speed to a friend going to europe is a great loss it was so to me especially because there was always more to me in every departure than the parting and the farewell i was gradually this pleasure as i saw small prospect of ending before noon when after looking at me a moment came to my side of the desk and said i should like to finish that for you i looked at him poor he had no friends to wish g speed upon any journey t bv sea shore quietly wiped my pen took down my hat and went out it was in the days of sail and regularity when going to europe was more of an epoch in life how gaily my cousin stood upon the deck and detailed to me her plan how merrily the children shouted and sang how long i held my s little hand in mine and gazed her great eyes remembering that they would see and touch the things that were invisible to me for ever but all the more precious and fair she kissed me � i was younger then � there were tears i remember and prayers aud promises a waving handkerchief � a fading sail it was only the other day that i saw another parting of the same kind i was not a principal only a spectator but so fond am i of sharing afar off as it were and unseen the sympathies of human beings that i cannot avoid often going to the dock upon steamer days and giving myself to that pleasant and melancholy observation there is always a crowd but this day it was almost impossible to advance through the masses of people the eager faces hurried by a constant stream poured up the into the steamer and the upper deck to which i gradually made my way was crowded with the passengers and their friends there was one group upon which my eyes first bv so and i fell and upon which my memory a glance brilliant as daybreak � a voice her voice s music � call it tlie well s tlie bird s a goddess with flowers and smiling farewell upon a circle of to each one of whom that gracious calmness made the smile sweeter and the farewell more sad � other figures other flowers an angel face � ail these i saw in that group as i was swayed up and down the deck by the eager swarm of people the hour came and i went on shore with the rest the plank was drawn away � the captain raised his hand � the huge steamer slowly moved � a cannon was fired � the ship was gone the sun sparkled upon the water as they sailed away in five minutes the steamer was as much separated from the shore as if it had been at sea a thousand years i leaned against a post upon the dock and looked around ranged upon the edge of the wharf stood that band of waving handkerchiefs and straining their eyes to see the last smile of farewell � did any eager selfish eye hope to see a tear they to whom the handkerchiefs were waved stood high upon the stern holding flowers over them hung the great flag raised by the gentle wind into bv sea shoes the graceful folds of a � rather a gorgeous waved over tlie triumphant departure over that supreme youth and bloom and beauty going out across the mystic ocean to carry a finer charm and more human splendor into those of my imagination beyond the sea you will return o youth and beauty i said to my dreaming and foolish self as i contemplated those fair figures richer than alexander indian spoils all that historic association that copious civilization those and graces of art that variety and of life will mellow and your experience even as time silently touches those old pictures into a more and pathetic beauty and as this increasing summer sheds ever softer lustre upon the landscape you will return and not conquered you will bring europe even as brought captive to deck your homeward triumph i do not wonder that these clouds break away i do not wonder that the sun presses out and floods all the air and land and water with light that graces with happy your stately farewell but if my faded face looked after them with such earnest and longing emotion � i a solitary old man unknown to those fair beings and standing apart from that band of lovers yet in that sa and bound more closely to them than they knew � how was it with those whose hearts sailed away with that youth and beauty i watched them closely from behind my post i knew that life had paused with them that the world stood still i knew that the long long summer would be only a yearning regret i knew that each asked himself the mournful question is this parting typical � � this slow sad sweet and i knew that they did not care to ask whether they should meet again nor dare to contemplate the chances of the sea the steamer swept on she was near island and a final gun far and low across the water the crowd was but the little group remained was it not all hood had sung i saw lovely along tha shore with bands of noble gentlemen and waved before and gentle youths and maidens gay and snowy wore j � it would been a dream if it bad ao more o youth i said to them without speaking be it gently said as it is solemnly thought should they return no more yet in your memories the high hour of their loveliness is for ever envied sea from shore should they come no more they never will be old nor changed to you you will 