RAMBLES IN FLORIDA. 469 



as if placed by human hands. It required no flight of the 

 imagination to transform these charming forest vistas into 

 the long, dim, aisles of cathedrals ; the trunks of the trees 

 formiug the pillars, and the graceful leaves of the palmetto, 

 overarched, forming a roof. 



" The gloves were God's first temples." 



We sat up late, enjoying the glories of the night, the last 

 of our out-door camping in Florida. Early the followiug 

 morning we "broke camp" and prepared for the return trip 

 to Cedar Keys. Hoisting the anchor with a cheerful "heave 

 yo," the sails of the Santa Maria soon tilled, and we were 

 homeward bound. We gave a farewell look by way of a 

 parting salute to Piney Key, as it stood out bright and beau- 

 tiful in the purple light of the morning : 



The slanting sun shone white along the sand, 

 Strewn with green sea-weeds and with crimson shells, 

 Out of the ocean's dim mysterious cells, 



Jewelling all the broadskirts of the land. 



Arriving at Cedar Keys after a pleasant voyage, we pro- 

 ceeded homeward over the same route by which we came. 



The winter climate of Florida is not only healthful but 

 delightful ; in the summer there is dansrer of contractins: 

 fever and ague, and the yellow fever is an occasional visitor. 

 The climatic advantages to the invalid are at the present 

 time counterbalanced by the miserable food and discomforts 

 of the hotels and boarding houses; there are undoubtedlv 

 exceptions to the last objection, but they are rare. The ex- 

 penses of a three months trip are quite heavy and we could 

 make a journey to Europe or California, of the same dura- 

 tion for the same cost, and live intiuitely better in bed and 

 board. 



In an agricultural point of view Florida offers no induce- 

 ments to the emigrant or settler that are not surpassed by 

 many other sections of the country, whether quality of soil, 

 facilities of transportation, accessibility to markets, or va- 

 riety or capabilities of production are considered. An emi- 



