A MID-WINTER OCEAN VOYAGE. 5 
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 dict exclusively upon its fish. 
He did not therefore hesitate to take passago 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 witi banners. With a feeling of great 
- relicf we soon exchanged its dirty and slippery sidewalks for 
the busy deck and laxurious saloons of the screw steamer City 
of Savannah, a floating palace of the sca. 
At about half-past three o’clock, Pp. M., on Saturday, the 18th 
of January, we left picr No. 43, North River, steamed down 
the harbor of New York, between the pleasant but then cold 
shores of Long Island and New Jerscy, into the broad Atlantic, . 
and fancied its gentle, murmuring, dancing and slightly foam- 
crested waves gave us a friendly grecting, and as warm a welcome 
as was possible at that frigid season of the year. 
At the mention of a winter’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 foregallant sail, billowed the water’s 
