The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-11-03
For the National Era.
BELL SMITH ABROAD.-AT SEA.

DEAR DocToR: We left New York in the
good ship Franklin, ON the e day Of --,
graced by the tears and followed by the bless
ings of Pier No. 4. had intended, for months
before, TO devote that hour of parting to sub
lime emotions; but to tell the unromantic
truth, was 80 heated and confused by the lit.
tie annoyances and unlocked for occurrences of
the morning, that had nothing but feeling
of dense crowd under low awning, and
confused notion of the whereabouts Of six
trunks, four boxes, two carpet bags three cloaks,
gutarbox, and bird-cage, which seemed to
me certainly to have been left in the AstOr
House, or distributed over the dirty streets Of
New York. On the morning of our departure,
found multitude of necessary things undone
Lucy, poor child, could not help me- and d.
had gone of to get shaved, which knew would
last until half past twelve; in which time, by
the closest calculation, our steamer would have
been outside the bay of New York and beyond
the successful pursuit of even business oharac-
ter. D.'s shaving consisted of reading all the
papers, chatting with everybody he met eating
breakfast, and the startling discovery, just at
twelve O'Clock, that he had business in bank,
and letters which must be mailed before leav-
ing. To sum up all, that mans departure with
us was an especial act of Providence; for at the
corner of two narrow streets, just as George 5.
on one side was advising me to take champagne
in case of ses-sickness, and Mrs. w. on the
other was beseeching me to send her the latest
new bonnet, ! caught sight OF the anxiously'
sought for individual, seated in hack, calmly
surveying a bsrricade of hacks and omnibuses
| which, probably employed by the hour, were
content to remain there the ensiro day. We
captured him, under protest, and arrived at the
boat q. the bell struck twelve. immediately
the hoating-world slipped cable, and with 4
great waving of handkerchiefs, loud huxzas, ant
a shril shrek from the engine, which seemed
u cry of angry dsmay, we splashed into thu
bay, "outward bound"
The choicest bits of emotion have ever been
blessed with have come unexpected. | never
sat out to be delighted, awe-struck, or aston
ished, that did not mourn over a total failure.
An ordinary picture, in an unexpected corner,
has won more admiration and given more
pleasure than whole galleries of famous old
masters. | saw New York gradually disappear,
and my mind, in place of bidding adieu to the
great world wc call our own, and which for 30
many days, months, and perhaps years, would
be dreamed over OF remembered, kept running
on "A handkerchief that | was satisfied | had
left in my room at the Astor House, and, Of
course, never to be seen by the real owner
again A small matter, that handkerchief
light and delicate enough to have been a gift
from Oberon to Titania, and yet it was large
enough to cover New York bay, Brooklyn, and
all the surroundings 80 generally seen through
tears by departing travellers. BY force Of will,
disposed of the handkerchief and was be-
coming tranquil, when ID. asked what had be-
come Of our passport If | knew anything
about the keys-had not the brandy and ia
maica ginger been forgotten All of which
sent me from the deck to our cabin, before I'M
visited. Our entrance was greeted by Il COM
binaton Of odors, which at once answered half
his questions. The ginger, hair oil, brandy,
and cologne, had all been tumbled by poor
little Lucy into a carpet sack, which, when
opened, presented, AZ ID. said considerable
smash the mingled liquids dyeing our night
dresses, which by the process seemed to suffer
"sea change unto something rich and
strange sat down, and laughed and cried,
as d., with a rueiul oouDtenance, pulled out
the various articles and held them up, making
queer comments He wanted to throw them
all out the window, and lot the fish expert
Notwithstanding that they would play "Old
GooseberryD with the sharks, IA he did not
think any digestion would be good against
such a quantity of excellent preventiver. He
argued, however, that taken by some larger
creature as u homeopathic dose, and AZ oil the
ills that fish were heir 10 must be some species
of aasickness, we might be the means Of saving
the life OF some aged and infrm whale.
Upon our return 10 the deck, the engine had
ceased its throbbings, and we wore heading in
tn,yn "a Al lnu oandu leland uranad hv a ight-
house, but otherwise barren enough for Willis
to run out and play Robinson Crusoe on. A
boat was being lowered, with q dozen men in
it, and, was Informed, party made up Of
patriotic Frenchmen in reduced circumstances
who had hid themselves in the vessel, hoping
in this way to win passage to their sunny
land Of grapes and gaiety Poor fellows what
golden hopes they had seen melt away upon
foreign shores, and now, sick ut heart, we're
willing to undergo any hardship to get back
once more TO wives and children. My heart
ached as saw them turned homeless and pen
niess upon the sands. But such sympathy is
in great danger Of being misplaced. ] but u
few days before began crying over the parting
scene gotten up by some Irish in the cars but
before could get at my pocket handkerchief
Paddy and Co. were laughing AS heartily as
before they had howled And even in this in
stance tho unfortunate exiled INDUCED in sew
ersl merry capcrs upon the sands and gave US
q parting shout mingled with laughter, that
ringing over the waves, cheered me up consid'
erably. Wives, children, and French gener-
ally, were not in such bad way, aft0vsll.
We saw the sun 70 down at sea. twas sur
prised at the number Of passengers possessing
q taste for this bsautiful final to summers
day. Indeed, they preferred it to their dinner,
and chung To the decks, while few ancient
mariners we're uncorking champagne aud en-
joying substantials below Among the rest
Lucy and d. hung over the railing, and seemed
~ be in raptures; ut least, they camc back and
20 informed me. Came back for, TO tell you
the truth, in q confidential way, took one look
lon the huue ve xsel and saw the how NAV.