St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1873-07-25
A SUMMER VACATION.
On BOARD STEAMSHIP ALEXANDRA" I
ATLANTIC OCEAN, July IA, 1873.

ATLANTIC OCEAN July IA, 1878.
Mr.. Editor What to do with ones
self during the long vacation, that was
the question. Europe was too far for
our time. Saratoga was too much for
our purses, and almost every trip that
suggested itself to us met with similar
objections. Our friends were consulted,
and at last, whether to get rid of our
uncertainties or not we do not know,
$50 to Halifax :" said one. "Many
thrue word is said in jest, cap'n dear"
observed the oft-quoted Irishman, and
whether our friend meant to be under
stood literally or figuratively, he started
train of ideas, which resulted as fol-
lows:
July IL, was the time decided on for
our departure, and at noon the ''Alham-
bra" steamed out of Boston harbOr to
bear us ''far, far away OH the rolling
billow." The experience was evidently
new one to many on board, and dur
ing the afternoon the decks were crowd
ed. The projecting headlands of Mas
sachusetts slowly disappeared, and at
o'clock we were out of sight Of land.
We were not alone, however, for in
every direction the water was alive
with schooners and other sailing vessels.
as if for our body guard.
1t was amusing to watch the effect of
the rolling of the vessel on different
persons. Some put on bold front and
| tried to walk in a straight line across
the deck. but with indifferent success.
Some turned pale and leaned their
heads languidly on their hands, while
others seemed to find objects of great
interest i'll the water Just over the sides
of the vessel. Nothing can he more
ant weather. After the novelty has
worn off. us it soon does, the sameness
is broken only by a passing vessel. or IA
stray tish-perchance whale-that may
come up for breath of fresh air.
One thing, however, must not he for
gotten-the sunsets. We were favored
with a beautiful day. and i'll fact pre-
fcrred even its mOnotony to the uncer-
tainty of such weather as the "Alham-
bra" had experienced in a previous
trip. The sky was clear. except a few
} clouds scudding the horizon which
lighted up with Il beautiful golden color
as the sun approached his destination
A stream of light like river of fire
stretched between us and the horizon
while the clouds grew brighter anC
brighter till the sun itself seemed to he
dissolved in them, and as mass o
liquid fire sank into the water. 1t lief
CHEEKY goodnight behind it i'll tho
shape of brilliant red clouds promising
bright day on the morrow.
had promised myself sight of sun
rise the next morning, and SO strong
were my anticipations and so uneas!
was my rolling berth that, howevc
averse to my custom, half-past tire,
o'clock found me pacing the deck.
, WAS not disappointed. At first IA strang
feeling of lonesomeness stole over me
5 The decks were deserted. No sail wa
a in sight, and felt the force of the word
I of the "Ancient Mariner =
= Alone alone all all alone,
II Alone the wide. wide sea.
! But soon had plenty of company, TO
h the east began to grow very red AM
the sun, as if blushing to he seen up $
= early, slowly made his appearance
first line of light, and then the Who'll
Il disc, like ball of fire, seemed to roI
e along the water on. the circle of tn
ii horizon. The impressions made upo
+, me | shall never forget.
a During the latter part of the day W
a coasted along the shore of Nova Scotia
If 1t seemed rocky aud desolate, with
u few fishermen's cottages among til
f cliffs, and now and then IA little hamlet
Towards night we passed the wreck G
= the City of Washington" a few mile
{, away, but near enough to he seen dis
tinctly with a glass. FOgs, such a
O caused her destruction, are very numeI
!. Gus about these coasts, and we wer
e very thankful that we were enjOyin
" the exception in having fair weather.
Is We were yet seventy miles frol
V Halifax when | retired to my dorm
is couch. That adjective is more apprc
- pirate than are all in common use, for
Il was within six inches of the floor
e, About three o'clock the next mornin
ID | became acquainted with the toe Of III
t travelling companions boot, and W;
: greeted with ''We're off Sambro Ligl
ID house; better get up, just for the nan
es of seeing it," | reluctantly compile,
X though glad to see the rocky poll
", about which we have heard so muc
pt 1t was the installing of this light hou
I'd for another that led to the fearful wret
e of the Atlantic" from the shock
81 which we have hardly yet recovere
}; We passed within twenty miles
n where she lay, and were told that dive
Il. were still at work searching for bodi
u and cargo.
a. A cold biting wind was blowing
Oh we steamed up the Halifax harbC
s. We were in beautiful bay filled wi
m e all kinds of shipping, including roy
at fleet of six war vessels, and guarded
he hundreds of cannon, mounted on h;
lie, a dozen fortresses. On one side of t
harbor a large building was pointed o
to us as the Insane ASYLUM and on f