Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1875-03-15

word that they can speak to tighten the
life-burden and cheer the darkened path
way. The words of the Master. ..inas
wuch as ye did it unto one of these. my
little ones" are deadened by the cries
OF the populace: behold rich man -
Rich men are we'll in their place Christ
recognized them and said something
about their entering Heaven. think.
Four miles further and Magnolia is
in sight-another quiet. clean loo king
village, where persons who want only a
warm climate and quiet home. will do
well to stop. Here we took on some pas:
sengers-a man, his wife. three little
children and two steers harnessed to a
little cart in which was packed all their
earthly goods In well-worn print
dress. sun bonnet and tattered shawl
with babe in arms and another cling
ing to her skirts, the woman came on to
the boat and set out for new home far
ther up the river. Her face bore deep
marks Of care and suffering. and
thought. as looked at her. that her
life history might contain romance
more thrilling than most of those we
read in story books.
Three miles further and we stop at
Green Cove Springs. the prettiest place
| saw along the river, and much fire.
quented by health and pleasure seekers,
as the hotels are excellent and the wa
ter of the spring good remedy forrheu-
matte and kindred complaints. This
spring is rather curiosity in its way
the basin is from 80 to 40 feet in diam
eter with depth of from 2 to % feet,
and is said to throw out about 5000
| gallons of water per minute the temper
ature of the water remains about 70 de-
grees Farenheit the year round, SO that
bathing is in order at any season. The
slight sulpkuric character of the water
makes it disagreeable to drink at first,
but that is soon forgotten, and three
glasses are easily drank off before the
bell for breakfast calls US to our deli
cious meal of fish fresh from the St.
Johns.
Leaving Green Cove. our boat crosses
the river and follows the current on the
cast side: the same tangled masses of
underbrush, with pine forests, skirt the
banks now and then house is seen,
and around it are the beautiful orange
trees, their bright, yellow fruit contrast
ing so strongly with the deep, rich green
of the abundant foliage that they are al
WAYS picture for ME to look at admir-
ingly, and their presence lends charm
to places otherwise quite desolate. De-
casionally, a group of stately magnolias
are seen, and a few Towering vines shed
their perfume on the air.
We are all looking anxiously for a
town the guide books call Picoata. and
which also tell of ruins of fine churches
erected by franciscan monks, two humid
red years ago; of great earthwork forts
built by the Spanish. row rapidly pass
ing away ; and we feel as if we are near
ing a spot which has been a stronghold
of Spain. But, alas and alack again
are we compelled to exclaim, Guide
books are a deluSion aud Il snare. for
ruins neither Of church or fort meet our
expectant gaze, and in despair we rush
to the pilot and ask him to point out
the old fort. a look of profound aston
ishment Immediately takes possession Of
his counteuance, while he replies, Float,
mlssIs. foat! ] reckon yOu'se done got
ahead O. me dis yey time. for Use been
runnin' on dis yer river desc yer twenty
yeahs, an / never l.eain tell of any foat
before" Churches 2" we suggest rath.
er timidly. mo, missis, no churches ;
but dc colored gentlemen wants nightly
to build one and I'se organized to receive
distributions to aid EN-. if you wants to
conc up to de help OBJ de pore" The
disappointment wasn't of a kind that
moves the heart to be generous. so we
did not respond to this appeal for assist
ance, but turned in disgust to look OF
the long platform and one house at its
end ; and more comfortless picture |
seldom see.
Twelve miles more over the beautiful
waters and we touch at Tocoi, our land
ing place. Here are gathered number
of houses, mostly occupied by northern
ers as winter homes and here, too, there
Is an establishment for making what i.
known as vegetable hair out of the Span
: lsh moss which hangs in such profusior
from every tree. By some chemical pro
cess the gray covering is removed, leav
: ing fine black thread. strongly resem
bling the curled hair used for mattress
: es, and used for both beds and pillows
t here In Florida. 1t makes better be,
. than curled hair. | think, and seem
/. cleaner and purer
From Tocoi our way is through tn
t back country. Only few years ago
the cars were drawn by horses and wood
g en- rails were used. but the rapid in
: crease in travel created demand 70
I quicker time, and now iron rails take th
i place of the wooden ones. and the sbrie