And, tempted, I stepped up a spiral stairway, A short flying visit to Europe to pay. Rung the note of departure--outspread the huge wings, And we rose, so to speak, o’er terrestrial things. Fainter came from the crowd each last parting cheer, ’Till in one confused hum, they were lost to the ear. Faded then from the sight the houses and trees As we went higher up, swept along by the breeze, And the land and the sea far below in mist lay, ’Till we lost sight of mountain, rock, river and bay. And now as the twilight still deepened to night, O’erhead shone the stars in a full blaze of light, And the broad calm expanse of ocean below We saw like another bright galaxy glow. So fair was the scene, I asked one near by, “Do tempests ne’er blow or clouds darken your sky?” “No! no! my good friend, by Omniscient decree, From storm, fire and flood, earth forever is free. The elements now are propitious to man, And nothing now mars a wise Deity’s plan. The winds are not fickle nor faithless the deep, For He, who hath promised, His sure word will keep.” For many an hour I gazed at the sky, Unwilling to shut from such splendor my eye, ’Till, tired at the thought of infinite space, I sought in the cabin, a calm resting place. It was filled with guests from every land. From cold Labrador to Afric’s hot sand-- The Chinaman, Hindoo, Turk, Arab and Jew, Men in fact, from all parts of the old world and new. The light that illumed the spacious saloon Was as white and as clear as the midsummer moon; ’Twas the pure beam galvanic, soft, steady and free From all noxious fumes that with health disagree. And I heard that the engine that moved our light bark Was the same that gave out the bright flashing spark; That no oil was now used, nor explosive compound, On earth, among all nations was found, And light, heat and motion at last were attained, By one simple and practical instrument gained. The sides of that noble apartment were dressed With gems of rare art from the east and the west; Here a statue stood poised, just ready to fly, There, a picture of Saturn’s new belt caught the eye, And one thing I noticed--or fiction, or fact, The good of mankind prompted every act-- Nay, the converse of all, whether light, grave or gay, Was married by no folly, whate’er men night say. But the bell sounded one--I entered my berth. To rest in mid air, safe as on the firm earth, And all the night long heard the quivering beat Of the wings in their slow and measured repeat. “Up! sunrise is reddening the earth and the sky!” Cried the voice of some one, without waiting reply, And I sprang from my couch to watch the long gleam Tip our beautiful pennon with morning’s first beam. It came and it bathed in warm rosy hue