20
e Steamer Arago Dec. 28. 1859
Land, Ho, We are running down the forest covered
shore of Long Island – and already our leave takings
have begun. For myself I tremble between the hope
of meeting and the fear of hearing ill news of those
who, have indulged me in erratic travel so
long. We found a forbidding coast covered with
snow at Cowes – seen rapidly down the
shores of the Scilly Islands by day light, and
entered the open sea under a mollified and
balmy atmosphere. For the first week we had
bal smooth seas and nearly summer weather.
Then came a wet and wild gale – from
ahead – slackened speed – and sinking health
and courage among the passengers. We rode
through them into a soft and balmy clime
which lasted for a day, and then awakened to
find a Christmas morning, cold piercing, sleety
with a ni the winds in wild revelry,
Such a Christmas! We could not keep our
feet to sing and recite the Christmas sermon.

21
No one could keep foot on the decks covered
with ice and sleet. The ship rocked and plunged
under the ^heavy^ weight of ice on the decks masts
spars rigging pipes, boats every thing. The
waves raged in response to the reckless
shrieks of the wind. All gathered into the
cabin and reflected sorrowfully that under
God our safety depended not on any thing
we could do or man could now do
for us but on the soundness of the ^creaking^ ship and
the strength of the heavy engine.
That peril found us looking for genial
skies, but they came not, a new gale more
violent than the last met us fiercely as
if to repel us from our nation’s shore. For
two days we heard that last storm, and
this morning the sun has broken through the
gloom, the sea is calmer, the land rises
from its horizon covered with trees and Home
with its cheerful fires and glad unions seems
to lay past behind a thin mist spread out before
us.