STEAMER. MACKINAW TO DETROIT. 301 



where the purest air. the snvuest days, the most serious 

 scenery, and the far oil', dreamy ga/.e over the waves will 

 lull and soothe and restore the worn mind and the tired 

 heart. It was with reluctance almost with sadness that 

 we ga/.ed ourtoo early farewell to the historic and romantic 

 island, while we stood on the upper deck and the steamer 

 moved silently out upon the darkening waters and into the 

 evening shades, the steamer's hand, meanwhile, discours 

 ing strains of music tranquili/.ing. tender, and soft as the 

 amhient air or the mirror-like waters beneath. The long, 

 quiet evening on tin; water followed. We sat on the upper 

 deck in easy chairs, and talked of the streams and woods, of 

 old college davs together, of the homes and home ones we 

 were journey inn; toward, of those we shall see no more on 

 this side of the Kiver. of but we were two old friends, 

 boys together once, "old hoys" now, and it is ours to 

 remember what we talked. It was late, very late, when 

 we went to our slate rooms 



All night long the good vessel plowed her way through 

 the silvery waters, trembling through every fibre with her 

 eager ardor. All day long she moved with the, superb 

 strength born of lire and steel and vapor. She halted at 

 the coast towns to take on and discharge passengers and 

 freight; the band beguiled the wailing time, and we 

 tramped up and down the streets until the whistle sounded 

 a return. The wind came up fresh. I remember how 

 easily and with an airy grace quite exquisite, my Macki- 

 naw hat lifted from my head and sailed oil' into the Huron 

 to commit, j't hi Je w the sixth suicide of the sort on the 

 steamer's trip. 



