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Seton, Ernest Thompson, 1860-1946

"Rolf in the Woods"

Loafers hailed them from the bank, but Bill turned a
deaf ear to all temptation; and they pushed on happy in the
thought that now their troubles were over; the last rapid was
past; the broad, smooth waters extended to their port.

Chapter 54. Albany
Only a man who in his youth has come at last in sight of some
great city he had dreamed of all his life and longed to see, can
enter into Rolf's feelings as they swept around the big bend, and
Albany -- Albany, hove in view. Abany, the first chartered city
of the United States; Albany, the capital of all the Empire
State; Albany, the thriving metropolis with nearly six thousand
living human souls; Albany with its State House, beautiful and
dignified, looking down the mighty Hudson highway that led to the
open sea.
Rolf knew his Bible, and now he somewhat realized the feelings of
St. Paul on that historic day when his life-long dream came true,
when first he neared the Eternal City -- when at last he glimpsed
the towers of imperial, splendid Rome.
The long-strung docks were massed and webbed with ship rigging;
the water was livened with boats and canoes; the wooden
warehouses back of the docks were overtopped by wooden houses in
tiers, until high above them all the Capitol itself was the
fitting climax.


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