MAKING THE BEST OF IT. 401 



CHAPTER XXV. 



MAKING THE BEST OF IT. 



If, during the perusal of the preceding j)ages, our read- 

 ers have not come to realize the fact that the new Florida 

 home and its surroundings must of necessity be full of 

 changes from the old routine they have elsewhere been ac- 

 customed to, then have we failed in our purpose. 



It is so much better to expect little and find more, than 

 to expect much and find little, that we have endeavored 

 to point out the disadvantages and drawbacks very plainly. 

 There are, of course, many of these as regards mere phys- 

 ical comforts and indulgences, in comparison with the sur- 

 roundings of old settled communities; but, as compared 

 with any other new country, the Florida home has very 

 few, and none of them involving actual personal suffering 

 such as must come to the Northern or Western pioneer, if 

 only through the medium of the cold, bleak months that 

 make up so large a portion of each year. 



That the mild, genial climate of Florida ofiers great com- 

 pensation for many minor drawbacks in the new home, few 

 will deny, and those who come, resolved to stay and make 

 the best of things, until they can be improved, will find 

 the "drawbacks" true to their name, inasmuch as tliey 

 will retire further into the background, until finally the 

 question will arise, "Where and what are they?" 



The settler, whether man or woman, who resolves to be 

 contented and carve out a true home from such crude ma- 

 terials as may be obtainable, will surely find the task com- 

 paratively an easy one. The w^hole secret is in their 

 starting right, and in coming here just as they would to 

 any other State to settle. 



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