His CAPTORS. 31 



Homeward Ho ! Propitious Omens. 



lights and shadows of a homeward cruise in the 

 Pacific and Atlantic, from the Sandwich Isl- 

 ands to Boston, in the good ship Commodore 

 Preble, Captain Lafayette Ludlow. 



In a voyage of two hundred and thirty-six 

 days there will always be lights and shadows, 

 good and evil, pleasures and displeasures, inter- 

 locking one another. To the author the com- 

 forts of this long voyage far exceeded its dis- 

 comforts, by the constant blessing of Provi- 

 dence, making it eminently conducive to the 

 recovery of health, and through the personal 

 kindness of a skillful captain and esteemed 

 friend. Would that every wanderer in quest 

 of health could be cheerfully returning home- 

 ward under circumstances as favorable ! 



Now, little book, with prosperous tide and gale 

 I'll pledge tliee to a voyage round the world. 

 Buoyant and bounding like the polar whale, 

 That takes his pastime, every joyful sail 

 Here to the freedom of the wind unfurl, 

 While right and left the parted surges curl ! 



