Weekly Trinity journal., 1857-05-30
Down on the Dock on steamer Day.

Fvervbody pops down on the dock TO see the
steamer leave. Nearly everybody has friend
to bid adieu and rs he grasps his hand and says
the last goodbye, he turns away sad in heart,
not envious of his friends happiness, who goes TO
visit the friends about the old hearth stone-but
with an innate longing to visit that sacred spot
himself, and with JOY and happiness to glad
mothers heart with the presence of her cherished
one. The silent wears have rolled over many
such scene, and still, the day comes round,
heart ycarnings rise to choke the uitorance ana
dim the eye with tears, that such is the inevitable
lot Night, with her grim mantle, shronds the
dav and morning dawns again to bid us TO the
work of life to join in the hurlyhurly OF the re-
alitics of existence and struggle on TO the attain
mcnt of the ends of our ambition.
These periodical monitons of home come aono
too often to keep the heart attuned to the chords
Of its childhood 5 sweetness. Isolated ana alone
shut of from scenes to keep us in constant ro.
membr0nce Of those who Nre left to love us, we
would grow stoical and Indifferent to the purer
sensibilities of life. aud come to know no happ'-
meas save that within our Immediate grasp-the
mere artificial toys of existence.
Steamer day brings with it rememhrances OF
the happy days when over bank aud hrae through
thicket and dell we wandered in unrcslrHlncd
freedom aud happiness and thoughts ran riot all
over the wide. wide world wondering where our
lot was to be cnst.-nor dreaming in the utmost
romance of our thoughts that, in few years, we
should find ourselves away out on these western
shores then the far of rcGion-thc great terra in
cognitd of the continent. Rapid beat the wings
of time. and fast fly the years. From youth to
manhood and manhood to age, age to The lastsAd
rcsting-place Of earth, is but step quick taken
-- the common lot of all
You are going homo, Charley, TO visit the
scenes of the oldcn time, to carry out the long
cherished and brightest vision of the heart -
Take y message to those who watch and wait for
my coming, and tell them TO keep up brave
heart for my return Think Of me, too, when
seated ut the family board, and place vacant
chair in the old place. and let me be, with you
in sympathetic presence, though in reality still
drlving away, on the struggle for fortune out
here in this glorious land. There is n cottage,
too, over under the hillside that on your arrival
there, will be embowcrtd in the luNurlant lolage
aud green MOSES OF midsummer AS you sit bc-
meath that porch, and look cut on the many ia
mliar hanuts of our hoyhood, your hand IN that
Of hers who is to join her lot with yours, aud
whom you 20 now to make happy, blessed with
enough Of the riches which your industry has nc
qurcd for you here, thiuli Of the kind hearts that
heat responsive to your own in this western land
and wish for them, too. like happiness.
The lines are cast oH On the bridge, just
abaft the smokc-stack, stands the commander Of
the lcvahan that is groahing, and strnnng her
huge form out into the bright waters OF the bay
Cheer rises upon cheer. as She swings round on
her course, and not until the sudden report of the
steamers gun denotes her under fnll hcadway,
homcward bound, do you feel the separation
Even then, you watch until the last inttcr OF her
flag waves against the sky, NJ She rounds the
point and musing over the drcnm9 and hopca
that fancy has c0niurcd up, you wander back TO
the busy streets of San Francisco and minglc
once more in the tide OF human life, that ebb6
and flows thcrcn.--1Ha.