Crumbs from the Land O' Cakes (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1851. Excerpt: ... "The sea the sea the open sea The blue, the fresh, the ever free Without a mark, without a bound It runneth earth's wide region round." In common with all Scotchmen who have been long absent from their native country, I had fondly desired to see once more her rugged hills an unexpected opportunity of gratifying this desire occurring, I at once embraced it, and on Wednesday, the 17th of April, 1850, left the Cunard Dock, Jersey City, in the royal mail steamer Europa, bound for Liverpool. As we moved from the pier, the welkin rang with the shouts of the assembled spectators, for it doubtless seemed a very pleasant affair to be borne off in such dashing style. My first emotion was strange and indescribable. It seemed difficult to realize that I had commenced an ocean voyage. Why am I here? was the first inquiry I made of myself; and to tell the truth, it was hard to find an answer, so very recently had the thought of the trip suggested itself, and so hastily had it been acted on. It was curious, on looking around me, to observe that the countenances of many of those on board seemed to say, as they paced the deck, "Well, what shall we do now?" Those who had been to sea before took it very coolly; but the most of them were making their " experimental trip," and were, therefore, quite unprepared for the new position of things. Is there to be no change for ten days? Is this ship to be a rolling prison for that length of time? Thus was I musing, when the motion of the wheels was arrested, and we paused to discharge our pilot. Those who had been thoughtful, sent back their parting letters, and we then stood out to sea. The waters of the bay, at this point, were pressing against those of the ocean, as if to keep them out, and refusing to mingle. The Atlantic a...