distance on their way. For this purpose, they also went on board, hiring a pilot boat to accompany the ship. They enjoyed a delightful season together, although the missionaries felt as though about to be torn for ever from those connected to them by ties of real friendship, for they accounted them dear as though they had known them for years instead of days. Their enjoyment was brief, however, as it was late in the day, and they were soon out of sight of land. At the end of two hours they were compelled to separate. That their adieus were sorrowful, may not be doubted; indeed, this, or any other word in our language, is inadequate to describe the emotions of the party. As the pilot boat dropped round the stern of the vessel, its occupants waved their handkerchiefs, and simultaneously began singing a farewell missionary hymn. The effect was electric! Some rushed to the side in agony, as though they would recal the departing ones, and return with them to their native land. Others covered their faces, and tears streamed through the trembling fingers; and sobs shook the frames of even strong men. They thought not of formalities; in that hour it was not a shame for the sterner sex to weep. The forms of their friends fast lessened in the distance, and at last their boat looked like a speck on the wave, and the sweet cadences of that beautiful song, faintly rilling along to their hearing like the sigh of an angel, were the last sounds that reached them from the home of civilization. With hushed respiration, bowed heads, and straining ears, they listened to its low breathings, now wafted gently and soothingly to them on the breeze, then dying away, and finally lost in the whisperings of wind and waves. It is folly to attempt description, but for weeks did it haunt their slumbers, while tossing upon the treacherous deep; and it came

not alone, for with it were fair visions of parents, home, brothers and sisters, joyous childhood and youth, and every thing they had known at home, floated in vivid pictures before them, touched by the fairy pencil of the dream-angel.

Incessantly engaged in preparation while on shore, they had had no opportunity of making the acquaintance of those who were to be their ship companions. They now exerted themselves to do so, and soon succeeded, sympathy drawing them together, for they must now look to one another for that comfort which was denied them from every other earthly source. The company consisted of thirteen individuals: three young ladies-A Miss Downing, engaged to Mr. Shepherd, who had previously gone out in an expedition ; Miss Johnson, and a Miss Pitman, who afterwards married Mr. Jason Lee, who was also in Oregon; Mr. Beers, a blacksmith, from Connecticut, his wife and three children; Mr. Wilson, a carpenter, from New Bedford; Dr. and Mrs. White, George, their adopted son, and their babe.

A more particular notice of some of these persons might be interesting to the reader, and I will begin with Mr. Beers.

He was a man of low stature, rather dark complexion, thin visage, rigid puritanical manners, and well versed in scripture, ever stoutly insisting on all coming to his landmark, his righteous soul chafing sorely at the least departure of his friends from his golden rule. Being rather bilious, it increased the austerity of his manners, which failed to render him a favorite with either crew or passengers.

Mrs. Beers was of medium height, round favored, philosophical turn of mind, docile, quiet temperament, and perfectly obedient to her husband, as the reader might suppose she had best be, after the above description of him.

Mr. Wilson was five feet ten inches in height, cheerful,

sympathetic, and affectionate, fond of relating old sea stories, for he had been quite an experienced whaler. A peculiar characteristic, and a strange one for a man, was an almost childish partiality for cats; and as there were none on board, he made a pet of a beautiful kid, whose head he would comb and caress for an hour together, talking to it the while as though it was a human being. While here, I will give the sequel of its short life. As they approached the Sandwich Islands, it became necessary to repair the ship; and Tip, partaking too freely of the paint which had been left within his reach, was consequently thrown into a decline, and yielded up his breath before they entered port, lamented by all, as the little creature, by its affectionate playfulness, had much endeared itself to them.

Miss Pitman, from New York, was rather tall, with black eyes and hair, resolute and persevering, fervently pious, and possessing considerable poetic genius.

Miss Downing, of Lynn, Massachusetts, had dark hair, blue eyes, elegant form; exhibited taste and neatness in her attire, and was much beloved by her companions, and always remembered by them with pleasure and respect.

Miss Johnson, also, had dark hair and blue eyes, and fair complexion; and, if not really beautiful, she was very winning and engaging, ever truly devoted, but of cheerful, happy disposition. She was lovely and amiable, desirous of rendering herself useful, in which she so well succeeded while in Oregon. A purer, more truly missionary spirit, and one more zealous in the work to which she had devoted her-> self, has not, perhaps, as yet, visited that distant clime. As children are my pets, I will depart from the custom of many authors, and talk of them for a few moments, and then relate some of the incidents of the voyage. George was the

son of a poor widow in Havana. He was a round favored, plump little fellow, much attached to his book, and of singularly intellectual cast. His memory was extraordinary. Few, either man or boy, could compete with him in this respect. His narrow escape from drowning in the Seneca Lake, together with his dreadful fate in Oregon, will be brought in, more appropriately, at another time. Mr. Beers' eldest daughter was a very frank, happy young girl, perhaps somewhat of a hoyden, as young girls will occasionally be. She was very fond of Benny, and they enjoyed extremely well the sports of Mr. Wilson with the kid; and the vessel often rang with their noisy shouts of merriment, as they frolicked together. Benny was a child with piercing, laughing black eyes; in short, a pretty babe, and afterwards a fine boy. There was his little sister, Eleanor, who was a great talker, like many of her sex, affording the elder one much amusement by her lisping prattle. Children, so far from contributing to the enjoyment of people generally, are often considered annoyances; yet the artless chatter and playful pranks of these, greatly dispelled the gloom and ennui which would sometimes steal over the ship.

CHAPTER II.

First dinner on board. Effect of change of diet-Water; its scarcity-Swearing-Flying fish-Shark-Mother Carey's ChickensEmployment-Reaching the Equator-Neptune--Amusing scene-Storm-Plate of Ham.

THE departure of their friends left the missionaries' feelings so harrowed, that they had little appetite for their dinner. However, when called, they descended to the cabin, and the table and its appurtenances were before them.The table was about twenty feet in length, fastened to the deck, and the benches likewise; other seats they then saw none. They seated themselves, and the viands were served. A turreen of bean soup, in the first instance sufficiently weak, but again diluted, so that its richness could in no wise injure the digestion, was placed before them. This was disposed of, as well as possible, hope suggesting that something more palatable would next present itself. Next came some hard sea biscuit, and a large, uncouth piece of half-boiled beef, at which they gazed with rueful faces, scarce daring to hope for sufficient strength of jaw for its mastication, and involuntarily wishing for more of the before despised bean soup. Dr. White's little son was but thirteen months old; and with what management they were to keep him alive, on such food, was beyond his parents' comprehension. However, they submitted with the best grace they could, thinking that the dessert might be more acceptable. But they had no sooner eaten what they thought proper of this deli