berth in the North River,
and his eyes ran over the islands and Jersey shore, and up the noble
stream, and one by one he recognized the objects he had seen in his
youth, it seemed as if feelings, supposed dead, were coming to life,
and nature re-assuming the gala garb which she once wore.

But, independent of the causes that made the scene peculiarly
attractive to our traveller, it is impossible to approach a large city
after a long absence without excitement. The aggregation of a mass of
human beings full of life, and instinct with its hopes, and fears,
and joys, and sorrows, and passions, acts like a stimulus. Nature is
beautiful, and art glorious, but the object of deepest interest to
man is man himself. In his fellow beings he sees reflected his own
interior world, a world of mystery and marvel, whence any news is
welcome that will impart information respecting its light and shade,
its harmonies and discords. He cannot stand outside, a looker-on,
separate and apart, having no portion therein: he is in it and of it,
an integral atom, a something which cannot be isolated if it would.

The packet, after some delay, occasioned by the occupation of her
berth by a casual trader, was finally able, by advancing one vessel,
and pushing another back, and shoving a third on one side, to approach
the wharf at the foot of Courtlandt street, and land her passengers.
A coach was presently procured, and Holden, who had been invited
by Pownal, accompanied his young friend. The distance up Courtlandt
street, and down Broadway to the house of the elder Pownal, which
was near the Battery, was short, and therefore even had the
carriage proceeded more leisurely, and the Recluse been disposed
to observation, he could have seen but little, and that in an
unsatisfactory manner. Pownal felt some curiosity respecting the
impression which would be made by the turmoil of a large city upon one
who for so many years had excluded himself from the crowded haunts of
men, and therefore watched his companion with no little interest;
but Holden, as if he divined his thoughts, and was displeased at the
discovery, or for some other unknown reason, betrayed no change of
feeling, or conduct, but was as impassive and indifferent to all
passing around him as if he were in his own hut. So far from showing
any emotion, he threw himself into a corner of the carriage, and shut
his eyes as if desirous to exclude objects of which he was regardless,
or which only