law, all depots were 
 to be constructed so as to have the appearance 
 of grocery-stores or apothecary-shops ; and all 
 tickets were to be called Health Excursion 
 Tickets, and to be gotten up in the form of a 
 Beer-bottle. 
 
 Under this new arrangement, the business of 
 the corporation was resumed with renewed 
 vigor. All the places upon the road increased 
 tapidly in population ; while the stockholders 
 and employees increased in wealth. 
 
 Of the results of this new arrangement, the 
 reader will learn farther on.
 
 **>iS*'Vj^Sr*- 
 
 Mr. Beerbloatof Topers viUo, attempting a speecli iu defunpo of 
 liberty and the amended law. ? 94.
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 , r r f$ J ___ - ..-." .> " * ' 
 
 ^Prosperity of tfie ftoad. Renewed Attempts 
 to ^Destroy It. Water and forcing In- 
 struments. Flooding of Sipping ton. 
 
 after year the mischiefs of the 
 Black- Valley Railroad continued to 
 increase. The great depot at Sip- 
 pington was from time to time enlarged. Vast 
 "sums of money were expended by the corpora- 
 tion in attempting to maintain the reputation 
 and show the great value and usefulness of the 
 road. 
 
 When the business* of the road on one of its 
 great branches was likely to be interrupted by 
 a legal injunction, which those who were un- 
 favorable to it were trying to procure, the cor- 
 
 05
 
 96 SLACK -VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 poration employed at great expense the services 
 of distinguished and eloquent counsellors and 
 lawyers, to prove that the opposers of the road 
 were crazy men, who had " water on the 
 brain." Old records were searched ; and old 
 friends and travellers on the road were con- 
 sulted. By this method it was attempted to be 
 proved that the road was useful, and even in- 
 dispensable to the welfare of the community ; 
 that multitudes who travelled on it were much 
 benefited, if they did not travel too often and 
 too far ; that the respiratory organs were some- 
 times much strengthened by occasional excur- 
 sions ; and that the stockholders and de"p6t- * 
 masters had their " inalienable rights," which 
 could not be interfered with in the way pro- 
 posed by men whose brains had been so 
 affected by water. Moreover, an attempt was 
 made to prove that the owners and patrons of 
 the Black- Valley Railroad were in the ascen- 
 dency at the polls, and could outvote the
 
 SLACK-VALLEY RAILROAD. 97 
 
 fanatics who were trying to injure the road ; 
 and that, under a government by the people, 
 this consideration settled the question. 
 
 When this eloquent and able defence of the 
 road had been made, the corporation took 
 measures to give it the most extensive circula- 
 tion. It was published in golden letters and 
 illuminated handbills, and sent to all the depQts 
 upon the road ; where it was posted up, and read 
 to the thronging multitudes usually assembled 
 at those places. Great meetings were held, 
 and glowing speeches were made, extolling the 
 action of the corporation in procuring so able 
 a defence of a much-abused business, so likely 
 to become infamous without such counteracting 
 influence. 
 
 This famous apology was not only circulated 
 in the depots of the road, but large- numbers 
 were sent up to Fountainland for gratuitous 
 circulation. Its eloquent diction and ingenuity, 
 as well as the fame of the authors, led many to 
 7
 
 98 BLACK -VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 read it who were sad at its publication. Others, 
 and among them multitudes of young men, 
 read it with an admiration bordering upon 
 enthusiasm. In order the more effectually to 
 show their admiration of it, they got- up large 
 excursion-parties for the Black- Valley Country. 
 At the great depot at Sippington, they had a 
 grand gathering and re-union ; and great multi- 
 tudes of them for the first time took an excur- 
 sion far down on the Black- Valley Road. 
 
 Under this wise and efficient management 
 of the road, the wealth of the corporation 
 rapidly increased, until the amount became 
 almost fabulous. The annual amount of fares 
 was twelve hundred millions of dollars. The 
 employees of the road numbered more than 
 five hundred thousand ; and many of the stock- 
 holders became millionnaires. The population 
 of all the places upon the road increased in pro- 
 portion to the increase of the business of the 
 company.
 
 BLACK -VALLEY RAILROAD. 99 
 
 With the great increase of the population of 
 the Black-Valley Country, the condition of the 
 country became more and more the object of 
 study by statesmen and philanthropists. In 
 connection with this study, the fact came to 
 light, that the corporation of the Black- Valley 
 Railroad was exerting a controlling influence 
 on all the surrounding region. Stockholders, 
 depot-masters, and ticket-sellers made up what 
 was known in the whole community as a " Ring," 
 which bade defiance to all law and all re- 
 straint. While this Ring professed that they re- 
 gretted the numerous accidents that occurred on 
 the Black- Valley Road, they earnestly opposed 
 all legislation which looked towards restraining 
 their business. All legal action, they said, ran 
 into politics, unless it was legal action in favor 
 of running trains under some sort of supervision 
 ly the government which would not interfere with 
 their business. 
 
 Ddpflts upon the road were the headquar-
 
 100 SLACK-VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 ters of the Ring. At these places, instructions 
 were given to voters ; who could be easily 
 gathered in great numbers, by a promise of free 
 tickets upon the road. Whenever meetings 
 were to be held, special trains were run for the 
 accommodation of the Ring. On election days 
 also, special trains were run, to carry the friends 
 of the corporation to the polls ; where they 
 were looked after by gentlemen of the Ring, 
 who sometimes carried their good offices so far 
 as to guide and lead them quite to the ballot- 
 box, and aid them in depositing their votes. 
 
 While statesmen and philanthropists were 
 investigating this subject, it was discovered that 
 the great cloud which hung over the Black- 
 Valley Country was casting a deep shadow 
 over all the surrounding region. The mutter- 
 ings of distant thunder were sometimes heard 
 very distinctly ; and vivid lightning flashes in- 
 dicated to those who were watching the cloud 
 a coming tempest, which they predicted would
 
 BLACK -VALLEY RAILROAD. 101 
 
 sweep like a whirlwind over the whole sur- 
 rounding country. 
 
 While multitudes were watching this cloud, 
 as it rolled up black and terrific in the distance, 
 a very important discovery was made in regard 
 to the action of water on the Black- Valley 
 Railroad. Breaches made in the road by 
 water it was found could not be repaired. A 
 wash-out, it was ascertained, caused a perma- 
 nent and dangerous weakness at tjie point where 
 it occurred. 
 
 It was discovered, too, that, where water was 
 flowing freely, the road could be easily broken, 
 and cut by forcing instruments , so that the trains 
 could not pass. Lifting and prying and forcing 
 under water was found to be effective in opening 
 huge breaches in the road. Forcing instru- 
 ments, that had been bent and battered while in 
 use where there was no water, were found to 
 do admirable execution in connection with 
 water.
 
 102 BLACK-VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 The power of water having been shown by 
 several experiments, it was determined to try 
 the efforts of a flood upon the Black- Valley 
 Railroad. Let us have a flood, said all hands. 
 
 When the water-scheme had been deter- 
 mined upon, every man from Fountainland 
 agreed to assist, and be taxed for the construc- 
 tion of a vast canal, which should turn the 
 great Crystal River upon the most important 
 portion of tl^g Black- Valley Road. 
 
 Sippington was chosen as the place to be first 
 flooded, that being the point from which all 
 travellers upon the road took their first excur- 
 sions. 
 
 Numerous experiments having proved this 
 plan to be feasible, a company was organized 
 to construct the canal. Everybody was invited 
 to join this great water-company. Men, 
 women, and children were enlisted in it. In- 
 formation about the flooding scheme, and the 
 experiments which had been tried upon ' the
 
 BLACK-VALLEY RAILROAD. 103 
 
 road by water, were extensively circulated. 
 The churches in Fountainland were opened 
 for public meetings on this water-question. 
 Sermons were preached and addresses made ; 
 and multitudes proceeded to join the water- 
 company. Only a few churches stood aloof 
 from this movement ; and these, it was found, 
 were located in that portion of Fountainland 
 which bordered on the Black- Valley Country, 
 and whose members took occasional excursions 
 on the Black- Valley Road, or were the owners 
 of stock in the corporation. 
 
 Several years were occupied in constructing 
 the great canal. It was built at immense cost 
 and with a vast amount of labor. In the heat 
 of the day and in the chills of the night many 
 labored, cheerfully bearing the burden of 
 this work. As the work went on, the stock- 
 holders and de'pSt-masters of the Black- Valley 
 Road became much alarmed. In all the de*p<5ts 
 of the road, the water-men were set upon as
 
 104 BLACK-VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 fanatics. A rumor was started that they were 
 organizing an army, with which to invade the 
 Black- Valley Country ; that they were to be 
 armed with icicles, instead of muskets, and that 
 there was so much water on their brains that 
 they could march through the great " Black- 
 Valley Desert " without canteens. 
 
 At length the great canal was completed ; 
 and the gates were opened. Gently at first the 
 water flowed along by the Black- Valley Road. 
 As it flowed upon the dry and thirsty land, it 
 was absorbed, and disappeared without any 
 apparent effect. The Black- Valley men now 
 smiled at the folly of the fanatics who were 
 attempting to injure the road by so harmless a 
 process. 
 
 Onward the water kept flowing. In time 
 the dry ground was saturated. Water began 
 to stand upon the surface of the ground. At 
 first a pond, then a lake, then a sea. In 
 the cellars of all the houses in Sippington a
 
 BLACK-VALLEY RAILROAD. 105 
 
 spring broke out, producing an inundation. 
 Empty beer-casks and wine-bottles were set 
 afloat ; and their owners were astonished at the 
 number'of these objects in their cellars. Most 
 of them said that these casks and bottles were 
 from Medicineville, and were placed in their 
 cellars on trial, and that water was a serious 
 damage to them. 
 
 Through the great canal, water came flowing 
 and rushing in increased quantities ; so that the 
 windows of heaven seemed to be wide open. 
 On all sides it was water, water, water. 
 
 In this condition of things, while water was 
 flowing all around, and the great river from 
 Fountainland seemed to be discharging itself 
 upon the d<jp<3t at Sippington, and the Black- 
 Valley men were ridiculing the flood, and 
 laughing at the fanaticism of the water-men, 
 who were spending their time upon this water- 
 scheme, it was determined to try the effect of 
 forcing upon the foundations of the de*p6t.
 
 106 BLACK -VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 Some forcing instruments which had been much 
 battered by use on these same foundations, 
 when no water was flowing, it was found 
 started them now with the utmost ease. In- 
 stantly they yielded to the pressure, and floated 
 away in the flood. Forcing-bars and grappling- 
 irons, it was found could be used under water 
 with telling effect. The side of the de"p6t 
 towards the flood began to settle ; and soon the 
 whole building was afloat. Simultaneously 
 with this, the gates of the great canal wero 
 thrown wide open. 
 
 A new impulse was given to the flood. 
 Some said the ocean had got loose, and was run- 
 ning into Sippington, or that an earthquake 
 must be lifting up the bottom of the great sea 
 in Fountainland, so terrible was the pouring on 
 of the flood. 
 
 Under the united action of water and. the 
 
 pressure of the forcing instruments, the great 
 
 -depdt went down ; and the track of the Black-
 
 BLACK-VALLEY RAILROAD. 107 
 
 Valley Road was swept away, and Sippington 
 for a time was completely under water. 
 
 Some incidents connected with this flood are 
 worthy of notice. Several churches in Sip- 
 pington were carried away from their old loca- 
 tions ; which were so thoroughly washed that 
 no one could point out the places where they 
 originally stood. Dr. Oldwine's church, where 
 a large and fashionable congregation of Sip- 
 pingtonians were accustomed to worship, was 
 floated quite out upon the stream. 
 
 -In this house, many had heard Dr. Oldwine 
 berate the imprudent measures of the water 
 company, declaring that their organization was 
 both unwise and unscriptural. As the old 
 meeting-house was seen floating away from its 
 ancient position, a general shout went up, 
 which was heard far up into the Fountainland 
 country. 
 
 " I am glad to see the old ark afloat," 
 cried a hard-looking man from Topersville ; " for
 
 108 BLACK-VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 it was in that house that I resolved to take my 
 first excursion upon the Black- Valley Road." 
 Throngs of men from other places upon the 
 road, who had joined the water company, 
 clapped their hands, and shouted for joy, saying 
 that they once belonged to the congregation 
 worshipping in that house, and distinctly 
 remembered Dr. Oldwine's denunciation of the 
 great water-scheme for destroying the Black- 
 Valley Road. 
 
 The parsonage, as well as the meeting-house, 
 was washed from its old position. Dr. Old- 
 wine was much alarmed when he found that 
 his house was surrounded with water, and that 
 the foundations were giving way. The beer- 
 casks and wine-bottles which floated out from 
 his cellar excited much mirth. The doctor 
 himself was seen clinging to a wine-cask when 
 his house floated away from its foundations. 
 As the stream carried him along, his gray hairs 
 could be seen spreading like a silver disk upon
 
 SLACK -VALLEY RAILROAD. . 109 
 
 the water. " You are going in the right direc- 
 tion at last," exclaimed a traveller from the 
 Black -Valley Country; who in his youth was 
 accustomed to hear his hearty beratings of the 
 water-fanatics, who, he said, " were pretending 
 to be wise above what was written." 
 
 In connection with this flood, the inhabitants 
 of Sippington made an important discovery. 
 They found that their gardens were enriched 
 by the great overflow of water, and that the 
 cleaning out of their cellars had greatly 
 improved the healtlv of the place. Many that 
 had been feeble became strong ; and many that 
 were sick became well. Some said an angel 
 must have troubled the pools in the cellars, so 
 delightful and beautiful had been the clearing 
 out. The irrigated gardens and lands became 
 more productive. Dahlias and. lilies and roses 
 of every hue, and fruits pleasant to the taste, 
 became abundant. 
 
 The people became happy and contented.
 
 110 SLACK-VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 Multitudes of young men who had been accus- 
 tomed to spend their time at the great de'pot, 
 and their money for excursions on the Black- 
 Valley Road, now remained at their homes. 
 A generation of laborers grew up to take the 
 place of loafers. The wealth of the place 
 rapidly increased. Churches and schoolhouses 
 were erected. Sabbath schools and common 
 schools were crowded with learners ; and the 
 town soon became famous in all the surround- 
 ing region.
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 2'he Sij)pingtonians vote to annex their Town 
 to Fountainland. Great ^Disturbance at 
 Medicinerille. Black -Yalley ^Railroad 
 Jlfen arrested for Violation of the Z,aw 
 concerning the 3load. Trial. 
 
 IN view of this new condition of 
 things at Sippington, a grea^t public 
 meeting was held, to consider the 
 question of changing the name of the town. 
 At this meeting it was proposed to call the 
 place Teetotalton. This was objected to, on 
 the ground that it did not convey the leading 
 idea of the place, and also that it was not 
 classical. Another name proposed was Water- 
 ville. This was objected to, on the ground that 
 the place was rapidly growing in wealth and 
 
 ill
 
 112 SLACK-VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 population, and would soon probably become a 
 large city. 
 
 While this discussion was going on, a motion 
 was made to annex the town to Fountainland, 
 and come under the government and laws of 
 that corporation. In favor of this, it was urged 
 that Fountainland had a high 'reputation in 
 all the surrounding country, that it had good 
 society, and a good government and laws, and 
 that its schools and churches were numerous 
 and in a flourishing condition, and that, by 
 annexkag to them, all taxes for crime and pau- 
 perism would be avoided ; and the united votes 
 of the two places would outnumber the votes 
 of the great Black -Valley Railroad Ring, now 
 so formidable to the well-being and existence 
 of the government. After a full discussion, 
 it was unanimously voted, that Sippington 
 should be annexed to . Fountainland, and that 
 the old name should be entirely dropped. 
 
 After the annexation, the population and
 
 Back room of an under-ground ticket office of the Black 
 Valley R.R. Mr. Swearstrong's method of evading the 
 State Constables, p. 113.
 
 BLACK -VALLEY RAILROAD. 113 
 
 wealth of the two places united rapidly in- 
 creased. Schools and churches were prosperous 
 and full, while prisons and almshouses were 
 quite empty. People from the surrounding 
 regions moved into the place in great numbers ; 
 and all branches of business increased with a 
 rapidity never before known. This rapid 
 increase of wealth and population drew many 
 adventurers to the place. Merchants, mechan- 
 ics, and laborers of every description, flocked to 
 this fast-rising commonwealth. 
 
 Among the new adventurers to the place 
 were multitudes of agents of the Bfrack- Valley 
 Railroad from Medicineville and Tippleton, 
 where great numbers had been thrown out of 
 business by the flooding of Sippington. They 
 came with the hope of prosecuting their old 
 trade under a new name. They commonly 
 occupied underground rooms in the most unob- 
 served streets. Their plan was, to get up 
 excursions into the Black- Valley Country, by
 
 114 BLACK-VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 selling passes and tickets to such as could be 
 persuaded to procure them. Young men who 
 could be enticed to, purchase the passes were 
 conveyed to the main road in stages and coaches 
 that could not be distinguished from the ordinary 
 carriages of the place. 
 
 By this method, large numbers of young ucn 
 were found to be leaving the' place, and emi- 
 grating into the Black- Valley Country. Nu- 
 merous families were in great affliction by the 
 sudden disappearance of some of their number. 
 Parents in search of their lost sons would often 
 hear of them at Rowdyville, Fightington, Pris- 
 onton, Deliriutnton, and Demonland, and some- 
 times among the dead that had been thrown out 
 along the Black- Valley Road. 
 
 When these facts began to come to light, it 
 was determined that this subject should be 
 looked into, and the whole business promptly 
 stopped by the efficient 'and thorough execu- 
 tion of the laws of the commonwealth. The
 
 A little girl at the depot of Mr. McGreedy making a 
 purchase for her lather. As she has not money enough 
 to pay for the whole, Mr. McGreedy keeps her shawi and 
 she goes home crying, p. 115.
 
 BLACK -VALLEY RAILROAD. 115 
 
 Police were directed to ascertain the places 
 where this business was carried on, and the 
 names of the parties engaged in it. 
 
 Every thing being ready, the whole company 
 of operators for the Black -Valley Railroad .was 
 arrested. 
 
 The following are the names of the parties 
 taken up : Messrs. Moneygrip, Allclaws, Gam- 
 bler,Brotheller, Neversober, Hategood, Allsham, 
 Gripeall, Ketchum, Cheatem, Rumfool, Beer- 
 bloat, Killem, Cidercross, Ginidiot, Flipsilly, 
 Toddyman, Tremerson, Nightwalker, Allfight, 
 Loaferson, Foolem, Helpdevil, Killsoul, 
 Skinem, Robwidow, Spitflame, Blackmouth, 
 Nighthovvl, Aidrogue, Gallowsface, Scape- 
 prison, Toperson, ^Breakhead, Burglerson, 
 Lightfinger, Loveevil, Ditchfall, Wallowmire, 
 Brandysmash, Clavvpenny, Spitewater, Lager- 
 swill, Slingslewed, McGreedy, Coinblood, 
 Sharkcinup, Staggerson, Brandugly, Babble- 
 man, Breaklaw, Hellsend, Cutthroat, Swear- 
 strong, Van Lochor.
 
 116 SLACK-VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 At the first session of the supreme court 
 of the commonwealth, the parties arrested 
 were brought forward for trial under the 
 following statute : " Any person who shall be 
 found selling or disposing of passes or tickets 
 upon the Black -Valley Railroad, or selling or 
 owning stock in the same, shall be punished at 
 the discretion of the supreme court of the com- 
 'monwealth." 
 
 At the appearance of the prisoners, who 
 were led into court chained together, there was 
 a smile and a look of satisfaction upon the faces 
 of the immense crowd of citizens assembled to 
 witness the trial. The case was tried before 
 Chief Justice Lovelaw, with Associate Judges 
 Fairmind and Trueman.. When the judges 
 came into court, it was noticed that most of the 
 prisoners turned pale ; and some fainted. 
 Being called to plead guilty or not guilty, all 
 arose, and plead not guilty ; though it .was 
 observed that those who had fainted were held 
 up by their associates.
 
 SLACK -VALLEY RAILROAD.. 117 
 
 The officer who attended the prisoners at the 
 dock was Mr. Ironhand, who wore the official 
 badge of the State, and was attended by a mili- 
 tary guard. 
 
 The council for the prisoners was Mr. Wrig- 
 gler, assisted by Mr. Wrenchlaw, Mr. Showfair, 
 and Mr. Leadrabble ; who were retained witli 
 large fees, to aid in conducting the trial. The 
 council for the prosecution were Messrs. Know- 
 law and Clearbrain. 
 
 
 
 The jury was now sworn, and the indictment 
 read by the clerk, the prisoners looking on with 
 increased anxiety. Several jurors were now 
 challenged by the council for the prisoners. 
 
 Mr. Teetotaller was objected to, on the 
 ground that he had publicly and frequently 
 expressed the opinion, " that every Black- Valley 
 Railroad man ought to be hung." (Excused.) 
 
 Mr. Breakjug was objected to, on the. ground 
 that he had several times attempted to throw 
 trains of the Black- Valley Road off the track,
 
 118 SLACK -VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 by placing obstructions in the way, and that he 
 once cowhide d a de"pt>t-master almost to death 
 for frequently selling his son tickets on the 
 Black- Valley Road. (Excused.) 
 
 Mr. Drinkwater was objected to, because 
 he was prejudiced, having often said that all 
 travellers on the Black- Valley Road were 
 fools. (Not excused.) 
 
 Mr. Killdevil was objected to, because he had 
 said, " that, ^ in his opinion, the Black- Valley 
 Railroad was built and owned by the devil, and 
 that he wished that all connected with it might 
 be roasted "in the fire at the end. (Not ex- 
 cused.) 
 
 The council for the commonwealth objected 
 to Mr. Beerman, on the ground that he had 
 often sold tickets on the road. (Excused.) 
 
 Mr. Whiteblood was objected to, because he 
 was apt to faint, and feared that if the case 
 should go against the prisoners it would be too 
 much for him. (Excused.)
 
 BLACK -VALLEY RAILROAD. 119 
 
 Mr. Helpdeatli was objected to, on the 
 ground that he was a stockholder in the Black- 
 Valley Road. (Excused.) 
 
 The jury was here filled, and sworn in the 
 case. The following is the list: Mr. True- 
 man, Noshamer, Drinkwater, Shunbad, Steady- 
 man, Neverdrunk, Handlenot, Loveorder, 
 Neverrun, Truelight, Lawenforce, Killdevil. 
 
 A very large number of witnesses were 
 examined in this trial, farmers, mechanics, 
 merchants, "physicians, lawyers, clergymen, 
 miners, sailors, and soldiers, men of all 
 classes and professions and countries. Besides 
 these, a large number of witnesses from the 
 Black- Valley Country men and women who 
 had visited every place upon the road were 
 
 examined. 
 
 
 
 After the protracted examination of wit- 
 nesses, Mr. Knoivlaw, the prosecuting officer 
 of the commonwealth, addressed the court in 
 a powerful and convincing speech ; showing,
 
 120 BLACK-VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 1st, The constitutionality of the law ; 2d, Its 
 adaptedness to the accomplishment of the object 
 for which it was enacted; and, 3d, TJie necessity 
 of its thorough execution, as a means of lifting 
 the cloud which had so long hung over the 
 Black -Valley Country. "Let the law be exe- 
 cuted," he said in conclusion, "and the smoke 
 and cinders and fires which have blackened and 
 burned and desolated the vast tract of country 
 through which the Black -Valley Railroad has 
 passed, will immediately disappear ; and the sun 
 will shine out upon that dark land, with heal- 
 ing in its beams. Irrigation will enrich and 
 repair every portion of the desolate country. 
 The great Fountainland River is waiting to pour 
 itself over the desert, and make it blossom like a 
 rose. Execute the law, and the work will soon 
 be done. Millions of voices from every part of 
 the Black -Valley Country will unite in one 
 grand chorus of thanksgiving. From this 
 company of evil-doers, now prisoners at the
 
 BLACK-VALLEY RAILROAD. 121 
 
 bar, let none escape. The execution of the law 
 will give an effectual check to the vast business 
 which they represent." 
 
 Mr. Wriggler, in behalf of the prisoners, 
 now addressed the court ; urging, 1st, That 
 custom was in favor of the business for which 
 the prisoners were on trial ; 2d, That many 
 people were getting their living by it, and that 
 it would be cruel to deprive them of this 
 means of supporting their families ; 3d, That 
 the business of the Black- Valley Railroad was 
 legitimate and useful, and that it was the abuse 
 of it only which rendered it objectionable ; 4th, 
 That the law had not been executed, and that the 
 prisoners at the bar went into their business with 
 the understanding that the law against it was a 
 dead letter ; 5th, That the law was attempting 
 to do what could only be accomplished by 
 moral suasion, and that if people wished to 
 invest their capital in it, or get their living by 
 it, the only way to prevent it was to persuade
 
 122 BLACK-VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 them not to do so ; 6th, That the law, instead of 
 checking, had greatly increased the business of 
 the road, and, if executed, would increase the 
 business still more ; 7th, That the law was 
 unconstitutional, and finally that the jury were 
 to decide the question of law as well as the 
 question of fact. "We live," said the earnest 
 advocate in conclusion, " in a land of liberty. 
 Our glorious eagle soars aloft, holding liberty in 
 his claws as with hooks of steel ; and woe to the 
 bigots who shall attempt to wrest it from him ! 
 His screams will wake up the people to come to 
 the rescue. The Black- Valley Country, of 
 which we have heard so much, will be lighted 
 up by the gleam of five hundred thousand 
 swords drawn in the defence of liberty. They 
 will flash terror into the face of all fanatics 
 who attempt to break down by iniquitous laws 
 any branch of business in which the people are 
 engaged." 
 
 At the conclusion of this speech, which occu-
 
 SLACK-VALLEY RAILROAD. 123 
 
 pied four hours, and was listened to with intense 
 interest, and which its admirers said was like a 
 succession of skyrockets sent into the air, a 
 loud shout went up from the friends of the 
 prisoners, who -had gathered in great numbers 
 to witness the trial. A large company of 
 stockholders, depOt-masters, and Black-Valley 
 Railroad excursionists gathered around Mr. 
 Wriggler ; who was much exhausted by his 
 effort, proposing as a means of relief from his 
 exhaustion, as well as an expression of grati- 
 tude, an excursion upon the road which he 
 had so eloquently defended. The proposition 
 was gladly accepted ; and a great company of 
 those having an interest in the road started 
 immediately on a grand excursion in the 
 splendid palatial cars now ready for the trip. 
 
 As the road was now in good running order 
 below Topersville (the flood having done no 
 other damage to it except to cut off travel from 
 the upper ddp6t), every thing was easily
 
 124 BLACK -VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 arranged, and the fireman ordered to put on 
 steam. With flying colors and loud shouts the 
 train started, and went roaring and tearing and 
 thundering down the Black- Valley Road with 
 such speed that the wheels took fire by the 
 accelerated velocity of their revolutions ; and 
 the whole train at length disappeared in a cloud 
 of fire and smoke far down towards the lower 
 end of the road. Most of the excursionists, 
 it is understood, have never been heard of since : 
 several of the most distinguished defenders of 
 the road died in the train ; others were thrown 
 out along the road. Mr. Wriggler went as far 
 as Deliriumton, where he was ejected for break- 
 ing the windows of the cars in a fit of 
 delirium. He was afterwards picked up by a 
 Fountainland stage, and carried back to his 
 family. 
 
 A distinguished physician, who was an 
 invited guest, was thrown out at the Great 
 Desert ; where he was found wounded and half-
 
 SLACK-VALLEY RAILROAD. 125 
 
 dead, and carried to Fountainjand, where, by 
 the use of water, he was restored to health and to 
 his former high position in society. Mr. Lead- 
 rabble, who assisted in conducting the defence of 
 the Black- Valley Corporation against the perse- 
 cution of the water-bigots, as he called them, 
 went far down into the Black-Valley Country ; 
 where he miserably perished, and where his 
 bones lie bleaching to this day. An ex- 
 clergyman, who had doffed his clerical robes, 
 and gone into the business of selling tickets on 
 the Black -Valley Road, was fished out of the 
 mud at Debauch Slough in a condition hardly 
 to be recognized by his friends, and carried in a 
 coach known as the " Black Maria " to Prison- 
 ton, where he found employment in respectable 
 business, though not in a respectable place or 
 society. 
 
 After the hearing of the arguments upon 
 both sides, the case was committed to the jury
 
 126 BLACK -VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 in an able and impartial charge ; and, after being 
 out ten minutes, the jury returned with a ver- 
 dict of guilty, amid the loud cheering of the 
 vast multitude assembled to hear the trial. As 
 soon as silence was restored, the court sen- 
 tenced each of the prisoners according to the 
 law; and, under the care of Mr. State-Con- 
 stable Irorihand, they were marched to the 
 place of punishment, which the reader will find 
 described farther on in this volume.
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Great Excitement along the Slack- Valley 
 (Railroad on Account of the Approaching 
 flood. Water-men denounced. Arrival 
 of the Flood at Medicineville. Great 3)e- 
 pot and Storehouses carried away. 
 Health of the tPlace improved. 
 
 i HE news of the flooding of Sipping- 
 ton, its annexation to Fountainland, 
 and the trial and condemnation of 
 the adventurers from Medicineville and Tipple- 
 ton, spread rapidly through the Black- Valley 
 Country, producing great excitement. The 
 stockholders and ddpot-masters were infuriated. 
 They cried out at the top of their voices, and 
 threw .dust into the air in such quantities that 
 it seemed for a time that the volcano at the 
 
 127
 
 128 BLACK -VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 lower end of the road was in a state of erup- 
 tion. The men who had built the great canal, 
 and opened the flood-gates upon the country, 
 were pronounced fools. Some said they were 
 priest-ridden, and had but one idea, and that 
 was water. Others said that they had lived on 
 water-gruel so long that they had lost all mus- 
 cular power ; so that one man well nourished 
 on the beverage of the Black- Valley Country, 
 and other kinds of "respiratory food," could 
 chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to 
 flight. Others said these men were dabbling in 
 politics, and that the water-company at Foun- 
 tainland was a political organization, which was 
 aiming to take away the rights and destroy 
 the business of a large class of the most 
 respectable and wealthy citizens. 
 
 At Medicineville the excitement was un- 
 bounded. Water from the Fountainland canal 
 was beginning to flow around the foundations 
 of tho great ddpQt, loosening them so that the
 
 BLACK-VALLEY RAILROAD. 129 
 
 building was evidently settling on the side 
 towards the stream. Huge storehouses were 
 discovered to be leanino- and cracking 
 
 O O 
 
 Steadily the water kept rising and flowing, in 
 spite of all efforts to prevent it ; until at last 
 the ddpSt was afloat. Almost simultaneously, 
 the great storehouses of the place tumbled 
 and went down. Millions of bottles were 
 floated out upon the stream, so that for many 
 miles it looked like a " sea of glass." 
 
 Soon after the flood had swept away the 
 great de'pOt and the storehouses around it, the 
 people of MedicineviUe began to discover that 
 the health of the place was greatly improving. 
 Multitudes of invalids who were in the habit 
 of taking excursions on the Black- Valley Road 
 for their health found that excursions by 
 water were vastly more beneficial and safe, as 
 well as less troublesome and expensive. After 
 a water-trip, they had no fainting turns or 
 head-aches, such as they were accustomed to
 
 130 BLACK -VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 have after their excursions from the Medicine- 
 ville depot. A very large number completely 
 recovered their health by these water-excur- 
 sions. 
 
 In view of these facts, a public sentiment 
 grew up rapidly against all attempts at rebuild- 
 ing the de'pdt, or repairing the road which the 
 flood had so badly damaged. It was discov- 
 ered, too, that the whole country around Medi- 
 cineville was much improved by the effects of 
 the water which had overflowed it. The fields 
 were looking more beautiful than ever ; and the 
 fruit-trees were yielding their fruits every 
 month, and the leaves were found to be for the 
 healing of the invalids.
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 Great Meeting at Medicinerillc to act on the 
 Question of Annexing the 'Place to Foun- 
 tainland. Speeches by 'Mr. Medicine- 
 fooled, 3)r. Waterman, Mrs. Trywhiskey, 
 and Mr. jBittersell. ^Resolution for ^Ln~ 
 nexation passed amid oud Cheers for t?ie 
 JYatcr- company and the Great Canal. 
 
 these discoveries were made, 
 the question of following the ex- 
 ample of Sippington, and annex" 
 ing the place to Fountainland, came up for 
 frequent discussion. After a great variety of 
 facts bearing upon this question had become 
 known, a petition was circulated by the recov- 
 ered invalids for a public meeting, to act on 
 the question of annexation. A large number of 
 
 L'i
 
 132 SLACK -VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 signatures having been procured, the meeting 
 was called. Mr. Medicinefooled, who, for 
 more than ten years had been taking daily 
 excursions on the Black-Valley Road for his 
 health, and who was nothing bettered, but 
 rather grew worse, was chosen to preside. 
 
 On taking the chair, he related his experi- 
 ence, and declared that he considered the late 
 flood which had swept away the great depGt 
 and washed away the Black- Valley Road at 
 Medicineville was the greatest blessing that 
 ever visited the place ; that he considered the 
 call of the meeting a wise movement ; and that, 
 if it should result in annexing the place to 
 Fountainland, every interest, financial, moral, 
 and sanitary, would be promoted. 
 
 After the speech of Mr. Medicinefooled, Dr. 
 Waterman, a physician of much learning and 
 experience, who had long studied this subject, 
 and for more than twenty years had advised 
 his patients to take no excursions upon the
 
 BLACK -VALLEY RAILROAD. 133 
 
 Black- Valley Road, addressed the meeting in a 
 powerful speech, giving statistics from hospitals, 
 camps, and almshouses, as well as from his own 
 observations, sustaining the chairman. Among 
 other facts which he stated, quite to the sur- 
 prise of many who were present, was, that cer- 
 tain life-insurance companies issued policies to 
 those who never took excursions upon the 
 Black- Valley Road at much reduced rates, 
 having ascertained, by a vast collection of facts, 
 that life was much prolonged by keeping 
 entirely away from the aforesaid road. 
 
 After this, a large number of invalids ad- 
 dressed the meeting ; giving their own experi- 
 ence and observation, and confirming all that 
 had been said. 
 
 In the midst of this discussion, a woman of 
 uncommonly interesting appearance addressed 
 the audience. It was Mrs. Trywhiskey. Her 
 face was pale ; and her dark piercing eyes 
 seemed full of indignation, as she raised her
 
 134 SLACK -VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 . shrill and tremulous voice to confirm what had 
 been said. As soon as her voice was heard, 
 the audience was hushed to silence as she pro- 
 ceeded to say, "If there is any subject on 
 which women have a right to speak and bear 
 their testimony, this is one. I am the mother 
 of a family, and the wife of one of your most 
 respectable citizens. For ten years I have 
 been bringing disgrace and distress upon my 
 family by travelling upon that road whose 
 mischiefs have been alluded to, most appro- 
 priately called the Slack- Valley Road. Ten 
 years ago I was professionally advised to take 
 a daily excursion from Medicineville for my 
 health. At first it seemed as if my health 
 would be . restored ; but soon I found myself 
 far down into the Black- Valley Country. I 
 passed one de"pQt after another, until I found 
 myself at Deliriumton and the Cf-reat Desert 
 beyond, where I was ejected from the train in a 
 most wretched condition. Bloated and be-
 
 BLACK-VALLEY RAILROAD. 135 
 
 grimed, and bruised by my fall, I was taken 
 into an ambulance, and carried back to my 
 home. I found my family in great affliction by 
 reason of my long absence. By the frequent 
 use of the Fountainland water, my health 
 was restored. What Mr. Medicinefooled and 
 Dr. Waterman have said is every word true. 
 Multitudes of others have had an experience 
 similar to mine; and I am convinced that no 
 measures would be so wise as to annex our 
 place immediately to Fountainland, and have its 
 wholesome laws extended over our village. If 
 females are allowed to vote on this subject, I 
 and all present shall hold up our hands for.the 
 measure. 
 
 As soon as Mrs. Trywhiskey had resumed 
 her seat, Mr. Bittersold arose and said, "I also 
 have tried the Mcdicineville-excursion-remedy, 
 and in consequence have been far down into 
 the Black- Valley Country. From Medicine- 
 ville I went slowly to Tippleton, thence more
 
 136 BLACK -VALLEY CO UN THY 
 
 quickly to Topei-sville ; from which place I was 
 carried rapidly to Horrorland and the Great 
 Desert beyond. At Idiot Flats I was ejected 
 from the train ; and, when my head struck the 
 ground, I came to my senses, and availed myself 
 of a free ride in one of the Fountainland 
 ambulances, which conveyed me to this place, 
 where I intend to remain, provided the motion 
 before the meeting prevails. Otherwise, it is my 
 purpose to remove immediately to Fountain- 
 land, with such of my friends and travelling- 
 companions as I can persuade to go with me. 
 
 Miss Winecure followed in a thrilling speech, 
 which is omitted for want of room. 
 
 At this stage of the proceedings, a well- 
 dressed gentleman, decorated with a heavy gold 
 watch-chain, and .leaning upon a gold-headed 
 cane, addressed the meeting. It was Mr. 
 Eittersell, whose great storehouse had been 
 swept away in the flood. 
 
 " Gentlemen," said he, u I wish to remon-
 
 BLACK -VALLEY RAILROAD. 137 
 
 strate against these rash proceedings A great 
 calamity has come upon our place. Mil- 
 lions of property have been destroyed ; and 
 many of our citizens who were rich have been 
 made poor. Multitudes of people, too, are now 
 out of the business by which they have sup- 
 ported their families and accumulated their 
 property. More than ten miles of the road 
 which has built up our place have been carried 
 away ; and twenty years of labor will not repair 
 the breach which has been made. Large 
 storehouses, too, have gone down the stream in 
 this flood* (and here he raised his gold-headed 
 cane, and shook it with much indignation). If 
 the motion made in this meeting prevails, and 
 we vote to annex our village to Fountairiland, 
 and come under its bigoted and illiberal laws, our 
 liberty will be gone, and we shall be slaves." 
 
 As soon as Mr. Bittersejl sat down, Miss 
 Winecure, who was known formerly as a 
 leading singer in Dr. Oldwinc's church before
 
 138 
 
 BLACK-VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 it was carried away by the flood at Sippington, 
 was called on for a song. She promptly 
 responded ; and with a face beaming with health 
 from the use of water, and a voice clear and 
 strong, so that it could be distinctly heard in 
 every part of the vast audience, sang, 
 
 A RIDE ON THE BLACK- VALLEY RAILROAD. 
 
 You have heard of the ride of John Gilpin, 
 That captain so jocund and gay, 
 
 How he rode down to Edmonton village 
 In a very remarkable way. 
 
 You have heard of the ride of Mazeppa, 
 Bound fast to nis wing-footed steed, 
 
 How he coursed through the fields and the forests 
 At a very remai-kable speed.
 
 BLACK -VALLEY RAILROAD. 139 
 
 But I sing of a trip more exciting, 
 
 In a song which I cannot restrain, 
 Of a ride down the Black- Valley Railroad, 
 
 Of a ride on the Black- Valley train. 
 
 The setting-out place for the journey 
 
 Is Sippington Station, I think ; 
 Where the engines for water take whiskey, 
 
 And the people take something to drink. 
 
 From collisions you need fear no danger, 
 
 No trains are ever run back : 
 They all go one way, to perdition, 
 
 Provided they keep on the track. 
 
 By the time we reach Medicine Village, 
 The passengers find themselves sick, 
 
 Have leg-ache or back-ache or head-ache, 
 Or some ache that strikes to the quick. 
 [Applause : Mr. MedicineseU indignant.'] 
 
 We are pious, and hold by the Scripture, 
 
 With Paul the Apostle agree, 
 To take " wine," instead of much ". water," 
 
 For our " often infirmity."
 
 140 SLACK-VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 In fact, we improve on the reading, 
 By just a slight change in the text, 
 
 Say " often," where the Scripture says " little," 
 And leave " little " for what may come next. 
 
 We break up at Tippleton Station, 
 
 To try and get rid of our pain ; 
 At Topersville also we tarry, 
 
 And do the same over again. 
 
 Our spirits indeed may be willing, 
 
 But very weak is the flesh ; 
 So oft as we stop for five minutes, 
 
 We use all the time to refresh. 
 
 Now we come to the great central station, 
 The last stopping-place on the line, 
 
 Drunkards' Curve, where is kept the chief store- 
 house 
 Of rum, whiskey, brandy, and wine. 
 
 From this place on to Destruction, 
 
 The train makes no break or delay ; 
 And those who may wish to stop sooner 
 Are kindly thrown out by the way.
 
 BLACK -VALLEY RAILROAD. 141 
 
 A full supply of bad whiskey 
 
 For our engine is taken in here ; 
 And a queer-looking fellow from Hades 
 
 Steps on for our engineer. 
 
 From Drunkards' Curve on to Destruction, 
 
 The train is strictly express, 
 And will not be slowed or halted 
 
 For any red flag of distress. 
 
 And so when all things are ready, 
 From Drunkards' Curve we set out : 
 
 Let me give you some flying glimpses 
 
 
 
 Of the places along on the route. 
 
 First Rowdyville claims our attention, 
 
 Then Quarrelton comes into view, 
 Then Riotville breaks on the vision, 
 
 And the filthy Beggartown too. 
 
 As we rush, by the village of Wocland, 
 Three wretches are thrown from the train : 
 
 We can see them rolled over and over 
 Through the darkness, the mud, and the rain.
 
 142 SLACK-VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 Our engineer chuckles and dances 
 In the wild, lurid flashes he throws ; 
 
 Hotter blaze the red fires of his furnace, 
 As on into blackness he goes. 
 
 Oh, the sounds that we hear in the darkness, 
 The laughter and crying and groans, 
 
 The ravings of anger and madness, 
 The sobbings and pitiful moans 1 
 
 For now we have entered the regions 
 
 Where all things horrible dwell, 
 Where the shadows are peopled with goblins, 
 
 With the fiends and the furies of hell. 
 
 
 
 In this deep and Stygian darkness, 
 Lost spirits have made their abode : 
 
 It is plain we are near to Destruction, 
 Very near to the end of the road. 
 
 Would you like, my young friends, to take passage 
 To this region of horror and pain ? 
 
 Here stretches the Black- Valley Railroad, 
 And here stands the Black- Valley train.
 
 SLACK -VALLEY RAILROAD. 143 
 
 At the conclusion of this sqng, the vote was 
 taken ; and the resolution for annexation was 
 unanimously passed, and three cheers given for 
 Miss Winecurc and Mrs. Try whiskey, and- three 
 times three for the water company and the 
 great canal which had brought the flood upon 
 their once sickly and miserable place.
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 Great Change in the Condition* of t?ie 
 
 Yalley Country. Fountainland Stage 
 Company disbatided. Great "Violence of 
 the Flood. Jlfany flee out of the Slack 
 Yalley. Old Stagemen turn ^Boatmen. 
 Great Wash-out in the Broad IRoad. 
 ^Prince of the Silack- Yalley Country calls a 
 Council of his Z/egions. Great jlccuthti- 
 lation of ^Bridges, 3)epots, ^Broken Cars. 
 Skeletons, &c. 
 
 I HE condition of the whole Black- 
 Valley Country was entirely 
 changed by the flooding of Sip- 
 pington and Medicineville, At Rowdyville 
 and Quarrelton, all was quiet. At Riotville, 
 *mobs had entirely ceased. At Beggarstown,
 
 BLACK-VALLEY RAILROAD. 145 
 
 there were no arrivals, as no trains now came 
 to that place. At Gamblersville, Fightington, 
 and Brothelton, business was dull. At Prison- 
 ton, there were no arrivals. From Deliriumton 
 and Demonland, the evil spirits fled away dis- 
 gusted with the quiet which everywhere pre- 
 vailed. 
 
 In all those places, the people had heard of 
 the great flood at Sippington and of the de- 
 struction of the Black- Valley Road, and were, 
 quite prepared to welcome the flood to their 
 own places. At Drunkards' Curve the news 
 
 * 
 
 of the flooding and destruction of Sipp'mgton 
 and Medicineville almost created a panic, so 
 great was the joy at that place. At the great 
 ddpot, where so lately long rows of stages were 
 always in waiting to convey back to Fountain- 
 land those who could be persuaded to leave the 
 trains, all was now quiet. As no trains ar- 
 rived, and there was no more use for the stages, 
 the stage company was disbanded, to the great 
 10
 
 146 BLACK -VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 joy of those who had expended so much time 
 
 
 
 and money in maintaining it. 
 
 The location of all these places was such 
 that the flood naturally came upon them with 
 .great force and power. The Black -Valley 
 Road had been constructed in the lowest part 
 of the country ; and all the places built upon it 
 were low down in the valley, so that, as the 
 flood came on, it swept into and through them 
 all with great violence. Many of the people, 
 when they heard of the approach of the wa- 
 ter, fled out of the valley into the more ele- 
 vated localities. In this way, a vast multitude 
 was collected to witness the effect of the flood. 
 As they looked down into the valley, and lis- 
 tened to the roaring of the waters, their atten- 
 tion was directed to the fact that nothing which 
 was really valuable was injured. The only 
 damage which the flood did was to the Black- 
 Valley Railroad, and what was connected with 
 it. All who chose to do so could easily get
 
 BLACK-VALLEY RAILEOAD. 147 
 
 away from danger. Even those who were 
 afloat could procure help by calling for it by 
 some signal of distress. The old Fountainland 
 stage-men were there with boats and ropes to 
 help all to a place of safety who were willing 
 to get out of the doomed Black Valley into 
 which they had come from the great upper 
 terminus of the Black- Valley Road. 
 
 While this great flood was so effectually car- 
 rying away the Black- Valley Road, it was 
 found that it was also making great havoc of 
 the old highway which ran through the valley, 
 commonly called the " Broad Road," and 
 which ran nearly parallel with the aforesaid 
 railroad. The huge chasms which the flood 
 had made in the old Broad Road, it was dis- 
 covered were greatly interrupting the travel 
 on that thoroughfare. It was also discovered 
 that where these wash-outs occurred there were 
 very unusual disturbances in the air in all the- 
 immediate neighborhood, while directly over the
 
 148 BLACK-VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 wash-outs there was the appearance of clouds; 
 and sometimes the muttering of thunder ac- 
 companied with flashes of lightning was dis- 
 tinctly heard. This unusual condition of the 
 atmosphere arrested much attention. Various 
 opinions were advanced as to the causes of 
 
 * 
 
 these phenomena. The most common opinion 
 was, that the prince of the Black- Valley Coun- 
 try was holding a council of his legions to de- 
 vise methods of repairing the damages which the 
 great flood had done to the " broad road " over 
 which, in connection with the great Railroad, all 
 his subjects passed on their way to the bonfire 
 which was at the lower terminus of both these 
 roads. This theory was much strengthened by 
 the fact, that after the flood had swept away 
 the railroad, and done- much damage to the old 
 " broad road," the country became very beau- 
 tiful under the labors of the multitudes of men 
 and women who had formerly spent most of 
 their time .and money in travel upon the above-
 
 BLACK-VAH.EY RAILROAD. 149 
 
 mentioned thoroughfares ; and in all the great 
 Black -Valley Country the people were con- 
 tented and happy; and even " the great desert " 
 " blossomed like the rose " under the influence 
 of the waters which the flood had poured 
 over it 
 
 One of the effects of the flood which arrested 
 much attention was -the great accumulation of 
 the debris at the lower portion of the val- 
 ley, through which the flood had made its way. 
 It was estimated that more than five hundred 
 acres were covered thickly over with demolished 
 cars and depots, which had come down upon 
 the flood. Many skeletons of depot-masters 
 and stockholders on the road were found buried 
 among the fragments of the great mass of rub- 
 bish. They were the skeletons of the men 
 who had attempted to resist the flood. Among 
 the skeletons were recognized the bones of 
 many who had attempted to ride into (official) 
 high places* upon the Black- Valley Railroad.
 
 150 SLACK-VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 The places on the great field of accumu- 
 lated fragments where these skeletons were de- 
 posited were easily discovered, as flocks of un- 
 clean birds were always hovering over them, 
 and filling the air with doleful music. The 
 wind, too, brought along its report of them, by 
 the sickening smells which sometimes filled the 
 air, to the great disgust of the whole surround- 
 ing country.
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 Great Joy in. t7te Slack- Valley Country on 
 Account of the Flood. Old Foiint a inland 
 Stage-Company re-organized to carry Out- 
 casts to t?te Water. Ornamented Stages 
 and Huge Omnibuses. ^Blossoms in the 
 ^Desert. 
 
 I HE arrival of the flood at the Great 
 
 Desert was hailed with much joy. 
 
 
 The de*p6t, which the flooding of 
 
 Sippington had rendered quite useless, was 
 swept clean away by the swollen stream which 
 poured along the track of the road. As soon 
 as the flood made its appearance, the quality 
 and abundance of the water arrested attention. 
 All who drank of it were immediately refreshed 
 
 151
 
 152 BLACK -VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 and invigorated. The inhabitants of the desert 
 soon discovered the virtues of the water, and 
 hastened to make known its blessings to others. 
 Vagabonds and outcasts from the Black- Valley 
 Railroad, and wanderers over this desolate land, 
 began to gather at the stream, and to quench 
 their raging thirst. Rumors of the wonderful 
 water spread rapidly over the length and 
 breadth of the desert ; and multitudes flocked 
 thither, to try its virtues for themselves. 
 
 All who drank were satisfied, and eager to 
 tell to others its wonderful power. Gladly the 
 good news was communicated, and rapidly 
 spread through the whole region. 
 
 As the Fountainland stages -were not now 
 needed on the old routes where they had for- 
 merly been employed (the flood which had car- 
 ried away the road and the dp6ts upon it, 
 and stopped all travel, having rendered them 
 useless), a large number of them came to th-e 
 great desert to assist in transporting the help-
 
 BLACK-VALLEY RAILROAD. 153 
 
 less and the dying to the healing waters ; the 
 news of which had created a strong desire in 
 the minds of many to remove from the land of 
 desolation and drought in which they had so 
 long been dragging out their miserable exist- 
 ence. 
 
 The arrival of these stages produced a pro- 
 found sensation. Multitudes were waiting to 
 be carried to the water, and eagerly embraced 
 the first opportunity to make their way thither. 
 
 The lame and the halt, who had received 
 , injury when thrown from the trains on which 
 they had come down to. this desolate land, 
 the sick and the dying, and the helpless of every 
 class, were taken up in great numbers, and 
 carried to the water. 
 
 These stages were of every variety of struc- 
 ture, but all working for the same object. 
 Some of them were covered with elegant trap- 
 pings and ornaments. Each had its own mark 
 and method of work. Some of the large omni-
 
 154 BLACK-VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 buses which did most efficient execution were 
 plain and unornamented. 
 
 Over all these a large white flag floated con- 
 spicuously, upon which was printed in red let- 
 ters, " Ho, every one that ihirsteih : come ye to 
 the waters" 
 
 These omnibuses were constantly loaded 
 with the outcasts of the country, making their 
 way to the region of the healing waters ; whose 
 virtues the skilful drivers were constantly ex- 
 tolling with voices which could be heard 
 throughout the whole desert. At times the- 
 whole company would make the desert resound 
 by singing, 
 
 " There is a stream whose gentle flow 
 
 Supplies the city of our God, 
 Life, love, and joy still gliding through, 
 And watering our divine abode. 
 
 Flow to restore, but not destroy, 
 As when the cloudless lamp of day 
 
 Pours out its floods of light and joy, 
 And sweeps each lingering mist away."
 
 BLACK-VALLEY RAILROAD. 155 
 
 One of the most noticeable effects of the 
 water upon the Great Desert was in disclosing 
 the fertility of the land. Up to the time of 
 the introduction of water, it was commonly 
 supposed that the soil was quite worthless.. 
 Wherever the water flowed, it was found that 
 the land became fruitful. As soon as this dis- 
 covery was made, water from the great stream 
 was diverted in numerous rivulets, and made to 
 flow through the desert. Wherever it came, 
 the country became extremely fertile. Vast 
 fields of grain waved where formerly not a 
 shrub would grow : the vagabonds of the 
 desert became the tillers of a fruitful soil. 
 Wealth increased with great rapidity. Town- 
 ships were laid out and roads constructed. 
 Schoolhouses and churches were erected, and 
 the population rose rapidly to a high state of 
 civilization. Under this new condition of 
 things, the clouds of dust which formerly filled 
 the atmosphere* disappeared ; and the air be-
 
 156 BLACK -VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 came clear and invigorating. The suffocating 
 heat, which had rendered breathing at times dif- 
 ficult, gave place to a healthy temperature ; and 
 the whirlwinds which formerly swept across 
 the country, carrying desolation in their track, 
 ceased altogether, as soon as the country was 
 irrigated with water.
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 The Confiscated property of the 
 
 ley ^Railroad Corporation used for the Con- 
 stritction of a ^Prison and ^Reformatory 
 School, in which 'Particular Attention is 
 directed to the !Power and Usefulness of 
 Water. 
 
 SOFTER the flooding of the Black- 
 
 Valley Country, its annexation to 
 Fountainland, and the general im- 
 provement and renovation of the whole region, 
 an important question arose in relation to the 
 disposition of the confiscated property of the 
 Black- Valley Railroad Corporation, now in the 
 hands of the government. Its value in the 
 market was found to be only one per cent of 
 
 157
 
 158 BLACK-VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 the value, as estimated by the stockholders 
 when the road was in working order. After 
 much deliberation, it was determined to sell the 
 property, and use the avails for the erection of 
 a suitable prison for the criminals now under 
 sentence, for violating the laws relating to the 
 road. 
 
 When the property was sold, it was ascer- 
 tained that the avails were insufficient for the 
 erection of the proposed prison ; but, as the 
 wealth of the country was rapidly increasing 
 under the new condition of things produced by 
 water, it was found easy to raise the money by 
 voluntary subscription. In view of the pros- 
 pective decrease of the criminals to be pro- 
 vided for, it was determined to construct the 
 prison so that it would answer the double pur- 
 pose of a prison and an educational and indus- 
 trial institution. It was also determined to 
 construct it in such a manner that the inmates 
 would be constantly reminded of the power and 
 great value of water.
 
 BLACK-PALLET RAILROAD. 159 
 
 Prisonton was chosen for the location of the 
 institution. " Around an enclosure of one mile 
 square, an embankment was constructed out of 
 such material of the Black- Valley Railroad as 
 could be gathered after the flood. It consisted 
 of a pile of wheels and trucks, and broken 
 iron, and fragments of all sorts, which the 
 flood had driven together, as if a thousand 
 railroads had united in a general smash -up. 
 Upon this embankment a large aqueduct, con- 
 structed out of the boilers of the engines of the 
 aforesaid railroad, was firmly laid, extending 
 also quite around tile enclosure. 
 
 Into this aqueduct the smoke-stacks of all 
 the engines of the road were inserted at suita- 
 ble distances, so as to answer the double pur- 
 pose of posts and water-spouts. Between these 
 posts a palisade fence, made out of the rails 
 of the same road, was constructed. To this 
 aqueduct, another and much larger one was 
 connected, extending to the great river of
 
 160 SLACK -VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 Fountainland. The high elevation of this 
 river above the valley where the institution 
 was located, it was estimated; would force the 
 water several hundred feet into the air, and 
 also furnish sufficient water-power for driving 
 all the machinery of the workshops. To make 
 the whole more effective in showing the beauty 
 and value of water, and the power of the 
 Fountainland pressure, a hollow shaft, made of 
 the same materials as that of the aqueduct, 
 extending perpendicularly several hundred 
 feet, was erected in the centre of the enclo- 
 sure. The top of this shaft was in the form of 
 an inverted decanter, and connected at the bot- 
 tom with the great aqueduct from Fountain- 
 land, already described. 
 
 When this structure was completed, and 
 the water let in, its appearance was exceed- 
 ingly beautiful. Every pillar of the fence be- 
 came a water-spout; and, being -slightly flat- 
 tened at the top, each jet of water assumed the
 
 BLACK-VALLEY RAILROAD. 161 
 
 shape of a fan, the whole together having the 
 appearance of a wall of water, beautifully scal- 
 loped at the top. As it fell in spray and foam, 
 the great aqueduct presented the appearance 
 of a huge serpent, boiling and seething in the 
 water ; and the red wheels which were strewn 
 along the embankment, having the appearance 
 of numerous flue-holes, aided much in deepen- 
 ing this impression. 
 
 When the sun was shining, the spray would 
 form rainbows, so that, by a little help from the 
 imagination, the whole enclosure would become 
 a wall of rainbows. The spouts of water from 
 the old smoke-pipes, and the inverted decanter 
 upon the top of the great central shaft, it was 
 noticed, arrested much attention, especially 
 from the old stockholders in the Black- Valley 
 Road. Sometimes they were seen to shiver as 
 with a sudden attack of ague while looking at 
 these objects. When the rains were falling at 
 Fountainland, and the springs were full, and
 
 162 BLACK-VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 the cascades were "-blowing their trumpets 
 from a thousand steeps," and the great Crystal 
 River was pouring along in overflowing banks, 
 the action of the water was sensibly increased, 
 so that the roar of it could be heard for many 
 
 miles. By putting the ear to the groun'd 
 i 
 
 when all was quiet and still (as upon a New- 
 England sabbath), the sound of the water 
 could be heard throughout the whole Black- 
 Valley Country from Sippington to the volcano ; 
 and those who could see well at a distance 
 always noticed a diminution of the fire ai the 
 end of the road, when the water was flowing 
 abundantly. 
 
 Upon both sides of this water-wall, a broad 
 canal extended quite around the prison, so that 
 any who attempted to escape would have to 
 swim across a broad expanse of water. Upon 
 the arch over the huge iron gate of the prison 
 was inscribed,
 
 Rev. Dr. Oldwine with his senior Deacon, visits the 
 Prisonton Water Works, and is invited into the private 
 room of a parishioner from Sippington, who tells him that 
 if the old meetinghouse had beeu swept away sooner he 
 should not have been iu that place, p. 1C 3.
 
 BLACK -VALLEY RAILROAD. 163 
 
 " Who enters here will not depart until he 
 has learned the value and power of water." 
 
 Inside the enclosure, at a convenient dis- 
 tance from the canal, a building, extending 
 around the whole, was constructed, in the form 
 of the freight-houses of the Black- Valley Rail- 
 road, the material having been gathered from 
 the demolished store-houses which the flood 
 had piled up along the road. This building 
 was designed as a workshop for the inmates. 
 It was abundantly supplied with water for 
 drinking and bathing, and also for propelling 
 the machinery of the establishment, steam 
 being regarded as dangerous to the class of 
 persons employed in the institution. 
 
 Inside this row of work-shops were located 
 the lodging-houses of the prisoners. These 
 were built like the ddpclts of the Black- Valley 
 Railroad, and principally from the debris of the 
 buildings which the flood had carried quite into 
 this country.
 
 164 SLACK-VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 Inside of these buildings the land was laid 
 out into squares and small lots, around each 
 of which a stream of water was kept constant- 
 ly flowing, being supplied by a jet of water 
 which gushed up from the centre of each lot. 
 
 The number of inmates which were provided 
 for in the institution, was one hundred thou- 
 sand; being one-fifth of the number engaged in 
 the business of the Black- Valley Railroad 
 Company. 
 
 As it was found that a large number of them 
 could sing and play upon musical, instruments, 
 an orchestra was formed, for the purpose of 
 bringing the influence of music to the aid of 
 the educational influences of the place. After 
 the orchestra was organized and drilled for the 
 purpose, they were accustomed to sing with 
 instrumental accompaniment from a platform 
 in an open area, located in plain -sight of the 
 great inverted decanter; and evening, just as 
 the sun was setting, was commonly chosen as 
 the time for the musical performance.
 
 BLACK-VALLEY RAILROAD. 165 
 
 The following was the favorite song which 
 the groat orchestra and choir wt>uld render 
 with the most thrilling effect : 
 
 SONG. 
 
 In Eden's green retreats, 
 
 A water-brook that played 
 Between soft mossy seats, 
 Beneath a plane-tree's shade, 
 
 Whose rustling leaves 
 Danced o'er its brink, 
 Was Adam's drink, 
 And also Eve's. 
 
 Beside the parent spring 
 
 Of that young brook, the pair 
 
 Their morning chant would sing; 
 And Eve, to dress her hair, 
 
 Kneel on the grass 
 * 
 That fringed its side, 
 
 And make its tide 
 Her looking-glass.
 
 166 SLACK -VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 And when the man of God 
 From Egypt led his flock, 
 They thirsted ; and his rod 
 Smote the Arabian rock, 
 
 And forth a rill 
 Of water gushed, 
 And on they rushed, 
 And drank their fill. 
 
 Would Eden thus have smiled, 
 
 Had wine to Eden come ? 
 Would Horeb's parching wild 
 Have been refreshed with rum ? 
 
 And had Eve's hair 
 Been dressed in gin, 
 Would she have been reflected fair ? 
 
 Had Moses built a still, 
 
 And dealt out to that host, 
 To every man his gill, 
 And pledged him on a toast, 
 
 Would cooler brains 
 Or stronger hands 
 Have braved the sands 
 Of those hot plains ?
 
 BLACK-VALLEY RAILROAD, 167 
 
 " Sweet fields beyond death's flood 
 Stand dressed in living green ; " 
 For from the throne of God, 
 To freshen all the scene, 
 
 A river rolls, 
 Where all who will 
 May come and fill 
 Their crystal bowls 1 
 
 Should God, in wrath, ordain 
 
 A universal dearth, 
 
 
 What need he do but rain 
 
 On all this green glad earth, 
 
 From cloudy urns, 
 The curse that fills 
 Our vats and stills, 
 
 That blights and burns ? 
 
 Save us from such a shower, 
 
 God of the eastern bow ! 
 That pledge of love and power, 
 
 What bends, what paints it so ?
 
 168 SLACK -VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 That bow on air, 
 "Tis light that bends, 
 Heaven's light, that blends 
 
 With water there. 
 
 Let light on water shine, 
 
 The light of love and truth ! 
 Then shall that drink divine 
 Be quaffed by Age and Youth ; 
 
 And as that bow 
 Doth heavenward bend, 
 Shall heavenward tend 
 The way they go. 
 
 This song commonly produced the wildest 
 enthusiasm. When it was sung at evening, 
 the rays of the setting sun falling upon the 
 spray of the water projectiles which sur- 
 rounded the whole area of the institution, filling 
 the air with floating forms of beauty, the effect 
 was quite indescribable. IJy moonlight, when 
 every thing was still except the sound of the 
 water, it was even more impressive. When this 
 song was sung in the daytime, the roar and
 
 BLACK -VALLEY RAILROAD. 169 
 
 clatter of the machinery seemed to form a 
 kind of sub-bass, and the trip-hammers an- 
 swered well for an anvil chorus ; and the whole 
 together was as the sound of many waters 
 when .the ocean, stirred by. strong winds, is 
 sounding its " deep, profound, eternal bass in 
 Nature's great anthem." 
 
 At times, the whole vast company of the in- 
 mates of the institution seemed inclined to unite 
 their voices in a song. At such times, the song 
 
 
 
 seemed to fall into the form of a prayer, which 
 was long remembered and often repeated after 
 the inmates left the institution. The following is 
 one of the songs which was fixed in the 
 memory, and which proved a talisman to many 
 in the hour of temptation, long after leaving 
 the place : 
 
 Yc gracious clouds ! ye deep, cold wells 1 
 Ye gems, from mossy rocks that drip 1 
 Springs, that from earth's mysterious cells 
 Gush o'er your granite basin's lip 1
 
 170 SLACK-VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 To you we look : your largess give, 
 
 And we will drink of you, and live. 
 
 
 
 The prisoners were divided into three classes. 
 Those who were only travellers on the road, 
 and whose crimes had been committed under 
 the influence of this travel, belonged to the 
 first class. These, on being introduced into 
 the institution, were put to labor on the part 
 of land which had been laid out for the pur- 
 pose, and on which they were to labor teft 
 hours daily, living on bread' and water. Those 
 from Medicineville, of whom were many 
 females, were set to trimming the hedges, and 
 keeping in order the flower-beds which sur- 
 round the land-plats already described. Ten 
 hours a day, with bread and water, and a 
 constant sight of the great inverted decanter, 
 from which a flood of water was constantly 
 leaping into the air, imparted great^vigor and 
 cheerfulness to their employments.
 
 BLACK-VALLEY RAILROAD. 171 
 
 In the second class were the ticket-sellers 
 and de*p<5t-masters upon the Black-Valley Rail- 
 road. These were put to hard labor in the 
 shops ten hours a day, with bread and water. 
 This regimen, with the sight and sound of the 
 rushing water all around them, and the roar 
 and clatter of the machinery which the water 
 was driving through the whole extent of the 
 vast building, seemed to impart to them a 
 vigor and elasticity such as they had never 
 experienced. 
 
 In the third class were the stockholders of 
 the Black- Valley Railroad. They were, for 
 the most part, men of great corpulency, which 
 was accounted for by the well-known fact that 
 they were accustomed to swallow travellers on 
 the Black- Valley Road whenever there was 
 opportunity. On this account, sailors called 
 them land-sharks, and all Fountainland sailors 
 gave them a wide berth. Of some of them it 
 was reported that they had not only swallowed
 
 172 SLACK-VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 travellers, but whole farms, with houses and 
 stock. These corpulent gentlemen were now 
 formed into companies to act as waiters to 
 carry water to the prisoners. To reduce their 
 corpulency, and to impart a more impressive 
 idea of the power of water, it was contrived 
 to give them a ride daily upon the trip-ham- 
 mers. It was arranged that this should take 
 place at eleven and four o'clock each day ; that 
 being the hour of the olden time when all the 
 d6p6ts of the Black- Valley Railroad were open 
 for the sale of tickets. Sometimes a hundred 
 at a time were placed upon as many of these 
 water-horses, and required to. ride until they 
 would promise to deal no more in the stocks 
 of the Black- Valley Railroad. 
 
 The effect of these rides upon these corpu- 
 lent prisoners was very salutary. Their cor- 
 pulency was rapidly reduced, and their general 
 appearance was much improved. The defiant 
 bearing which they formerly showed toward
 
 BLACK-VALLEJ RAILROAD. 173 
 
 the members of tlic water-company who had 
 been instrumental in constructing the great 
 aqueduct which had flooded the Black- Valley 
 Country was changed to a submissive de- 
 meanor. Their ideas, too, of the value and 
 power of water, were completely revolutionized. 
 The laws of Fountainland, as well as its insti- 
 tutions and customs, they thought were admi- 
 rable ; and they were filled with wonder that 
 the plan for renovating the Black- Valley Coun- 
 try, and destroying the great Railroad which 
 had built it up, had not been thought of long 
 before. When it became sufficiently evident 
 that the inmates of the institution had become 
 thoroughly convinced of the value and resist- 
 less power of water, they were . discharged, 
 upon promising that they would never engage 
 in any department of the business of the Black- 
 Valley Railroad. A large proportion of the 
 discharged convicts became useful members of 
 society, and admirers of the zeal and enterprise
 
 174 
 
 BLACK-VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 of the great water company, through whose 
 instrumentality the country had been changed 
 from a land of poverty and misery into a land 
 of plenty and high cultivation.
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 Special Commission to investigate the Oriffin 
 of the Water which had swept away the 
 Black- Valley Railroad. Their Report. 
 Reading from an Ancient jBook. Conclud- 
 ding Hymn. 
 
 FTER numerous observations con- 
 cerning the quality and effects of 
 the waters which had wrought such 
 wonderful changes in the condition of the 
 Black- Valley Country, it was determined to 
 make a thorough investigation of their origin. 
 One of the most remarkable facts about these 
 waters which created much surprise, was their 
 great abundance. The supply seemed to bo 
 inexhaustible. It came flowing on in such 
 
 175
 
 17G BLACK -VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 quantities, that all the lands were irrigated ; 
 and even the Great "Desert, which had drank up 
 all other streams, was quite overflowed ; and 
 the " dry ground was turned into water- 
 springs." 
 
 Another fact about the water was its great 
 fertilizing poiver. Wherever it flowed, the 
 country became greatly productive, and even 
 " the desert blossomed like the rose." " Trees 
 planted by this river always brought forth 
 their fruit in season : their leaf, also, did not 
 wither." Upon the banks of it, " the hungry 
 were made to dwell, and to prepare cities for 
 habitation, and to sow fields, and plant vine- 
 yards, which yielded fruits of increase," in the 
 greatest abundance, and " good wine which 
 maketh glad the heart," without poisoning the 
 brain, being the pure "fruit of the vine," into 
 which the fluid-devil of alcohol, that unclean 
 spirit, which teareth men, and causeth them to 
 fall on the ground, and wallow foaming, was
 
 BLACK-VALLEY RAILROAD. 177 
 
 not permitted to enter by the process of fermen- 
 tation. 
 
 Another fact about these waters, which had 
 arrested much attention, was, that, while they 
 abounded in fish, no reptiles of a destructive na- 
 ture could live in them. Sharks and Serpents 
 and Bloodsuckers were never found in them ; 
 and, if placed there, would immediately die. 
 Only fish of the useful kind could live in these 
 waters ; and they were found in great abun- 
 dance, " as the fish of the great sea exceeding 
 many," so that the fishermen who came with 
 their nets were abundantly rewarded for their 
 labors. 
 
 It had also been discovered that these waters 
 had a remarkable medicinal quality, and power 
 of imparting health and strength to body and 
 mind. Many persons who were accustomed to 
 the use of them in good faith attained art 
 amount of physical strength which was some- 
 times marvellous. It was related of one of 
 12
 
 178 BLACK -VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 them, that, when a young lion roared upon him, 
 he seized the huge animal, and tore him to 
 pieces, rending him as he would a gentle kid. At 
 another time, he slew a thousand men, and re- 
 covered from his exhaustion in this superhuman 
 effort by the use of this invigorating water. 
 
 At another time, when a company of men 
 were lying in wait for him at a certain city, 
 intending to kill him, he arose at midnight, and 
 took the doors of the gate of the city, and the 
 two posts, and went away with them upon his 
 shoulders, without staggering as much as ordi- 
 nary men do with a single " brick in their hat ; " 
 and also, upon another occasion, he seized the 
 two middle pillars of a great temple, where 
 thousands were assembled to make sport of 
 him, and dragged the temple down, overwhelm- 
 ing them in ruin, to the amazement of all be- 
 holders. 
 
 Of another water-drinker, it was related 
 that he grew fair and beautiful and strong, so
 
 BLACK-VALLEY RAILROAD. 179 
 
 that he went into a den of lions, and cainc out 
 uninjured ; and also into a fiery furnace seven 
 times heated, and came out without the smell 
 of fire upon him, while the flames consumed 
 those that cast him into the furnace. 
 
 It was also related, that a great company of 
 men, women, and children, had made a journey 
 of forty years through a vast wilderness, drink- 
 ing only water ; and also that upon the land 
 and upon the sea this water was working won- 
 ders. 
 
 In view of all these remarkable facts, an ex- 
 ploring company, made up of a party of scientific 
 gentlemen, was sent to Fountainland, to make 
 a thorough investigation of the question of the 
 origin of these waters. This company immedi- 
 ately addressed themselves to the work ; and, 
 after many observations and careful inquiries, 
 reported that the fountainhead of these waters 
 was from the Temple of Fountainland. From
 
 180 BLACK -VALLEY COUNTRY 
 
 all the Temples which faced the rising sun, and 
 in which the priest stood at the right side of the 
 altar, " the waters came down from under the 
 right side of the house ; " so that at each of 
 these temples there was a living spring, forming 
 a rivulet which irrigated and enriched the sur- 
 rounding region. It was also discovered, that, 
 from the temples which faced the setting sun, 
 no water issuedfrom under the threshold of 
 the house. No springs could be found in the 
 vicinity of this class of temples ; and the 
 ground was always dry and dusty, so that the 
 whole neighborhood was parched and desolate, 
 barren and comfortless, while around all the 
 other class of temples the country was rich 
 and well-watered; and " sweet fields arrayed in 
 living green " greeted the eye of the traveller 
 upon every side. It was found also that many 
 of the worshippers in the temples which faced 
 the setting sun made occasional pilgrimages into 
 the Black- Valley Country; being stockholders
 
 BLACK'-VALLEY RAILROAD. 181 
 
 in the great Black- Valley Road, and having 
 intimate relations with the Prince of the coun- 
 try. It was also discovered that the principal 
 service in which the priests of these temples 
 engaged, consisted in denouncing the infidelity 
 and fanaticism of those who worshipped" in the 
 temples which faced the rising sun ; and also 
 that many of the priests made frequent pil- 
 grimages into the Black- Valley Country, going, 
 as they said, in pursuit of their flocks, many of 
 whom had travelled far down into those re- 
 gions of drought and darkness. 
 
 While the exploring company were making 
 their report concerning the origin of these re- 
 markable waters, a man of grave countenance, 
 clad in the costume of an ancient seer, arose in 
 the great assembly which was convened to 
 hear the result of this investigation, and asked 
 the privilege of reading from a very ancient 
 volume, which he indicated would probably 
 throw new light upon this interesting subject,
 
 182 BLACK -VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 and furnish much valuable information. Per- 
 mission being granted, he read as follows, while 
 the great company listened with profound at- 
 tention : 
 
 " Afterward he brought me again unto the 
 door of the hotise ; and behold, waters isstied 
 out from tinder the threshold of the house east- 
 ward: for the fore-front of the house stood 
 toward the east, and the waters came down 
 from itnder from the right side of the house, 
 at the south side of the altar. Then brougJit 
 he me out of the w^ay of the gate northward, 
 and led me about the way without unto the 
 outer gate by the way that looketh eastward ; 
 and behold there ran out waters on the right 
 side. And when the man that had the line in 
 his hand went forth eastivard, he measured a 
 thoiisand cubits, and he brougJit me through 
 the waters ; the waters were to the ankles. 
 Again he measured a thousand, and brought 
 me through the waters ; the waters were to the
 
 BLACK-VALLEY RAILROAD. 183 
 
 knejs. Again he measured a thousand, and 
 brought me through; the waters were to 
 the loins. Afterward he measured a tkou 
 sand; and it was a river that I could not pass 
 over: for the waters were risen, waters to 
 swim in, a river that could not be passed over. 
 And he said unto me. Son of man, hast thou 
 seen this ? Then he brought me, and caused 
 me to return to the brink of the river. Now, 
 when I had returned, behold, at the bank of the 
 river were very many trees, on the one side and 
 on the other. Then said he unto me, These 
 waters isstte out toward the east country, and 
 go down into the desert, and go into the sea : 
 which being brought forth into the sea, the 
 waters shall be healed. And it shall come to 
 pass, that every tiling that liveth, which 
 moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, 
 shall live: and there shall be a very great 
 multitude of fish, because these waters shall 
 come thither: for they shall be healed: and
 
 184 SLACK -VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 every thing shall live whither tlie river cometh. 
 And by the river, iipon the bank thereof, on this 
 side and on that side, shall grow all trees for 
 meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall 
 the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring 
 forth new fruit according to its months, be- 
 cause tlieir waters they issiied out of the sanc- 
 tuary : and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, 
 and the leaf thereof for medicine" Ez. xlvii. 
 
 The date of this document was the year of 
 the world 8480, being 574 years before the 
 Christian era. When this extract from the 
 ancient volume had been read, another portion, 
 bearing a later date by six hundred years, was 
 read as follows : 
 
 " And he showed me a pure river of water of 
 life, clear as crystal, proceeding 'otit of the 
 throne of God and the Lamb. In the midst 
 of the street of it, and on either side of the 
 river, was there the tree of life, which bare 
 twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit
 
 BLACK -VALLEY RAILROAD. 185 
 
 every month ; and the leaves of the tree were 
 for the healing of the nations" 
 
 The reading of these extracts from the an- 
 cient book created a profound sensation in the 
 minds of all present. Some were surprised to 
 learn of the existence of such a river. Others 
 declared that they had heard of it, but had no 
 adequate conception of its magnitude or of the 
 quality of its waters: while others declared 
 that they had often stood by the side of this 
 stream, and drank of its waters, and seen how 
 the desert had been made to blossom like the 
 rose by its fertilizing influence. While these 
 testimonies were being given in, the interest 
 continued to increase, until the whole vast as- 
 sembly, which had been giving their attention 
 to the subject, were profoundly impressed with a 
 feeling of wonder and amazement, and with 
 united voices, as the " sound of many waters," 
 rising to their feet, they sang,
 
 186 BLACK -VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 " Great Source of being and of love, 
 Thou watcrest all the worlds above ; 
 And all the joys which mortals know 
 From thine exhaustless fountain flow. 
 
 A sacred stream, at thy command, 
 From Zion's Mount in Canaan's land, 
 Beside Thy temple cleaves the ground, 
 And pours its limpid stream around. 
 
 The limpid stream with sudden force 
 Swells to a river in its course ; 
 Through desert realms its windings play, 
 And scatter blessings all the way. 
 
 Close by its banks, in order fair, 
 The blooming trees of life appear : 
 Their blossoms fragrant odors give, 
 And on their fruit the nations live. 
 
 Flow, wondrous stream, with glory crowned, 
 Flow on to earth's remotest bound, 
 And bear us on thy gentle wave 
 To Him who all thy virtues gave.
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 The Border Country. si difficulty between 
 the Foiintainland and Towbakowland Soys 
 settled. Cfianges in 'Public Sentiment. 
 "Dr. Ftimus and a Chewington Gentleman 
 change their Habits. Water introduced. 
 
 ' Memorial Fountain, &c. 
 
 >IRECTLY upon the borders of the 
 Black-Valley Country lies the great 
 Towbakowland Country, through 
 which multitudes find their way to the upper 
 terminus of the Black- Valley Railroad, where 
 they are " taken in " for their first excursions. 
 Many who come from Fountainland into this 
 border country, with no intention of going 
 
 187 -
 
 188 BLACK -VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 beyond, are induced by the influences of the 
 place to advance farther ; until at length they 
 find themselves far down on the Black- Valley 
 Road, the customs, habits, and business of the 
 place all being favorable to that result. 
 
 The Towbakowland Country is divided into 
 
 . 
 
 three principal sections, called Snuffington, 
 Puffington, and Chewingtou, each section being 
 distinguished by its own peculiarities. The 
 people of Snuffington find that their noses arc 
 set upon their faces upside down, for the prin- 
 cipal purpose for which they wish to use them, 
 unless they stand upon their heads. The 
 Puffington people find it necessary to attach an 
 artificial tube of some sort to their mouths, in 
 order suitably to narcotize the air which they 
 breathe ; while the Chewington people have 
 great trouble and inconvenience on account 
 of the superabundant action of the salivary 
 glands producing a necessity for constant 
 spitting.
 
 BLACK-VALLEY RAILROAD. 189 
 
 Midway of the great plain in which the 
 country is situated is a broad thoroughfare, hav- 
 ing a descending grade toward Sippington. Over 
 this dry and smooth road, stages and coaches, 
 omnibuses and private carriages, aro constantly 
 running, causing immense clouds of dust and 
 smoke to fill the air, and hang over the land 
 like a thick fog, more especially as the roads 
 are never sprinkled, on account of the scarcity 
 of water. 
 
 These carriages are constantly loaded with 
 young people, many of whom are boys, on 
 their way to the Black-Valley Country. 
 During their first excursions, they are fre- 
 quently very sick ; so that it is no uncommon 
 event to see them looking pale and ghastly, as 
 if they would welcome death as a friend if he 
 would give them relief: but as their honor is at 
 stake, and custom makes it honorable to be able 
 to take these excursions, they usually perse- 
 vere until the nausea ceases, when they reckon
 
 190 BLACK -VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 themselves to have attained to an honorable 
 manhood. . 
 
 At times, the clouds of smoke which hang 
 over the great thoroughfare are carried by the 
 wind over large portions of the Fountainland 
 Country, producing sickness and retching ; so 
 that the people are obliged to keep their win- 
 dows closed, or live within doors. On this 
 account, serious misunderstandings sometimes 
 arise between the inhabitants of the two sec- 
 tions of country. The Fountainland people 
 complain that this smoke is a nuisance, against 
 which they have a right to be protected ; and 
 that it is uncivil on the parrt of the Towbakow- 
 land people to contaminate the common air 
 with- it. To this the Towbakowland people 
 reply, The wind bloweth where it listeth ; and 
 we cannot tell whence it cometh, or whither it 
 goeth, with our smoke. In order to show 
 them how this principle works when fairly 
 carried out, the Fountainland boys, by the aid
 
 BLACK-VALLEY RAILROAD. 191 
 
 of some huge India-rubber bags prepared for 
 the purpose, contrived to fill the whole atmos- 
 phere with a nauseating gas while the wind 
 was blowing toward their neighbors. This gas 
 caused so much sickness, that the people 
 thought the black-vomit had broken out among 
 them. This created great excitement and 
 alarm. Many were completely prostrated by 
 the feeling of distress which came upon them. 
 Others, not knowing what the matter was, 
 meditated sympathetically upon the sufferings 
 of the whale when getting ready to cast Jonah 
 upon the shore. In this condition of things, 
 retching and wretched, they despatched messen- 
 gers to the Fountainland doctors to come with 
 haste to their relief. Before the doctors 
 arrived, the Fountainland boys explained the 
 whole matter ; adding, The wind bloweth 
 where it listeth, and we cannot tell whither it 
 goeth, with our gas ; but this we can tell, that 
 fresh air will soon bring relief to all sufferers :
 
 192 SLACK -VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 and, promising to call it even if they would 
 hereafter keep their smoke at home, the matter 
 was settled without a war. 
 
 In process of time, the customs and habits of 
 Fountainland began to be introduced, to the 
 great satisfaction of the mothers and daughters 
 of the land. Frequent communications with 
 the people of Fountainland had produced the 
 conviction, that the habits of the people, and the 
 general cleanliness of the place, had contrib- 
 uted much to its healthfulness and prosperity. 
 Ladies from Snuffington noticed, that, while on 
 their visits to Fountainland, the people stared 
 at them and smiled when they indulged in their 
 favorite habit, and always expressed great sur- 
 prise when invitsd to participate. The Puffing- 
 ton ladies discovered that their husbands and 
 sons were always unhappy when- in Fountain- 
 land ; because the customs of the place were 
 such, that they .could not use their favorite 
 fumigators without seeming to be rude.
 
 SLACK -VALLEY RAILROAD. 193 
 
 It is related of a distinguished clergyman of 
 Puffington, Dr. Furnus, that while attending 
 a great religious meeting in Fountainland, and 
 receiving entertainment in an elegant mansion 
 where the lady of the house was known to be 
 very averse to the habits of the Puffington 
 people, rising early in the morning, he pros- 
 trated himself upon the floor, with his head 
 in the fireplace, whose chimney carried off all 
 smoke, where he seemed to be breathing with 
 great difficulty. His wife, seeing him in this 
 condition, was much 'alarmed, and exclaimed, 
 "What ails you, my dear ? are you dying?" 
 Out of all patience with himself, he replied, 
 " Offering a stench-offering to the Devil, my 
 dear ! " and immediately arose, and, crushing his 
 fumigating tube under his heels upon the 
 hearth, exclaimed, " Get thee behind me, Satan ! 
 thou savorest not of the things of God, or of 
 God's ambassadors to men." After which, the 
 savor of his habit ceased to exhale from him, 
 
 13
 
 194 BLACK-VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 to the great joy of his wife, and to tlie great 
 advantage of the young men who had been 
 much influenced by his example. 
 
 It is related also of a Chewington military 
 gentleman, whose health was failing, and whose 
 nervous system was much deranged, that his 
 jaw was one day broken by the kick of his 
 horse. This put a stop to his masticating 
 habit for many months, during which time his 
 health was completely restored : whereupon he 
 rode through the whole district of Chewington, 
 offering the gratuitous use of the heels of his 
 horse to all who were in the same bondage in 
 which he came so near to dying. 
 
 These facts, with many others which were 
 extensively circulated, produced a great smoke 
 of excitement through the whole Towbakow- 
 lajid Country. Rev. Solomon Spittle, whose 
 influence had led many young men to settle 
 down in Chewington, renounced his habit, and 
 got his name changed to Waterman.
 
 SLACK -VALLEY RAILROAD. 195 
 
 In connection with the discussion of this sub- 
 ject, the people learned that what they called 
 a luxury was doing them a great injury, and 
 costing them more than their bread. 
 
 After the great change in the condition of 
 things in the Black- Valley Country by reason 
 of the flood, the people of Towbakowland 
 found that the great market for their principal 
 product was gone, as the patrons of the Black- 
 Valley Railroad were the principal purchasers 
 of their staple product. They discovered, too, 
 that the soil had been much exhausted by tho 
 crops which they had been taking from it. 
 The fertility of the Black- Valley Country, from 
 the effects of irrigation, also arrested their 
 attention, and rapidly brought the people to the 
 conviction that their old business must be 
 abandoned in order to secure the golden 
 harvests which each autumn was bringing to 
 their neighbors, whose farms had been so com- 
 pletely renovated by the use of water. In
 
 196 BLACK -VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 fine, they found that they were falling rapidly 
 behind their neighbors, whose cleanly houses, 
 and well-kept fields, and irrigated gardens, pre- 
 sented a painful contrast when compared with 
 the dry, dusty, smoky, and filthy condition of 
 things among themselves. 
 
 Water began now to be popular. Those 
 who drank it found that their health was much 
 improved ; and those who used it upon their 
 lands found that a blessing was in it, of more 
 value than gold. 
 
 In view of this state of things, it was re- 
 solved to introduce water into every part of 
 the country ; and as the water of the great 
 Crystal River was free and abundant, and on 
 such an elevation above them that a powerful 
 pressure could be secured, it was resolved to 
 construct an immense aqueduct, so that every 
 farm and house in the land could be sup- 
 plied. 
 
 It was also resolved to make a bonfire of
 
 BLACK-VALLEY RAILROAD. 197 
 
 their favorite plant, and to substitute a crop 
 less injurious to their lands, and which would be 
 useful to their families and -to others, and, in 
 future, more sure of a regular sale in the mar- 
 ket. Accordingly, they brought 'together the 
 unsavory contents of their storehouses into one 
 vast pile. Around this they built a circular 
 wall out of a material composed of the crushed 
 tubes and bowls of their fumigating instru- 
 ments, wrought into brick under the heavy 
 hydraulic pressure which the Fountainland 
 water now abundantly supplied. When the 
 whole was completed, fire was set to the 
 accumulated mass inside the enclosure ; and 
 immediately a smoke like the smoke of a great 
 furnace rose into the clear air, covering tho 
 whole heavens as with " blackness of darkness." 
 In process of time, the cloud of smoke cleared 
 away ; and, preparations having been previously 
 made, the aqueduct from the great Crystal 
 River was opened into it, and every house in
 
 198 BLACK -VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 Towbakowland was supplied with an abun- 
 dance of water from the " Memorial Fountain," 
 now completed. 
 
 The introduction of water produced immedi- 
 ately the anticipated results. The air, which 
 before was filled with smoke, became clear and 
 
 i 
 
 invigorating. The streets and houses of 
 Chewington, which, before the introduction of 
 water, were extremely filthy, became clean. 
 The fields, in their season, waved with the prod- 
 ucts of the soil, now made fertile by water ; 
 and the golden harvest of the autumn brought 
 with it such crops as rewarded more abun- 
 dantly than ever the toils of those who upon 
 the well-watered lands prosecuted their easy 
 labors where once with faint hearts and foul 
 hands, amid nauseating smells, they gathered 
 the crops of former days. 
 
 When this great work was accomplished, it 
 was resolved to celebrate the occasion with 
 suitable commemorative services.
 
 BLACK -VALLEY RAILROAD. 199 
 
 Gen. Chew Chaw, whose horse had saved 
 his life by a kick in the jaw, was appointed 
 marshal of the clay, and, by special request, 
 rode his favorite charger, whose " neck was 
 clothed with thunder," and whose heels, as he 
 had occasion to know, were charged with light- 
 ning, always ready to do a good deed wherever 
 required. Hon. Mr. Drinkwater, President of 
 the Fountainland Water Company, presided, 
 making a glowing speech on the cleansing, 
 sanitary, and fertilizing power of water ; dwell- 
 ing especially upon its use in Scripture as a 
 symbol of Christian truth and spiritual life. 
 Dr. Fumus offered prayer, in which he 
 recognized with gratitude las deliverance from 
 bondage ; and Rev. Mr. Waterman read suit- 
 able selections of Scripture, closing with the 
 words of Jesus, " But the water that I shall 
 give him shall be in him a well of water 
 springing up into everlasting life ; " after which 
 numerous congratulatory speeches were made,
 
 200 BLACK-VALLEY COUNTRY. 
 
 anil the service brought to a close, all uniting 
 in singing, 
 
 " That sacred stream, Thy holy Word, 
 Our grief allays, our fear controls ; 
 Sweet peace thy promises afford, 
 
 And give new strength to fainting souls."
 
 DR. THOMAS SEWALL'S DIAGRAMS 
 
 Showing the internal condition of Travellers 
 
 AT POONTAISLAND. 
 Healthy, 
 
 AT SIPPINGTON. 
 Inflamed, 
 
 AT TOPERSVILLE. 
 Poison indicated,
 
 OF THE HUMAN STOMACH, 
 
 t different places in the " Black Valley Country." 
 
 AT DRUNKARD'S CURVE. 
 Diseased, 
 
 AT DELIRIUMTON. 
 Blood coagulated. 
 
 AT DESTRUCTION. 
 Disorganized.
 
 One of the most emphatic temperance lectures that could possibly 
 be addressed to either eye or ear. I have seen its effects upon an 
 intelligent audience, and am persuaded that it contains the largest 
 variety of admonitions compressed into the smallest compass. It 
 would seem as if no man could look on that picture, and still daro to 
 keep Ills seat on the B. V. It. R. train." Prof. J. S. Sewall, Dow- 
 tloin College. 
 
 " Admirably adapted to remind the observer of the terrible conse- 
 quences of intemperance, and thus to aid the great cause of total ab- 
 ptinence, especially for schools among the freed people ofthe South, 
 Sabbath schools, &c." Major Gen. O. O. Howard, Washington, 
 D. C. 
 
 " A new, cheap Temperance Lecturer, who eats nothing, drinks 
 nothing, requires no salary. . . . The friends of temperance would 
 do a mst valuable service to the cause, at a cheap rate, by placing 
 this picture in railroad depots, post-offices, public schools, and all 
 other public places where it could be admitted, constantly to read 
 its fearful lessons and give its much needed warning." Christian 
 World. 
 
 ' A happy conception. Catches the eye, and arrests attention, and 
 must awaken thought. I hope it will be widely circulated." Sam- 
 uel Harris, President Bowdoin College. 
 
 " Excellent ! I hope it will be scattered wherever English can be 
 understood.'' Prof. A. Phelps, Andover, Mass. 
 
 " Capital ! capital ! It is a minnie-ball, and will do execution." 
 Jiev. L. Swain, Providence. 
 
 " You have struck upon a rich vein in your ' Black- Valley Rail- 
 road." There is ingenuity I had almost said genius enough in 
 it to immortalize the author." Prof. Wm. S. Tyler, Amhcrst Col- 
 lege. 
 
 "I am fully impressed with the belief that it must be of great 
 service in impressing upon young people the great danger of using 
 strong drink." Prof. K'lwurd Hitchcock, Amherst College. 
 
 "Word-pictures, it has been said, are often mighty; but with such 
 an aid a^ your literal exhibition, 'a force is given all force excell- 
 ing.' I think it should be suspended at every Temperance Conven- 
 tion, and the freest reference made to it by all who speak." Hon. 
 J)nrid Choate, Kssex, Muss. 
 
 " Calculated to produce a lasting impression upon the minds of 
 the young. I wish a copy of it might be hung up in every school- 
 room and bar-room in the land." Prof. E, tf. Bartlelt, OberUn 
 Coller/e. 
 
 "This picture shows to the inebriate where he is and his means 
 of escape. He may read volumes at a glance in this wonderful 
 scene. A man muct be hard indeed who would pursue the fatal 
 course when once it has been BO vividly portrayed. We recommend 
 this picture to onr teacher friends as a most valuable aid in estab- 
 lishing good morals and correct habits in the minds of the young." 
 The llhode -Island Schoolmaster. 
 
 'The pupil of the eye takes in knowledge with great readiness. 
 Men whose other senses are destroyed by the paralysis of appetite 
 or greed open wide their eyes when they see the ' engine,' with the 
 Evil One for stoker, and grain for fuel, crashing down to Drunkards' 
 Curve, on its steep, crooked way to Destruction." Boston Re- 
 corder.
 
 From the Congregat'wnalist. 
 
 "We do not see how anything could be more complete or effective for 
 Its purpose. There is a stroke of genius in the very title, and a vein 
 of humor runs all the -way through. Not only is it a literary success 
 but a work in the interest of temperance and humanity of virtue and 
 religion for which we are sure any good citizen and every Christian will 
 thank the author. Under the guise of a skillful allegory it portrays 
 the evils of intemperance, and the desolation wrought by the liquor 
 trafic showing by what insidious steps and under what plausible pleas 
 the habit of drinking is begun and confirmed, and describes the begin- 
 ning and progress of the temperance reform, license prohibition &c. 
 * * * Altogether it is a skillful argument and powerful appeal * * * 
 the illustrations are striking indeed, everything in the volume is 
 made to tell. 
 
 From Dr. Charles Jewett. 
 
 I have read your work, the Dlaclc Valley, with intense interest. 
 Since the days of Bunyan and his immortal work the Pilgrims' Prog- 
 ress, I doubt if there has ever been published an allegory calculated to 
 contribute so much to the education and reformation of this drunken 
 and- sin cursed world. 
 
 From Rev. Mortimer Blake, D.D. 
 
 The "Black Valley" is one of those happy conceptions which rise 
 almost to an inspiration. It just tells the story of the downward pro- 
 gress of drinking, in a figure which everybody, even the child, can un- 
 derstand, and with a fascinatioa which compels the traveler on that 
 road to read it to the bitter end. Tho b.wk and the illustrative pic- 
 ture ought to be in every Sabbath school library, and in every hotel, 
 steamboat, rail car and sailing yacht, and wherever else tickets on 
 the Black Valley Railroad are sold. 
 
 From the Advance. 
 
 Admirably fitted to warn the old and the young. Should be In every 
 Sunday school in the laud. 
 
 From the Nation. 
 
 Original in conception and style, j ust the thing needed, and will bo 
 read everywhere with interest and profit. 
 
 From the Temperance Press. 
 
 It presents, in a i/ay that cannot fail to arrest attention, the terrible 
 results of the liquor traffic and the folly of the habit of using intoxicat- 
 ing drink. Should be in every family .and Sabbath school, and in the 
 hands of every young man. 
 
 From Rev. Joseph H. Towne, D. D. 
 
 The best Allegory since the Pilgrims' Progress. It is like a "sharp 
 razor working deceitfully." It will be a powerful dissuasive from trav- 
 el in the Black Valley County, except to thoso who are already beyond 
 Idiot Flats. 
 
 From J. D. Fulton, D. D. 
 
 Should be welcomed to every Sabbath school Library and every flre- 
 eide in the land. 
 
 From Dea. E. W. Storrs, Longmeadow. 
 
 I have read the Black Valley with unexpected interest. From the 
 dark and sombre beginning to the glorious ending, I was filled with 
 alternating and constantly increasing emotions of horror and delight. 
 It is a wonderful book. The testimonials I am constrained to feel, fall 
 far short of expressing my opinion of its value.
 
 THE BLACK VALLEY RAILROAD, 
 
 An Allegorical Picture, designed to impress upon the mind through 
 the eye the Evils of Intemperance, and present .the Scriptural 
 and Physiological Argument against the use of Intoxicating 
 Drink, is now published from an improved design in the beautil 
 
 ful Style of CnROMO-LlTHOGKAPUY. 
 
 By the aid of brilliant colors the representation is made attractive 
 as well as impressive. At the bottom of the new picture are 
 printed the famous diagrams by Dr. Sewell, showing the effects of 
 strong drink upon the human stomach, the whole exhibiting at a 
 glance the consequences of intemperance. Pastors, Sabbath-school 
 Superintendents, and Teachers can use this document with great 
 effect. In show-windows, d^pdts, halls, &c., it can be used to 
 preach Temperance to the passing crowd who would not otherwise 
 be reached. " It is a sugar-coated pill readily taken, and loses none 
 of its virtues by what is upon the outside." It has already saved 
 many from a drunkard's grave. 
 
 At the ends of the picture, upon a scroll, are the names of the 
 places through which the trains move on their way to the regions of 
 serpents, demons, storms, fire, and darkness; viz., Sippington, Tip- 
 pleton. Topersville, Drunkards' Curve, Ilowdyville, Quarrelton, 
 Riotvillc, Beggarstown, Woeland, Gamblersville, Fightington, 
 Brothelton, Pitfall, Robbers' Den, Prisonton, Deliriumton, Demon- 
 land, Hornets'-Nest Thicket, Screech-Owl Forest, llorrorland, 
 Serpcntland. Maniacvillc, Idiot Flats, Black Valley Stormland 
 Tfmnderland, Tornado Gerge, Flood-crossing, DESTRUCTION. 
 
 Undor each name upon the scroll an appropriate text of Scripture 
 is printed; the whole being arranged so that the eve at a glance 
 takes in the whole idea of THE DliUXKAUD'S KOAD TO KUIN. 
 
 This document is published in eight forms, and mailed to any 
 address. No. 1 is.a Colored Lithograph 2 by 4 feet for Sabbath 
 Schools, Hall's, &c., price $5.00; No. 2, Colored Lithograph, 20 by 
 
 24 inches, price $1.00; No. 3, 19 by 14 inches, new edition in five 
 brilliant oil colors, with Dr. Sewell's stomach diagrams, showing 
 the internal condition of travellers, price 25 cents; No. 4 in water- 
 colors, 10 cents; No. 5, Pictorial Poster, $3.00 per 100. No. 6, four- 
 page Tract with pictures, $1.00 per 100; No. 7, two-page Tract, 
 email cut, 25 cents per 100; No. 8 is a new Chromo, 20 by 24 inches, 
 with Dr. Be well's diagram in margin, price $2.50. Photograph 
 
 25 cents. 
 
 Large discount to Sabbath Schools and Temperance Societies. 
 Over three million copies have been circulated. 
 Send orders to 
 
 PUBLISHING SOCIETY, 
 
 13 CORNIIILI,, BOSTON.
 
 UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 
 
 A 000613998 4
 
 Scene at Demonlahd. Worshippers of the principal 
 god of the Black Valley Country, p. 08.