“‘And so we are to do, dear, just as soon as I can make money enough to take us out there. But I cannot make this money in England. And so we must thank Heaven for this free passage to America, where work is plenty and wages high. There it will require a much shorter time to make money enough to take us out to join Joe.’
“‘But will this voyage carry us any farther away from poor Joe than we are now?’ was Lil’s next anxious question.
“‘No; no farther. I do not think as far. Australia is at the antipodes, as we stand here, you know; so every thousand miles we sail must take us a thousand miles nearer in space, and the greater facilities offered in America will take us years nearer in time to our heart’s desire.’
“‘Let us go, then! Oh! let us go! I begin to see light at last!’ exclaimed Lil, rallying as she had never rallied since her parting with her husband.
“The need of activity, the prospect of a journey and a voyage, and conditions that were to bring her nearer in time as well as in space to Joe, infused new life into Lil.
“She rendered prompt and efficient aid to Joseph in preparing to leave home.
“The sale of their household goods brought exactly £7 5s. 3d., or about $37.56 of our money. Joseph had of the money loaned him by Captain Poole, £4 10s., so that when he had settled all his little debts he had still £10, or $50 of our money, left.
“On the day after their sale they took the train for Liverpool, and by the captain’s advice, went immediately on board the ship, to save expense of board and lodging in the town.
“In a few days the Oriole sailed, and wind and weather proving very favorable, in two weeks the clipper crossed the Atlantic Ocean and anchored in Baltimore harbor.
“Within a week after landing Joseph Wyvil obtained work as a journeyman carpenter on a house that some contractor was in a hurry to finish by a certain date.