A MID-WINTER OCEAN" VOYAGE. 15 



Friday has acquired a bad name, especially among those who 

 have their ''home upon the rolling deep." But for the author, 

 it had no terrors — particularly as he never made it a matter of 

 conscience to keep its fasts or to diet exclusively upon its fish. 

 He did not therefore hesitate to take passage on board the steamer 

 Elm City for New York, on Friday evening, the 17th of January, 

 A. D. 1879. Never in summer did he more comfortably pass 

 over Long Island Sound, or awaken after it feeling more invigor- 

 ated and refreshed. A short while previous the little light snow- 

 flakes had noiselessly fallen upon the great city of New York, 

 effectually barricaded its immense net work of streets and ave- 

 nues, and more effectually held it in subjection than could a 

 great and powerful army with banners. With a feeling of great 

 relief we soon exchanged its dirty and slippery sidewalks for 

 the busy deck and luxurious saloons of the screw steamer City 

 of Savannah, a floating palace of the sea. 



At about half-past three o'clock, p. m., on Saturday, the 18th 

 of January, we left pier No. 43, North River, steamed down 

 the harbor of New York, between the pleasant but then cold 

 shores of Long Island and New Jersey, into the broad Atlantic, 

 and fancied its gentle, murmuring, dancing and slightly foam- 

 crested waves gave us a friendly greeting, and as warm a welcome 

 as was possible at that frigid season of the year. 



At the mention of a Avinter's voyage, before a blazing fire or 

 near a comfortable steam radiator, one involuntarily shudders, 

 shivers and recoils. But had we not just got to the end of a 

 long series of storms, and fierce, cold winds ? Had not the wind 

 god of winter exhausted himself, and would he not now stop to 

 take breath? We thought so, and soon found that we were right. 

 Saturday afternoon and night the Atlantic was in one of its mild- 

 est moods. Sunday the wind took us directly aft, rounded out 

 our foresail, foretopsail and forogallant sail, billowed the water's 



