Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1875-06-21
LETTER FROM GEORGIA.
SAVANNAH, June 10, 1875.


jacksonville, thus connecting with the
Atlantic and Gulf road running direct
to Savannah; ; second. by the steamer,
Lizzie Baker, which plies between Jack
sOnville and Savannah. following what
is known as the inside line. which means
running between the mainland and the
islands which skirt the Atlantic coast;
the third is by one Of the large ocean
steamers which touch at Fernandins on
their way to and from Jacksonville and
Charleston, S. c.
At first glance, the second route seems
the most desirable. as sea-sickneSs can
be avoided and there is less mOnotony.
as the steamer is always in sight of the
mainland and the bean islets furnish
occasional glimpses Of tropical vegeta-
ton, very charming to the lover Of our
mother Nature; but rumors of three
days IN the mud" were too rife to per-
nit NE to risk going that way. so 1
boarded the Charleston steamer, City
Point, and took my chances on the ocean
wave. fully expecting to be sea-siek the
moment We crossed the bar.
Even dull, quiet Fernandina, l left
regretfully, not because Of its own at
traetiveness. but for the good, kind peo-
pie whom l met there-quite a number
Of them persons from New Hampshire
who have settled there, and are making
a living by trade. One lady-a Mrs.
Fisher-earries on very extensive bust
ness in the palmetto hat work, furnish
/ ing some Of the wholesale establishments
in New York with their entire stock Of
this brand of goods. The braiding fur
nishes employment for very large pro-
portion Of the inhabitants. both white
and eOlored, aud brings in an income,
which, though very small for the ones
who DO the work, could be lily dispens-
ed with.
Our steamer left the wharf at 6
o'clock in the afternoon. A half hour
and We had rounded the point where the
river meets the ocean, passed Fort Clinch
on our right and Dungeness. or Cumber-
land Island, on our left. and were set
ting boldly out to sea The rays of the
setting sun gilded the crest Of the waves
till they looked like feeces of silver
light with a mantle Of golden gauze
thrown over them; gulls and pelicans.
with wild ducks, were having their eve
ming carnival, preparatory to folding
their wings to rest Of toward the east
large, powerfully built vessel was an
chOred. watching for whales, which but
recently have been found in these wa
ters farther on toward the horizon were
other sailing vessels-barques, brigs
: schOOners- seudding along in the stiff
breeze, bound for their various ports
And npw, as night shuts down, the wiert
: light Is set in the shrouds. reminding
t me Of the fable Of the lost star which
/. wandered alone in the world of waters
and watch for the ocean nymph to res
cue it and place 1t in her diadem.
The moon Is tardy in coming. and foi
awhile We have only the steamers head
light and the pilots skill to guide Us
: Now and then the beacon from a light
house streams across the waters. warn
ing US of hidden rocks and dangerou
sand bars With firm hand and
manner which indicates a thorough ia
miliari.y with his work, our negro pilO
d turns the wheel, now q little to the left
e again to the right, very little it seem
but sufficient to keep Us in the righ
II course. At last the moon comes up
/ SO full and bright | fancy she tarried t
10 add another simmer Of silver TO be
1t beautiful garments ere she made her ap
D. pearance. Proudly and grandly sh
re walks her course through the myriad
Of lesser lights. and then, eOquettish
e. like, hides herself behind tiny cloud
;, but not long does she remain under th
shadow, for her love of admiratiO
A brings her back to beam kindly on I
i, all, while she watches the reflection {
>, her own beautiful self in the waters b,
p meath her. 700 intent on doing this I
/, observe that the stars are twinkling wit
. fun at her vanity.
- Eleven o'clock comes and the salOo1
are getting quiet, 50 90 down from N
perch in the pilot-hOuse and followin
IN the example of the other passengers, Il
~ tire to rest; and l slept as sweesly as
as should have done in the most quiet chan
&c Der Of ny own home, lulled to repOt
be by the music Of the waves. With Il
le- mornings light woke to find We b
II left the ocean and were slowly steamir
re up the Savannah river, and hasti
IT. dressing l went on deck to see the shOr
ne as We glided past Swamp reaches vi
their thick. rank vegetation and mos
IT'S draped cypress trees appeared for awhil
be then these gave way to oak groves
,se which are old planters homes A lit
to- further and market gardens skirted 1
en- rivers edge. reaching far up beyond o
IT, range Of vision. OCCASIONALLY hi
to bluff appeared, composed Of coarse 7
BET sand, which might have taken that G