The Van Buren press., 1896-03-14
A BRAVE GIRL.
who Plies the Oars Equal to q
Stalwart Man.
She Has a Mail Contract. and Carries the
Pouches Out to Passing boats
Arp Visits the Orange
Groves.

II was raining hard and the wind was
driving it at an angle of 45 degrees when
! was aroused from my reverie by the
steamers signal that we were going to
stop for something. Looking out from
the open door | saw the same female
mail boy of Palmarosa that | wrote
about last time She was some dis
tanee up the coast and had just pushed
her little boat from shore and was row
ing with all her strength against the
wind and waves and the drifting rain so
as to meet the boat that was slowing
up in the middle of the channel. Up
and down over the heavy billows she
blied her oars. Her back was to us,
her head was bare, her hair hung loose
ly to her shoulders. She was clad in a
loose shirtWaist, with sleeves that tltted
closely to her shapely arms. Ever and
anon she glanced behind to see that
her course was right and shook the wa
ter from her tresses. Grace Darling
could not have rowed more swiftly,
and in a few minutes she had neafed
alongside where the mate stood at the
gangway, with his long, hooked pole IN
hand to catch the prov and hold IL
fast until she had exchanged Uncle
Sans pouches. | looked at her with
anxious interest as she stepped up
lightly on the plank seat, and, with
pleasant smile, tossed the mail into the
open way. The mate threw another
pouch down to her, and said: why
didn't you wear hat and put on some
clothes, Miss Grace? Yea VIII eaten
your death with cold" "Oh, no. she
said, 81 like it; it is splendid fun and
she shook the raindrops from her halr
again. | had a good look at her nut
brown face as she receded from us, anu
would have thrown her kiss il | could
have called back 40 or so years. She
is a good, brave girl said the captain
"end is not ashamed TO earn her SO
month and help the family. Ram or
shine she never fails to meet the daily
boat Just at the right time and III the
right place"
had been down to Manatee anu
Bradentown to see what the great
freeze of last winter had done TO the
oranges. | found that most of the crop
had been gathered and marketed, but
the boats still take on few more boxes
every day. The crop was not tull one,
but brought about five times as mllch
per box as it did the year before The
fruit was never finer in size or more
luxurious in flavor. One orange was
given me that measured IS inches IN
circumference, and it was not puty
or overly thick in the rind. The grow
ers realized about $2.75 per box, and
those that have been held back are now
bringing three dollars. As rule 5he
best groves belong to residents. Nom
residents got discouraged last year at
so cents box and quit fertilizing and
quit paying a man to look after their
property. Consequently you will see
many groves that have been practically
abandoned, but right alongside you VIII
see a grove in perfect and vigorous con-
dition IAN orange grove" said Sher-
iff Watson, requires as much nursing
as a baby, but it will reward you if you
care for it," The clever sheriff took
me out to see the Royal Palm nurseries
that are conducted by Mr.. Reasoner
and son. The young man was kind
and courteous, and ! wondered at his
enthusiasm as he explained everything
and discoursed on the beautiful tropical
plants, and talked botany and floricul-
ture, much of which was all Greek to
me. He gave me clippings of coffee
and tea and rubber and camphor and
cinnamon and other eXotics, and
showed me orders from the north and
west and from across the water. II
was young man | would pursue this
business for one reason if for no other.
/ have observed that all florists are en-
thusiasts about their calling. They
love it and are happy. Look at Mr..
Berckmans, of AuGusta-what a noble,
earnest man he is. just think how
much pleasure his fruits and flowers
have given the people, especially the
wives and daughters, all over this south
land of ours. How intensely he studies
nature and how extensively he diffuses
knowledge over his adopted country!
He has neither time nor inclination for
politics lie bankers afteAle Office,
he has no quarrels with manllind, but
is happy in communing with nature
and natures God. | would rather
know what he knows than to be learned
in any other profession. Besides all
this. horticulture is profitable busi-
ness and brings it's sure rewards. These
Reasoners began on a small scale, and
from year to year have enlarged their
plant and now are financially indepen
dent. | looked into the depot at Braden-
town and saw boxes of their trees and
plants waiting for the boat, and some of
them were marked to Nebraska and
Michigan. Their palms and ferns and
acacias go to Boston and New York,
where they are wanted for funerals and
fetes and weddings. They can get $50
for the leaves of single plant.
In company with Judge Cornwell l
visited Manatee, which is only three
miles from Bradentown and is the Oldest
town on the river. The country be
tween the two is thiellly settled and is
ornamented with orange groves and
date palms and other tropical trees. At
the beautiful home of Mr.. Adams, of
Ioston, | saw more beautiful birds than
i have ever seen in all my life. The
yeranda was full of cages-large cages.
SIX feet square and six feet high. and in
them he had pairs of most every fancy
kind TO be found in the world. Strange