re knowing than wise would attempt
to poke fun at them, whereupon the boys would 'pitch in,' and open such
a sluice of Bowery slang as made Mr. Would-be-funny beat a retreat in
double-quick time. No one attempted that game twice. During the day the
clerk discovered that three baskets of peaches were missing, all except
the baskets. None of the boys had been detected with the fruit, but I
afterwards found they had eaten it.

"Landed in Detroit at ten o'clock, Saturday night, and took a
first-class passenger-car on Mich. C. R. R., and reached D----c, a
'smart little town,' in S. W. Michigan, three o'clock Sunday morning.
The depot-master, who seldom receives more than three passengers from a
train, was utterly confounded at the crowd of little ones poured out
upon the platform, and at first refused to let us stay till morning;
but, after a deal of explanation, he consented, with apparent misgiving,
and the boys spread themselves on the floor to sleep. At day-break they
began to inquire, 'Where be we?' and, finding that they were really in
Michigan, scattered in all directions, each one for himself, and in less
than five minutes there was not a boy in sight of the depot. When I had
negotiated for our stay at the American House (!) and had breakfast
nearly ready, they began to straggle back from every quarter, each boy
loaded down--caps, shoes, coat-sleeves, and shirts full of every green
thing they could lay hands upon--apples, ears of corn, peaches, pieces
of pumpkins, etc. 'Look at the Michi_gan_ filberts!' cried a little
fellow, running up, holding with both hands upon his shirt bosom, which
was bursting out with _acorns._ Little Mag (and she is one of the
prettiest, sweetest little things you ever set eyes upon), brought in a
'nosegay,' which she insisted upon sticking in my coat--a mullen-stock
and corn-leaf, twisted with grass!

"Several of the boys had had a swim in the creek, though it was a pretty
cold morning. At the breakfast-table the question was discussed, how we
should spend the Sabbath. The boys evidently wanted to continue their
explorations; but when asked if it would not be best to go to church,
there were no hands down, and some proposed to go to Sunday School, and
'boys' meeting, too.'

"The children had clean and happy faces, but no change of clothes, and
those they wore were badly soiled and torn by the emigrant passage. You
can imagine the appearance of our 'ragged regiment,' as we filed into
the