Florida Swamps and Forests 



the blade four feet, the stalk six. The leaves are 

 channeled like half-open clams and are highly 

 polished, so that they reflect the sunlight like 

 glass. The undeveloped leaves on the top stand 

 erect, closely folded, all together forming an 

 oval crown over which the tropic light is poured 

 and reflected from its slanting mirrors in sparks 

 and splinters and long-rayed stars. 



I am now in the hot gardens of the sun, where 

 the palm meets the pine, longed and prayed for 

 and often visited in dreams, and, though lonely 

 to-night amid this multitude of strangers, strange 

 plants, strange winds blowing gently, whis- 

 pering, cooing, in a language I never learned, 

 and strange birds also, everything solid or 

 spiritual full of influences that I never before 

 felt, yet I thank the Lord with all my heart for 

 his goodness in granting me admission to this 

 magnificent realm. 



October i6. Last evening when I was in the 

 trackless woods, the great mysterious night be- 

 coming more mysterious in the thickening dark- 

 ness, I gave up hope of finding food or a house 

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