Orra dreaded leaving home and American shores, but once she arrived in Liverpool, she started to enjoy her trip. When she mentions being seated in the "cars," she is referring to a train compartment.
May 19, 1850
Took leave of children & friends. The rain forbade my going on the upper deck to exchange the waving of handkerchiefs & watching them until they faded away from sight. The beautiful view of Boston harbour lost also & what may prove to be as I felt deeply, a last look of my native land . . . I felt stricken & sad & gave vent to a flood of tears which relieved my heart so that when my husband returned from the deck & said he saw our friends & assured me that they saw him, I was comforted & we went down to our little cell & tried to familiarize ourselves to it.
May 28:
Left Liverpool in the morning, a little more rain. We cannot stir without an umbrella but when we were seated in the cars, the sun shone out most magnificently & a lovelier ride I never did & never expect to enjoy than that from Liverpool to Chester. Every thing so new & so beautiful, so varied & such a change from the monotony & discomfort of the ocean life. It was perfectly enchanting. My only trouble was that the cars would rattle on so fast that I could only get a glimpse before it was out of sight, but as I lost one beauty I would instantly catch another. I was literally filled with delight & constantly repeating to myself
If such the sweetness of the stream
What must the fountain be?
If a new scene on earth can delight one so much, what must heaven be when God himself will appear in such ineffable splendor.