Page:California Inter Pocula.djvu/162



their hate,  and  manifest  no  more  dehcacy  in  disclosing their mutual  infelicities. Home-sickness, oftener  felt than spoken,  sometimes  overtakes  unfledged  wanderers. On this  voyage,  just  as  we  were  passing  the  Bahama islands, one  man  was  so  overcome  that  he  could  not repress his  tears  as  he  begged  the  captain  to  put  him on board  the  first  returning  ship. " I  acted  hastily," he cried,  "  I  did  wrono;  in  leaving;  wife  and  children. But  I  will  make  amends ;  let  me  return  and  work  for them  till  I  die." In time,  this  man,  who  was  a  poor  me- chanic, became reconciled ;  but  I  could  not  help  think- ing how many  hearts  had  throbbed  well-nigh  to bursting  with  secret  regrets.

The fifth  day  out  was  Sunday,  when  the  Episcopal service was  read  by  the  purser. Sabbath is  never Sabbath again  after  spendnig  one  on  a  California steamer. The sacred  charm  is  broken,  the  hallowed influence of  the  day  forever  gone,  placed  among  the things that  were,  only  to  be  called  up  in  the  memory, and pondered  over,  and  wondered  at. Here Sunday is much  like  other  days ;  there  is  little  to  remind  one of the    deep    celestial    quiet    of  the  home  Sabbath.

There was  a  little  less  card-playing  and  novel  read- ing ; now  and  then  a  bible  or  a  prayer-book  might  be seen,  and  sacred  hymns  supplied  the  place  of  negro melodies. But home  pictures  would  appear  painted on the  imagination  deeper  and  stronger  than  on  other days. Evening songs  fell  on  hearts  tuned  to  the  old familiar strains,  sending  tears  to  the  eyes  of  many  a listener. Many there  were  in  body  rocked  on  the Atlantic that  in  spirit  were  back  by  the  old  fireside. The loud  laugh  fell  on  the  ear,  but  the  heart  heard only the  chiming  of  the  village  bells;  the  merry  jest went round,  but  ere  it  fell  it  turned  to  a  precept  pro- nounced by the  familiar  voice  from  the  old  church pulpit ; the  rippling  of  water  was  but  the  murmurs  of mother  and  brother  talking  of  the  absent  one. Con- science draws fine  lines  sometimes ;  there  was  one  man who would  not  take  a  hand  at  cards  because  it  was