Transcriber's Note
A full list of Martha Finley's books has been moved to the end of this book.
ELSIE'S JOURNEY ON INLAND WATERS
BY
MARTHA FINLEY
NEW YORK
DODD, MEAD AND COMPANY
Publishers
Copyright, 1895,
BY
DODD, MEAD AND COMPANY.
All rights reserved.
CHAPTER I.
After her return from the trip across thelake with the bridal party, the Dolphin lay atanchor near the White City for a week ormore; there were so many interesting andbeautiful exhibits at the Fair still unseen bythem that Captain Raymond, his family, andguests scarce knew how to tear themselvesaway.
At the breakfast table on the morning aftertheir arrival, they, as usual, considered togetherthe question where the day should bespent. It was soon evident that they were notall of one mind, some preferring a visit toone building, some to another.
"I should like nothing better than to spendsome hours in the Art Palace, examining paintingsand statuary," said Violet, "and I have anidea that mamma would enjoy doing the same,"[Pg 2]looking enquiringly at her mother as shefinished her sentence.
"In which you are quite right," respondedGrandma Elsie. "There is nothing I enjoymore than pictures and statuary such as may befound there."
"And I am sure your father and I can echothat sentiment," remarked Mrs. Dinsmore, witha smiling glance at her husband.
"Very true, my dear," he said.
"Then that is where we shall go," said thecaptain.
"That includes your four children, I suppose,papa?" remarked Lucilla, half enquiringly,half in assertion.
"Unless one or more of them should preferto remain at home—here on the yacht," hereplied. "How about that, Neddie, my boy?"
"Oh, papa, I don't want to stay here!Please let me go with you and mamma,"exclaimed the little fellow, with a look ofmingled alarm and entreaty.
"You certainly shall, if you want to, myson," returned his father. "I am happy to saythat my little boy has been very good andgiven no unnecessary trouble in visiting theFair thus far. And I can say the same of mylittle Elsie and her older sisters also," he added,with an affectionate look from one to another.
"Thank you, papa," said Lucilla and Grace,the latter adding, "I think it would be strangeindeed should we ever intentionally and willinglygive trouble to such a father as ours."
"I don't intend ever to do that," said littleElsie earnestly, and with a loving upward lookinto her father's face.
"I am glad to hear it, dear child," he returned,with an appreciative smile.
"I, too," said her mother. "Well, we willmake quite a party, even if all the rest chooseto go elsewhere."
The Art Palace was a very beautiful buildingof brick and steel; its style of architectureIonic of the most classic and refined type.It was very large: 320 feet wide by 500 feetin length, with an eastern and western annex, agrand nave and transept 160 feet wide and 70feet high intersecting it, and that surmountedby a dome very high and wide, and havingupon its apex a win