The Steam-Packet: A Tale of the River and the Ocean — page 109: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

16 THE STEAM PACKET. for he who can love the humble village which saw his birth, possesses that sacred fervour which prompted Decius and Curtius how to die! Oh ! even as my hand traces these words, I feel myself carried back to the days of infancy—and I rove with light and buoyant step once again amongst my native valleys. And so it is with the old man, too: though many years have glided by, and time has touched him with its silvery hand—though the roses of spring be faded, and the merry song of youthfulness be hushed; yet over these does memory linger, and draw from the remembrance a fragrance redolent of the Spa iie flower. According to previous orders, the Luminaries were aroused at eight o'clock; and, having refreshed themselves with soap and water, and soda water,—two excellent alkalis, especially after having imbibed too much wine,—they descended to the apartment where breakfast was provided. As soon as this meal was discussed, came the settling of accounts, when Mr. Pifpaf, in the most delicate way in the world, liqui- dated the obligation of Mr. Buckram at the sametime. Alas! nothing can be done in this world without money: even the savages conven- tionally hold shells to be the representatives of property ; and instead of love being the great primal cause ‘‘ gue fazt le monde a la ronde,” are inclined to imagine that coin must be. How strange, too, are the devices to which men have recourse to stop up those gaps which cash is supposed to fill! The plumber is led to accept the bill of the cheese- monger, who has not a mite ;—the draft of the publican on the verge _of going to pot, is given in accordance with the desperation of the measure ; and the hay-salesman, when quarter-day arrives, is found to be a man of straw ! As soon as the bills were settled, trunks and band-boxes were ‘neaped upon trucks, and once more did the Luminaries repair to the quay. Mr. Thomas Gibbins found a moment to steal a kiss of the pretty chambermaid, with whom he arranged a little plan of correspondence in future ;—and the dowdy cook presented him with some veal-patties to supply his luncheon, to which the cellarer added a flask of brandy, and the landlord a guinea. By eleven o’clock the whole of the illus- trious travellers had embarked once more; and the steam-packet moved majestically away from the pier-head, the band playing “ March, march, Ettrick and Teviotdale,”’ at the express desire of Miss Sarah Pifpaf, who thought the air appropriate. The Pifpaf family and friends, and indeed all the Luminaries, were ~ in high spirits as the ship merged upon the broad ocean. Miss Ara- mintha, who was constantly attended by Captain Pentonville, bent over the side to watch the evolutions of a porpoise, with the rapturous “Veomichooks.co a ee de ee ee se nee S|