The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-05-12
GOING TO "MEETlN" "
FLORIDA.


in itself IS not a remarkable statement, Tor
il is orr habit to go to the house Of God
on his day. Nevertheless, We never went
to church ia precisely the same way be
fore, and we have reason to believe we
never shall again,
1t was very much like attending services
at home, with a great many differences.
In Ottawa, if our morning slumbers have
not been unduy heightened, We begin our
leisurely preparations at nine O'Clock AT
Spring Garden Center the Invitation came
on Friday, conclsely stating that Mr.. A. II.
Norris would take a party OF friends to
church at Sanford, and asking US to meet
our vehicle on the Big Doll Saturday
morning at eight o'clock. y Sunday din
ner IS usually an object of painstaking to
some one, but our anticipated meals occu-
pied our undivided attention Tor the re
mainder of that day, and were snugly
slowed away in lunch basket TO accom-
pany US on the morrow. Our carriage was
not a two seated affair, Dexter spring, a
pheatOD, nor yet a road cart. It's name
was Spring Garden, and 1t lay lightly,
working on the clear waters OF the spring,
and ready to do lis duty In regard to its
passengers, size and capacity considered,
as thoroughly as the beautiful boats Of the
De Barry line. The path did not lead over
tiresome board walk through the com
monplace streets of a familiar city. 1t ran
through sparkling lakes, and over a river
whose banks were changing panorama
of savanahs, orange groves and luXuriant
hummocks, the wild tangled recesses OF
the forest suggesting, yet never revealing
all their beauty, Over this trcmulous but
attractive pathway we journeyed TO and
tro for one hundred and thirty miles, Ger
tainly long way round to church.
Eight O'Clock Saturday morning found
a group of sixteen people on the banks OF
the spring, their hands filled with baskets
of large and small degrees, and a general
air of picnic prevailing the assembly.
This spring Is one Of the falrest OF Its
name. The lovely waters gush up from
some unknown chamber in the earth and
I'll the green bowl IN which they rest with
their blue waves. From this bowl they
rush swiftly and joyoasly out through q
narrow passage oycrarched by willows tC
second and larger reservoir, passing
from thence into Spring Garden Lake
AS you stand on the bridge which spans
the passage between the two fountains anC
look down into the transparent depth:
they light up with tints Of silver grey
and green and faint blue. In the waves
which ripple gently against the shelly
shore, you may watch, il you will, fol
hours the playful and happy gambols o
the citizens Of these waters, but vain i:
your nope Of fried fish for breakfast. II
these sunlit waves the wise fish carefully
avoid the hook and line, rgh'iully con
sdering them as danger signals. Some
what back from the spring stands the .ial
brick tower of the old Spanish Mill. The
race which gave it its name have vanished
from the scene Of their laOors as complete
ly as If the naughty and conquerlng hant
which they lald upon the land Of theil
conquests had been thing of air. The
hands which laid those bricks in enduring
cement are dust. Still IN lis silent anC
stately glace crowned with an everything
wreath of glossy vines, the old tower I'M
der Its breath whispers to itself, For mel
may come and men may go, but go or
forever"
Certainly no tree ever wore a more re-
markable ornament than the iron neckiac,
which adorns one Of the large trees ca th,
borders Of Spring Garden. This necElac,
is wheel from the Spanish Mill through
whose center the infant plant first lifted it
head meyer again escaping from tht
strange clasp.
The hands Of our watches pointed Il
halEpa,t eight, tue baskets were safely
slowed away, the passengers on deck, anC
for the last time the Spring Garden lifted
up her voice and shrilly called 10 the lag
gard invited ones who might be on III
way, Hurry hurry" When twenty min
utes had gone and the deiinquents ha,
failed to appear, the bell rang and soon W
were gently moving out from Spring Gai
den spring to Sprng Garden lake, ant
from tins sheet Of water INTO Spring Gar
den creek.
just here, remembering that you are
stranger in strange company, We will il
troduCe you 10 our boat and Its occupants
The Spring Garden Is tiny craft, and sh
makes no claim 10 be rival in speed, o
in the charms of her exterior to the eli
giant City Of Jacksonville, the handsom
Fred De Barry, or swift Anita, but gu
genial host Commodore Norris will nc
yield the palm in the matter of careful a;
tenton to the wishes of his guests, to eve
those most thoughtful and courteous gen
tlemen Captains Shaw, Brock aud Merriel
The cabin Of the Spring Garden is carpe
ell with cool MATING and gay with CrctOn