RETURN TO AMERICA. 291 



The first land that greeted my eyes was hailed with a 

 feeling of joy which I cannot describe. It was my native 

 land the land where could be seen the graves of my pa- 

 rents the soil on which the light of heaven first blessed 

 my eyes the scene of the crowding memories of child- 

 hood the place where I desired to lay my bones that 

 they might fatten the soil that fed me. My mother earth, 

 God bless thee ! 



We entered the beautiful bay of New York, and shortly 

 afterwards, I stepped upon the shojr e of America. I did 

 not wish to remain in that great Babel of a city my na- 

 ture sighed for -another element less intense in its sub- 

 duing influence, and more bracing to the body and the 

 spirit. The next day after my arrival, I engaged pas- 

 sage in a steamer for Galvezton, Texas, and the next, I 

 was on the way. This voyage was short, but tedious, and 

 when I came in sight of the town of Galvezton, my heart 

 fairly leapt in: my bosom at the prospect of soon being 

 upon the prairies, where I had passed so many adventurous 

 days. The town could not detain me long. Purchasing 

 agood horse and a quantity of ammunition, I prepared my- 

 self for the sport of the prairies and mountains. 



But a sober second thought advised me to invest the 

 greater portion of the money I had remaining, in the 

 purchase of land enough for a farm. From a wealthy 

 gentleman in Galvezton, I obtained the possession of about 



