Page:The Homes of the New World- Vol. III.djvu/458

Rh The last faces I saw were those of the angelic Eddie and the good, brotherly Marcus.

After that I sate silent and immovable for hours. But Marcus had placed in my room a bouquet of evergreens and yellow and red everlastings from the garden at Rose Cottage, and hung to it a card on which were written a few words in pencil; and upon this bouquet I sat gazing immovably, until its rich green leaves were woven around my heart, and all my agitated feelings had subsided into calm.

It was at noon when we left the land. Toward evening I went on deck to cast one more glance upon that great New World. There it lay on the western horizon, dark-green upon the blue waters in a grand half-circle, like an open embrace, a calm and inviting harbour. Clouds of tender peach-colour, and from the darkest violet to the clearest gold and the softest crimson, lay in picturesque masses above it, rain-showers and sun-beams were flung athwart it. The sun freed himself from the cloud, and shone all the brighter the lower he sank towards the horizon where the great land lay. And that was the last view I had of it; and thus shall I always behold it in the depth of my soul.

I now see it no longer with my eye, see only heaven and the ocean. I am now again passing through a pause between two periods of life, between two worlds. But my heart is full. And when people ask me what the people of the New World possess preferably to the Old, I reply, with the impression of that which I have seen and passed through in America fresh in my soul;—a warmer heart's pulse; a more energetic, a more vigorous youthful life.

Among the letters which I received shortly before coming on board, is one which I shall always retain. It is not signed by any name, but I would that its writer (the style is that of a man) only knew how much joy it gave me! I have sometimes complained bitterly of the want of a nice