94 IN LOH^ER FLORIDA IVILDS 



home was in Ohio and that for many years he had 

 suffered greatly from rheumatism, becoming finally^ 

 so disabled that he could scarcely get about. 

 Then he determined to come to Florida and seek 

 relief in a gentler climate. He had to be carried 

 aboard the train and to rely upon the kindness of 

 chance acquaintances to help him on and off when 

 he had to change cars. He stopped for awhile at 

 St. Petersburg and, feeling better, accepted a posi- 

 tion as keeper of this coconut grove. Asked if he 

 didn't find it very lonely, — for his nearest neigh- 

 bors at Flamingo were fully ten miles away, — 

 he said, "Yes, it is lonesome, and I have a hard 

 time getting along without anything to read, but 

 I had rather be in this wilderness alone and well 

 than at home with all my friends and sick." And 

 he stood erect and walked about very firmly and 

 proudly to show how completely he was cured. 

 Verily there is no richer possession than health! 



Cape Sable is indeed a wild, lonely place. From 

 north around by west to the south is the unin- 

 terrupted ocean horizon; to the southeast a few 

 little islets break the monotony of an open sea, 

 mere dots that they are in a wide expanse of water. 

 Back of the gleaming beach is a somber forest and 



