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 16. 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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