The sad faces took on a more cheerful look now, and peal after peal of laughter was heard. The piano was opened and lively music played; singing was engaged in, and indeed it seemed as though a new set of people had come forth. It was plainly to be seen that no one dreaded to reach land. The sea was rough, and the sky overcast with heavy clouds; but that was nothing new, for the whole ten days it was rainy, and the sun shone but little to cheer us on our way. There was a band of music on board the steamer which played several times each day. Sometimes they played on deck, and always while we were eating dinner. Not everybody enjoyed their music, but since it was the custom to have band music they had to submit. Sunday mornings we were always awakened by music which seemed in the distance; and the old familiar hymn of “Nearer, My God, to Thee,” came to us seemingly from the far away. The sound of it never failed to bring tears to my eyes, for home loomed up before me, and I beheld loved ones gathered together for worship, singing songs of praise and thanksgiving. But the music passed away, and Sunday was spent just like all other days. Southampton, England, was reached, and there we unloaded some of our cargo. A great many passengers left and a few came aboard to go on to Bremen with us. Their journey seemed like a short one compared to the voyage which was just ending for the most of the passengers. Between ten and eleven o’clock one night land was sighted, and many lights could be plainly seen along the shore, although it was said they were twenty-five or thirty miles away. We stood on deck an hour or more watching those beacon lights, and the tears of joy flowed down our cheeks. While we looked at them the beautiful hymn of P. P. Bliss, “Let the Lower Lights be Burning,” came to our mind, and quietly we sang it; and I thought of this passage of Scripture, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” And that night I realized what it meant for Christians to have their lamps trimmed and burning. We could not remain on deck longer, for the air was damp and chilly, so we retired to our stateroom feeling sure that on the morrow, if the Lord willed, our feet would again press mother earth. The next day was disagreeable indeed, but when the time to go ashore was announced no one murmured. America seemed far, far away now, and instead of traveling under the stars and stripes of our mother country henceforth flags of other nations were to fly above us. Willingly did we journey to those foreign lands, so we made the best of the situation, deciding to see and learn all we could. There was a satisfaction in knowing that the Lord in whom we trusted would go with us in whatsoever land we journeyed. [Illustration] CHAPTER II.