Marie Rogers Vail so very like her. His thoughts turned back to the old homestead where he and his brothers and sisters had shared in the pioneering. There had been plenty of work, but there had also been plenty of laughter and reading and music. Everyone sang, most played the melodeon, and those who wished went away to school. Of his nine brothers and sisters, seven were now married, five of them living in the Middle West. Only William Orendo and Harriet Jane remained at home. He supposed that "H.J." soon would be taking off, too; but he did hope that 'Rendo would stay with his parents and run the farm. Realizing suddenly that the loading was nearing completion, he brought his thoughts back to the Ohio. While other passengers were saying their last good-byes to friends on the pier, he hurried below and wrote a short farewell to his family: New York, Oct. 16th, '49 Dear Parents & Friends I did intend to write at greater length than I can possibly do at this hour. It is now 12 V2 PM and the Steamship Ohio is advertised to sail at 1P.M. I enclose a few more sketches. In good health and fine spirits I am your son James. Eight days later, in the harbor at Havana, James transferred from the steamship Ohio, bound for New Orleans, to the steamship Falcon, bound for Chagres on the Isthmus of Panama. There he continued his narrative. Havana, Oct. 24th Dear Parents, Again I commence jotting down a few thoughts for the sake of remembrance. I may make these letters tedious to you, but yet I will try my pen once more. I hope to be able to make my notes more connected and readable than those in my letter from Savannah. We had got in sight of the light early last evening, but were not permitted to enter the harbor. On her last trip hither from New Orleans, 263