UP TIIE ST. JOHXS RIVER. 93 



age three miles in breadth, expanding occasionally into 

 beautiful lakes. Thus the first day of our trip we were 

 in such wide waters that, except as we approached the 

 landings, we did not get the benefit of the semi-tropical 

 scenery of the banks. But the air was soft and balmy, 

 the sky blue, water smooth and clear, and we, just 

 started and fresh, were in high spirits and enjoyed every 

 moment. 



Our first landing was at Mandarin, where, amid an 

 orange grove and splendid group of water-oaks, Mrs. 

 Stowe has built herself a home. The place is but a ham 

 let, and after delivering our mail we hurry along ; but 

 not until they have rounded a point and shut in the view 

 do the tourists relinquish their gaze upon this sunny 

 Southern home. Twelve miles farther carries us to Mag 

 nolia. At this point we found a goodly assemblage of 

 guests. The hotel accommodations are the best, the 

 hotel itself is beautifully situated, and a good table, with 

 good attendance, insure a good time. Black Creek is a 

 navigable stream for fishermen and sportsmen. On a 

 sunny day its banks are lined with alligators, while fish 

 and game of all descriptions are plentiful. Two miles 

 above Magnolia is Green Cove Springs, where are also a 

 good hotel and boarding house. This is a great resort 

 for invalids, who can enjoy daily a bath in a sulphur 

 spring, which has given the place its importance. This 

 famous spring is situated about a hundred yards from the 

 landing, amid a group of great water-oaks which, covered 

 with hanging festoons of gray moss and mistletoe, add to 

 its beauty more than any artificial setting could to this 

 emerald gem. The spring boils up in great lumps from 

 a deep crevice, and fills a pool some twenty feet in diame 

 ter with its bright but greenish-hued water, clear as a 



