DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.12664#0212
RETURN TO CAIRO.
201
ertheless, on foot for Cairo. We were obliged to
walk smartly, too, as the gate closed at nine
o'clock; but when about half way there we met
an Arab with a donkey, cheering the stillness of
evening with a song. An extravagant price (I be-
lieve it was something like eighteen and three quar-
ter cents) bribed him to dismount, and I galloped on
to Cairo, while Paul retraced his steps to the boat.
The reader may judge how completely " turned
up" must have been the feelings of a quiet citizen
of New-York, when told that, in winding at night
through the narrow streets of Grand Cairo, the cit-
izen aforesaid felt himself at home ; and that the
greeting of Francisco, the gar<jon at the Locanda
d'ltalia, seemed the welcome of an old friend.
Hoping to receive letters from home, I went im-
mediately to the American consul, and was disap-
pointed ; there were no letters, but there was other
and interesting news for me ; and as an American,
identified with the honour of my country, I was
congratulated there, thousands of miles from home,
upon the expected speedy and honourable termina-
tion of our difficulties with France. An English
vessel had arrived at Alexandria, bringing a Lon-
don paper containing the president's last message,
a notice of the offer of mediation from the Eng-
lish government, its acceptance by France, and the
general impression that the quarrel might be con-
sidered settled, and the money paid. A man must
be long and far from home to feel how dearly he
loves his country—for his eye to brighten and his
heart to beat when he hears her praises from the
201
ertheless, on foot for Cairo. We were obliged to
walk smartly, too, as the gate closed at nine
o'clock; but when about half way there we met
an Arab with a donkey, cheering the stillness of
evening with a song. An extravagant price (I be-
lieve it was something like eighteen and three quar-
ter cents) bribed him to dismount, and I galloped on
to Cairo, while Paul retraced his steps to the boat.
The reader may judge how completely " turned
up" must have been the feelings of a quiet citizen
of New-York, when told that, in winding at night
through the narrow streets of Grand Cairo, the cit-
izen aforesaid felt himself at home ; and that the
greeting of Francisco, the gar<jon at the Locanda
d'ltalia, seemed the welcome of an old friend.
Hoping to receive letters from home, I went im-
mediately to the American consul, and was disap-
pointed ; there were no letters, but there was other
and interesting news for me ; and as an American,
identified with the honour of my country, I was
congratulated there, thousands of miles from home,
upon the expected speedy and honourable termina-
tion of our difficulties with France. An English
vessel had arrived at Alexandria, bringing a Lon-
don paper containing the president's last message,
a notice of the offer of mediation from the Eng-
lish government, its acceptance by France, and the
general impression that the quarrel might be con-
sidered settled, and the money paid. A man must
be long and far from home to feel how dearly he
loves his country—for his eye to brighten and his
heart to beat when he hears her praises from the