a mother could love her own child, a pleasure which she
never had, to know and to love a child of her own, and Maria appeared to
appreciate the kindness of her governess.
Now to make up the list of the ten voyagers there was also your obedient
servant, coming over to America to study religious, social and
industrial conditions. An account of his reasons for taking this step
shall be given later on. At this time I must proceed to complete my
acquaintances on board the Germania. From the first day on board I find
myself in very friendly terms with every one of my fellow voyagers, and
before I knew it I was the father of them all. As a High Priest dressed
in my church garbs, they just pasted in front of my name the monkish
title, Father, which I never accustomed myself though my official church
name consists of about a half a dozen titles.
The Captain of the Germania, a typical French gentleman very agreeable
in all his ways, with my little French enabled me to make myself
understood. I had the pleasure of passing many a moment in pleasant
conversation with him, and when I wanted to speak to the Americans, my
heart was longing to learn all I could from them, as they were so kind
to me, and with Miss Maria's assistance I never went lonesome, her
acting as interpreter between me and the Americans, for by that time I
was not able to even pronounce correctly a sentence in the English
language.
With all these acquaintances my time was well occupied and to my
personal delight, by chance, I found my constant companion in the person
of Dr. Lucretius, the first physician of the Germania, an Italian
gentleman. By tokens and signs we found that both of us belong to that
great body of men that knows each other as brothers in every corner of
the inhabited world. It was he, Dr. Lucretius, who came to my cabin on
the morning of the 16th of May, at about 5 a. m., and knocking at the
door, said, Father Golden, we are now entering into the harbor of New
York, and if you want to enjoy a grand view of the surrounding country
you had better come out on the upper bridge. I shall be there waiting
for you to explain some of the most beautiful sceneries that you have
ever looked upon in your life. And he was correct, without any
exaggeration, for when I leaped from my bed and dressed myself as fast
as I could I went to meet my friend and brother, Dr. Lucretius.
Rushing up to the bridge I greeted him "Bonjorno, mio fratello" shaking
his ha
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