FROM NASSAU TO FERNANDINA. 351 
air for an atmosphere that vitalizes the blood, stimulates the 
nerves, gives birth to noble purposes, and inspires with a laudable 
ambition! 
Afterwards, when the weekly mail arrived, with letters and news- 
papers from home, and we learned how badly both March and _ 
April had conducted themselves at the north in our absence, we 
immediately rushed out from beneath the grateful shade of tropi- 
cal trees, and, with heads bowed but well protected, we made 
to the hot sun, and to the beautiful lands that panted in its fierce 
and scorching rays, our most humble and sincere apologies. 
At the conclusion of our second visit to the Bahamas, we 
had a most delightful voyage in the Western Texas, of the C. H. 
Mallory & Co.’s line, from Nassau to Fernandina. We weré 
‘favored with clear skies, while beneath and around us the At- 
lantic was at rest. All the storm gods of the sea were indulg- 
ing in deep, profound, voluptuous sleep. Our ship rivaled thé 
ducks upon sheltered Jakes in the quiet grace with which it 
passed over the smooth waters. We spent much of the time 
during the day dreamily watching the sky, the birds, the mur- 
muring waves, the fish, the sea weed, and passing vessels. The 
* glory of the stars and of the Southern Cross added brilliancy 
and gladness to the night. 
“New stars all night above the brim 
Of waters lightened into view; 
They climb’d as quickly, for the rim 
Changed every moment as we flew.” 
There are often among the passengers on shipboard “late 
birds,” sometimes, upon the land, called ‘‘larks,” who linger 
behind after the staid, prudent, and conservative have -retited, 
and, with songs and stories, and fragrant Havanas, endeavor to 
get more than the average amount of enjoyment out of hours 
generally devoted to sleep. But the passengers who sailed with 
