St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1893-03-30
OUR FLORIDA LETTER.
[Rrom our speeInI correspondent. |

thermometer " Deerees-A Southern
RafIWay--The Settlers Cabin--RazOr-
back Hogs as Motel Porfers-BuyfnG
ReaI Estate in FIorida.
ST, AUGUSTINE, Fla, March %, 90
As sit at my open window listening to
the many mocking birds in the blossotning
orange trees, it is impossible to believe
that there is snow anywhere. One has
not needed to wear an outside wrap for
several weeks, and a lady remarked the
other day that she had purchased 30
cents worth Of wood this winter, which
was the first she had bought for ten
years. In my last letter we had reached
Jacksonville. II would not be iashiona-
bic or proper to stay in that city long
since the shrine at which the frozen
tourist seems to bow is st. Augustine
So we seat ourselves i'll a special car
turned toward that Temple. THERE'S no
Joke intended in this sentence, yet those
who have travelled much in Florida will
understand the words turned toward
where you wish to go, for when you will
arrive there is quite another matter
The train stops You ask what is the
reason and see darkey slowly vending
his way from the forest with his load Of
wood. When he does reach the engine
| this is taken on and we start again
Last week your correspondent was
taken over the country at the rate of ten
miles in five hours. llthis is the only way
people have here Of getting their letters,
they must be very fond OF news-anccs.
At one place the cars stopped and some
one said we had run over a cow and she
was under the engine. looked out and
saw one man pulling on the horns and
others trying to help. drew in my head,
not wishing to see the mangled parts,
till some one said she was getting on
her Ieet and sure enough after few
steps she ran away, shaking herself. /
had heard and thought that Florida
beef was tough, now believe it.
As one travels along YOU pass many
scattered cottages or cabins set in what
we would call most beautiful white
sand. Now and then there is a spear OF
grass, looking like lost hair on a bald
head, as all the vegetation Tor acres and
acres is only the low scrub palm.
The razor-back hogs, long-legged,
black, lean as dog, are part of every
household. These hogs all carry
watch round their necks, and when the
train is expected, come to the station as
regularly as any hotel porter They
walk everywhere under the cars, and
when it is time to start they know. it and
step out. Their watches ought to be
used by the conductors,so that they also
might be able to tell when the train
could be expected.
Let me give little incident OF buying
real estate in Florida A family came
here from Michigan, arriving one Satur-
day. They were wealthy people and
wished the comforts of home and
house to themselves. They heard of
real bargain and before the next Wednes-
day IN great haste secured the same so
as not to lose it. There was a latIE
house-slX rooms below and six above,
stable with woodshed nice yard, all in
perfect repair, newly painted, and the
whole for $500. Soon after they had
secured this property they heard that the
bnncp VA or. Sn1n at
bargain, since it had more land and was
offered for 5000 complete. The family
fairly beseiged everyone they knew to
buy that property. One day last week
the rams came and not only for that
twelve hours. but for the night and the
next day, or as bright little girl of st.
Johnsbury said a year ago, God must
nave turned his hose on" The rains
finally ceased and the lady called on some
acquaintance to relate her woes. Their
own yard and those OF all their neigh
borS around were one great lake. Her
little boy had on rubber boots aud she
got out by walking on the fence In
Florida all the houses are built on
posts, leaving the space underneath open,
so that the water was everywhere. This
was not all, tor the frogs by the hun
dreds had swum in from the ponds in the
vicinity aud none of the family slept
wink the night before for the croakiug.
There was the deep bass voice, the high
treble of the little one and ii seemed as
though they were fairly in the house.
The lady spoke with tears and the rest
of us laughed tears as she Illustrated her
story by the sounds she knew so well.
The next night brought high wind
however and in day or so the land was
clearil the minds of the Owners was not.
may say the indirect cause of this was
the water backing in from the swamp
| near.
will tell you one more Florida story
and then close. You have heard it stated
that when one is very seasick, after
everything is disposed OF then comes
the gizzard, after that their conscience;
but will tell YOU of case worse still
and you will see the extent of the hor-
rors OF the sea When we had arrived at
Jacksonville we missed two of the party
and asked the stewardess about them
She replied: "Lors, Miss, dey was so sick
dey threw up dar tickets and so got off
at Charleston.' ANNIE l.. GoRHAM