OLD iMURRAY BAY 



But young and old, the late comer and 

 he whose memory dwells upon the past — as 

 each may esteem what things belong to his 

 happiness — will gather severally and ar- 

 range the nosegay of his praise. 



Compellingly strong the charm, distilled 

 from many and diverse elements, that im- 

 pels one of the busiest of men, on setting 

 an unwilling foot in New York, straight- 

 way to begin marking off the tedious pro- 

 cession of days that must pass before his re- 

 turn — that holds some families faithful 

 unto the fifth generation — reunites others 

 from the ends of the earth — forgives im- 

 moderateness in the parody: 



What are fifty years of Europe 

 To a summer at Malbaie? 



— adds such heartiness to greetings, so 

 much of poignancy to farewells — that 

 moved one, too sensitive, I dare say, to the 

 tears of things, thus to write of Closing the 

 House : 



'They have gone away by twos and 

 threes. Groups making pretence of gaiety 

 have stood upon the steamer's deck answer- 

 ing song with song, cheer with cheer, and 

 as the distance widened, signal by signal. 



73 



