‘CHAPTER XXII. 
Pleasant Return Voyages. Waiting in Florida the Arrioal of Summer at 
the North. Making Apologies toa Tropical Sun. The Steamer City of Aus- 
tin—Capt. Stevens. A Leaf from the Chapter of the Captain’s Nautical 
Experiences. Little Sankey ee and Transplanted. Reciprocal 
Welcomes. 
‘‘Where’er I roam, whatever lands I see, 
My heart, untraveled, fondly turns to thee.”—GoLpsmiTs. 
Havine embodied in the preceding chapters all the informa- 
tion we obtained concerning Nassau and the Bahamas during our 
visits in 1879 and 1880, which we deemed would be useful or in- 
teresting to our readers, but little remains to be added before 
we lay down a pen which we have found it a difficult matter to 
stop, 
After returning to Jacksonville in April, 1879, we spent sev- 
eral weeks in Ploridy enjoying its climate, and waiting for the 
time to come when summer at the north should be firmly estgb- 
lished. We goon learned to love the dreamy lakes and languid 
rivers; the deep solitude of the pine forests; the wild, weird 
beauty of the cypress swamps; the gracefulness of the palms and. 
palmettos; the grand old water-oaks and live-oaks, all profusely 
draped, festooned and decorated, from largest branch to smallest’ 
twig, with Spanish moss, so gray and sombre; the stately mag- 
nolias, royally adorned with dark waxen leaves, and large, white, 
floral incense cups; the orange orchards, whose leaves, and flowers, - 
and fruit seemed intended to minister to the happinesa rather of 
ae 30 
