A Thousand-Mile Walk 



Florida. Here I zigzagged and gathered prizes 

 among unnumbered plants and shells along the 

 shore, stopping to press the plant specimens and 

 to rest in the shade of vine-heaps and bushes 

 until sundown. The happy hours stole away 

 until I had to return to the schooner. Either 

 I was seen by the sailors who usually came for 

 me, or I hired a boat to take me back. Ar 

 rived, I reached up my press and a big handful 

 of flowers, and with a little help climbed up the 

 side of my floating home. 



Refreshed with supper and rest, I recounted 

 my adventures in the vine tangles, cactus 

 thickets, sunflower swamps, and along the 

 shore among the breakers. My flower speci 

 mens, also, and pocketfuls of shells and corals 

 had to be reviewed. Next followed a cool, 

 dreamy hour on deck amid the lights of the 

 town and the various vessels coming and de 

 parting. 



Many strange sounds were heard: the vo 

 ciferous, unsmotherable bells, the heavy thun 

 dering of cannon from the Castle, and the 

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