The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1890-06-25

set down in the very jaws of destruction,
as it were A most intelligent young
mantle one who happened to be here
by accident-who rode beside me, ex-
planned to me something of the character
of such site. He spoke English, though
with good deal Of accent, and was
made interpreter by the others.
"'There are a great many such hills
scattered about here; you will often see
them, he said They are probably off
shoots of old Popocatepetl (the great peak
towering snowy white on our horizon),
thrown up by the elemental fires that
had begun to abate there. have not
been abroad, but have heard from trav-
elers that there are plenty Of them in
French Auverne and near Naples. A
king Of Naples, when there was one,
used to keep his deer in crater ring
something like the Cerro; he had only to
shut in one side with gate, and there
was his deer park complete. And these
old volcanic cinder heaps, as we know,
make the very choicest of soil for vine-
yards and gardens. eyes, l answered,
signing, | am afraid have never
been abroad either, but | have often
heard my father tell about drinking the
delicious Lacryma Christi wine, grown
on the slopes of Vesuvius
Eyes, my dear family, had to admit
at once that this was my first venture
into that great world of travel and ro-
nance after which my vagrant spirit has
long had such laundering. However,
this is an opportunity that bids fair to
make up for all my past deprivations.
You will think it shocking in me, but /
have hardly had time as yet even to be
homesick. ana not sure but am CRATE
full for the ailments that reconciled you
to letting me come home with the kind
general and his daughter, to try the eff
feet of their milder climate. | am far
better already; you would hardly know
me.
II stop dozen times d day at the love-
illness all around me to cry in involun-
tary wonderment, oh, beautiful
What sweet and perfumed air!
What delicious gardens, what terraces
and statues, in the old fashioned formal
style of the foreign palaces! What fish
ponds. with carp in them! What foun-
tains, labyrinths and clipped alleys!
What thickets of laurel and cypress,
with rose trees flaming in their midst,
and oranges starring the dar.- breadths
like golden lamps! My dear, common
place, poverty stricken family, how am
| ever to go back to you? Have you an
hacienda some ten miles wide by twenty
long, lying upon the mountain slopes in
such a way that it possesses number Of
different climates Of it's own, varying
from temperate to torrid, and grows the
choicest productions of each? Have you
herds on thousand hills, and employees
like a small army? Have you a major
domo, and bookkeeper, and half
dozen other principal subordinates be-
fore the ordinary servants even begin?
Have you an establishment the granaries
of which alone are like monumental
halls, and the various buildings Of which
cover acres Of ground?
mo, should say not You have only
q sweet little flat near the park, with al
most the prettiest portieres and blue
china in town, it is true, but still very
high up in the air and lacking bedrooms
enough for the comfortable accommoda-
ton Of all my numerous brothers and
sisters. But love it just as it is, and
in spite of what have said, only wish
were back there with you this very
minute Not one of you but deserves
the pleasure am having now much bet