336 SKETCHES OF SEA-LIFE. 



run," while amid the toss of sea-caps and tarpaulins there went 

 up three as hearty responses -as ever were echoed over New York 

 harbor. Long after, till the boat was lost to view in the forest 

 of masts which encircles the Empire City, we could see, waving 

 over many a sylph-like form, the white flag of woman's love. 

 Heaven smile on the fair who thus bid " God speed " to the lone 

 mariner, wrestling ever with the perils of the main. 



It is hard to sever the last link that binds one to land and to 

 home ; and the heart sinks low with sadness, in even the bosom 

 that has buffeted a thousand gales, as the last adieu is waved to 

 objects of most tender associations. There was one at least among 

 that rough, hardy crew whose thoughts were cheerless and heavy. 

 He was a " Freshman of the sea." He was to traverse the three 

 thousand miles of landless, boisterous ocean, in a narrow tene- 

 ment, where a single false step or missing grasp might cause to 

 close over him forever, Nature's vast sepulchre. His vessel too 

 had never yet tested its sea-powers, or tried its arm with the 

 fickle twins that rule the deep, and in a luckless hour it might 

 spring a gaping leak in its uncoppered hull, or under press of 

 sail careen beyond its balance. Yet it was not fear that weighed 

 on his spirits, for little did he reck or know of the danger. But 

 he thought of the changes of the few past weeks ; of the strange 

 situation into which a restless, roving disposition had led him. 

 He thought of the strong ties now probably severed for ever 

 which had bound to him as brothers, his generous classmates, 

 who, as they pealed again their hearty welcomes, after a joyous 

 spring vacation, would wonder at the freak which had sent so 

 retiring a student to try the noisy, Jack-tar life of a forecastle. 

 He thought too of loved friends at home, who soon would read, 

 with startled, sorrowing eyes, the first intelligence of the errant 

 course of a son and brother ; and a tear of penitent regret rolled 

 unbidden down his cheek. 



But, heigh-ho ! What a savage gust that was ! How that huge 

 swell tumbled us about ! The arms of the bay have suddenly 

 opened, revealing to us a shoreless expanse of waters. While I 

 had been absorbed in revery, our " Ocean bird " had spread its 

 broad wings to the breezes, and had lightly flitted through the 



