The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1909-10-01


want, and has served me faithfully Tor
many years; would t,ust my own
daughters with him Then he added,
more cheerfully and kin lily, no doubt
observing a very woe-h"gone face:
DO you love flowers? if you have any
taste for gardening, l Will Ere an En-
glish gardener to lay oJt my place.
and you can take him under your
management To which 1 gladly as
scented, in having some amusement TO
look forward to in the place of soc'e-
ty.
"The weather was lovely, only very
warm, with the thermometer at SO
degrees.
1--WE arrived at Quincy toward Tia =
afternoon, where l was kindly enter
tanned by a lady and her daughter,
who started me off the next morning
with an abundant supply of cod
chicken, ham and breads as all the
variety of corn cakes, waffles, hot
rolls and hominy are called.
The country we passed over Was,
in some places, very interesting, and
at others, through sandy pine woods,
very tedious. The lower lands and
swamps in the vicinity of rivers af-
fOrded beautiful wild flowers, even IN
January. The fragrant yellow jessA-
mine, which | think was the 'Gelsem-
ium sempervirens, of DR.. Asa Gray,
climbed the trees and hung in fe5-
toons among roses and evergreens,
which, with the peculiar sOftness and
charm of the atmosphere. furnished
some enjoyment, even in those two
lonely days of tedious travelling.
william was a very respectable
looking and well behaved servant,
with patronizing manners, proceeding
from his own sense of responsibility,
and the usual pomposity of negroes in
that case. He was accustomed to be
trusted and consulted, and l learned
that he had travelled a good deal with
his master, and had formerly belong
ed to a gentleman in New Orleans;
and he had not seen so much variety
without improving his intelligence
and observation. He knew the names
of most of the trees and plants that
we met with, was always obliging i'll
stopping to gather specimens for me,
and gave me, on the whole, quite 4
stock of useful information concern
ing the country we passed.
1--WE were travelling in a sort of half
open carriage, with a top for shade,
and two seats, both facing the horses,
and a splendid pair they were, that
did not change their pace nor cease
to step together for hours at a time.
Thus, William, sitting on the front
seat, could reply to my inquiries and
attend to his beautiful grays at the
same time. The governor had not
found time even to tell me the num-
Der and age of his children, therefore,
judge my surprise, on asking William,
to hear: Ten, all at home Ten chill
dren! And one son married, besides
several who had died. Six were to
be my pupils, William said.
Governors residence, ma'am,'
said William, as he alighted to open
the gate.
ct was just light enough to distin-
guish a long, low dwelling, surround
ed by deep piazza reached by steps
along the whole front A
very pretty style of building, quite
and in the midst of a wood.
the drive to the house, AMI
a cleared space in front, it was lit
orally in a wood, and was therefore
appropriately called 'Sylvania.'
Several of the ten children, who
We're sitting upon the steDS 4 the
crew up, exclaimed: vii
liam! Here's William! Howdy, Viii
liami HoW's PAP"