IT was a raw, gloomy day. A drizzling rain fell at intervals, and the pavements were slippery with mud. The batteries paraded in heavy marching order—knapsack, haversack, canteen, and mess-kit—and wore great-coats and leggings. The line of march was: Irvington Street, Huntington Avenue, Copley Square, Boylston Street, Berkeley Street, Beacon Street, School Street, Washington Street, State Street, Broad Street, to Rowe's Wharf. In spite of the inclement weather, the streets were crowded, and it seemed that the whole population of Boston had turned out to give the regiment a fitting farewell. The women were particularly enthusiastic. At one place on the line of march an elderly woman leaned far out of a window, as the regimental colors were being borne past, and cried to the men in the throng on the sidewalk below, "Take off your hats; take off your hats! I'm ashamed of you!" The wide granite steps of the Institute of Technology were densely packed with students, who cheered lustily as the batteries, with not a few graduates and undergraduates of the school in their ranks, swung by before them. At the State House there came another ovation. On the same spot where Governor Andrew, on the 25th of May, 1864, had welcomed back the regiment on its return from three glorious years of service with the Army of the Potomac, stood Governor Wolcott, with the officers of his staff, to speed the Old First on its way to yet another war. There was little ceremony; there was no oratory—but the moment, none the less, was impressive. On the one hand, as the long column took its way over the hill, was the grand bronze memorial to Shaw and his heroic men, mutely eloquent of duty done and history made; on the other, as mutely eloquent of duty yet to be performed and history yet to be written, was the Governor of the Commonwealth, erect and motionless, standing uncovered under the lowering sky as his troops, with his own son a private in the ranks, tramped steadily past in parting review. [Illustration: Copyrighted photograph by T. E. Marr, Boston. RESPONDING TO THE CALL. Governor Wolcott reviewing the Regiment, 26th April, 1898. ]