The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-19

shade of the evergreen trees, and wan
dered away to the never never land, Of
our fancy.
The bees humnfed drowsily in the
D as sent nnd the SOFT Trfumed air famed
We thought if one could only live
thus. down. down, close to Mother Ma
lures heart, away from the turmoil and
| strife of restless world.
Our poet was reading aloud from a
book In her lap to the philosopher at
her side. and we caught the opening
lines Of Duffys Magnolia Gardens on the
Ashley"
Here beauty holds her court her gra
cious king, the sovereign sum- her suite
the flowers ablaze with radiant raiment
woven by southern rays. The
roses breathe their homage all the day
lorg, spring is her vassal, life scented
song"
| With jar, the long, hoarse whistle
of the steamer at the wharf brought us
back to prosac reality,
| With reluctance, and a sigh of regret,
we pulled ourselves up and turned to
leave this enchanted spot We hastened
back through winding avenues toward
| the river.
We fingered just a moment to buy
nosegay from a little flower girl near
the entrance to the. grounds. She too,
was picturesque in her blue frock and
white bonnet, and bearing her fantastic
tray of vari-coloreed bouquets.
| We ran down the steps and on board,
our arms filled with blossoms: and when
the launch turned down stream. as long
as the eye could see, we watched the fad
ing picture of this southern plantation
with its stately pillared mansion stand
ing a memorial of a vanished greatness.
The west was filled with a red-gold, for
the day was nearly done. The sun hung
low, casting long flashes of fire across
the water. and lingering the stern of
! the boat-and
"Under the wings of the sunset the
! clamoring seagull flies
Dark as he blots the westward, gold
E, with the glow of the Skies
As, we neared the bend in the river,
the city lights began to twnkle and
high above the rest. the beacon in the
spire of old st. Phillips rising full 200
feet was sending its light across the
waters to the mariner at sea.
| A great white man-of-war was lying
out from the shore. toward the Isle of
Palms. and across our track a skiff glided
swiftly to the city, manned by swarthy
! sailors bearing their captain to some
social function. Another passed return
| Ing to the vessel, and In both the seamen
were singing a rolliclSing sea-song Their
words were carried back to us clear on
the evening breeze. From those near the
shore came
"There's a gale upon the waters, and
there's foam upon the sea,
And looking out of the window, is
dark-eyed girl for me-"
And across the waves came the answer:
| ooh, a deep blue sky and deep blue
| sea,
And a bue-eyed girl awaiting me-"
Old Fort sumpter stood like great
Watchdog, grim and silent.
| AS we rounded the harbor, the band
was playing Dixie, and the southerner on
| board was glad In his heart that the
song was his own, and the land his home
Away toward the horizon. an ocean
liner was blowing her way, freishted
perhaps with happy souls. looking with
eager eeyes toward an unknown world.
Whittier that ship should sail or
| whether 1t would return, who could tell !?
There might be comforts In the cabin,
and apples In the hold" or 1t might be
sailing like the motto on the civic seal of
old Salem, Divitis Indiae usque ad ul-
timum sinum'' (To the farthest port of
the rich east) Who knew what mes
sages of hope and cheer 1t might carry to
hungry souls In the beautiful orient or
what treasures Of love and Joy 1t might
bring on it's return?
Tired, but joyously elated, we left our
pleasure craft, and wendell our way
| along the narrow streets.
AS we pulled the gate bell of the
place we called home, we mentally laid
away one dear day In menory's treasure
| house.
| The tomalie man called sleepily way
down the street. and the night and ST.
lence fell on the city by the sea-