Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1896-04-24
HE FLURIDA FREEZE.
bhio Picture Of the Cold snap
from q Window.
ous and Butterflies suddenly Trans
pormed Into Ei2np and Lifciaes
ThinCS-A Terrible Wis.,
ita:icn.

ThingS-A Terrible Wis"
ita:icn.
was Christmas day, 1894, and IS
I my open window, the sweet fra
zee OF roses filled the air, mingled
that of sweet violets and pinks,
les a correspondent OF the New
Advertiser.
list beyond q bed Of the latter tow
large grapefruit tree, its green.
branches bending beneath tho
Iht of the great golden fruit balls
bore, many OF them as large rs the
of year-old infant. A little fur
On was large peach tree, q per"
picture OF beauty, with its limbs
dyed in delicate pink blossoms, and
fresh green leaves peeping out here
there. On the topmost branch
liking bird was perched, thrilling .
Yet song from his very heart,
nd ttese, alighting amidst the
Jet blossoms of the yellow jasmine,
Fe several dainty butterflies. Had
y lost their calendar, that they ven
ed out ia midwinter? Well, small
nder il they had.
Till further off stood row upon row
beautiful trees, dressed in shiny
bes of green and spangled all over with
den balls that presently would be
hered and sent to the frozen north
bd, where they would gladden. the
ates of the thousands that love our
(cious Juicy oranges.
Flowers and vines and trees were full
life and beauty. and the birds, how
Ey sang! The hooking bird, a half
bed pet of the household, trilled forth
liy m Of thanksgiving, and present
down beside him came, like d Game
)ored fash, soaIlGt7c1ad cardinal
td. A pause. rs the two eyed each
Der, War or peace? FeaGs, al yes,
tier 50 than war, aboee 4! On This
tllowed day, and SO the 5Wo sweet
fees were raised in song together, IN
the bright eyes caught sight OF those
ttterAies sailing away over the green
ass. That was more than they could
(ar unnoveG, and away they darted
hot pursuit.
Farther Of still, just visible through
Il garden fence, were luxUriant rows
peas ana beans and lettuce, and
her vegetables.
Brightly the sun shone, softly the
ind blew, sweetly the birds sang. All
Es beauty and peace and prosperity
1.-THE fair Land of Flowers" where it
6sulnmer even on Christmas day.
|nd so it was three days later. The
(ermo-neter marked seventy-fve de-
lees at noon and all nature rejOiced in
|e balny air.
But suddenly the soft breezes died
Eay and from the northwest came
lshing Gown a mighty wind, hurting
to our dismayed faces q bitter, sting
g cold, Down, down, down sank this
erc7lry- in its little tube, until before
iva Of next day it marked fifteen de-
ices. Think OF Il. A drop Of sixty
eprees within a few hours!
Such a thing was never known in
florida before, and we hope may never
Z known arain. There was ice, thick
.e. indoors as well SIS out, in pitchers,
asins and cups, and vases filed with
overs were shattered. Milk was solid
, the pans, butter and vegetables and
,eat were as brittle as ice itself. But
nese things, and the physical discom'
,rt, were Of small account beside the
isaster that mad befallen these beau
Iful growing trees aud plants.
Again looked from my window, not
pen now, and what did l see? First
a1r pet rlocli- gbird, crouched close by
midst the dead leaves. and as looked
e stirred and fell upon his back On the
round almost lifeless. But the warmth
{ a fire soon revived him and he few
way to join the cardinal, which sat il
lie sunshine like e scarlet puHball
one were the roses, the violets, the
inks, al the pretty flowers and vines
rown and somber was the emerald
reen Of the lawn!
But the trees, the poor trees The
elicate peach blossoms hung limp and
,ithered. The glossy leaves Of craps
nit and orange trees were brown anc
,orched as though fire had passed
yer tl1era, and their golden fruit wa:
.ozen solid Ice to its very heart
nd soon it would fall upon the ground
alueless.
Even the song Of the birds was stilled
hey, like their human friends, had nc
cart to sing, albeit they did not know
3 we did. all that it meant to us, thai
ne cruel night Of the Ice Kings visit
Dung trees killed, old ones set back
:ii1ions upon millions of luscious fruits
estroyed and thousands OF acres o:
a-ifty vegetables swept from the face
{ the land! A scene Of beauty changed
, scene of desolation, and al in 9
Nv hovrs' time!
aes Both Ways
Nature has snabled some animals t.
x objects behind them as well as il
ont. and that. too, without turning
I I