The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-11-05
Nellie M Coek

ida / do not have to search for mater
ial, for it is not what can l find for
copy" but rather an embarrassment
Of riches, and in the present instance
l viii copy from Martha's note book
which she has given me for reference:
"All work and no play makes Jack
a dull boy land so when kind friends
gave me an invitation to join them
IN camping trip / gladly accepted.
There were six of US in the party
and we went in sail boat, taking a
tent, bedding and provisions with us.
We had a favoring wind and the lit
tie boat danced over the waves like
thing of life. We camped that
night near the beacon lights, had our
breakfast next morning and started
down Santa Rosa Sound reaching a
place called 1.-THE Bunch of Timbers,"
about 10 a. m. Here we found an
ideal camping ground. The great
tall pines stand almost in circle,
back of them rise sand dunes like
snow covered hills dotted here and
there with the beautiful magnolia, in
front deep cove while back of US
came the boom, boom of the breaking
waves of the gulf.
Our tent was pitched in the circle
of pines, tent large enough to ac-
comodate the whole party. We then
went in search of water, and soon
found hollow where by little dig
ging we obtained water, clear and
cool, tasting like melted snow.
Here we rested. One could not do
otherwise In this beauty spot of ma
ture.
As | lay on the pine needless and
heard the lap of the waves on the
beach and the whispering of the wind
!, in the trees, took note of the great
white sand dunes, the blue sky and
the song of the bird, the face of each
member of the party expressing sat
isfaction, thought of the times of
old when the wearied children of
Israel had left disappointing Marah
with its wells of bitter water and had
finally entered Elm, and finding the
shade and the wholesome water '.they
pitched there" | contrasted the per-
! feet peace of these surroundings with
the strife and keen competition Of
life as it is lived and found myself
repeating:
an the wilderness of doubt we
wander on,
Till days lengthen out into years,
Ever in search of the nectar of life
Finding but Marahs in our senseless
/ strife,
/ Ger looking sweet Elm through
groundless fears"
/ But even here the physical wants
asserted themselves and some one
said "T'm hungry" All hands went
to work and soon fire was built
dinner was cooked and we cams tx
the gypsy table with hearty appetites
The Irish stew, fried meat and gray,
with the bread baked over the Goals
would have tempted the daintiest
epicure with an appetite.
| After dinner we went to the gulf Of
Mexico. AS often as we have seer
the gulf it is always new, with it,
vivid coloring of blue and green, foam
crested waves. Here the mind real
ICES the physical weakness in contras
with the terrible powers of thes'
waters, and yet with the mind filled
with awe as we look at the never
ending waves dashing against tho
beach, and feel the loneliness accen
tuated by the great whitewinged gul
sailing above the water, a little
story comes 20 memory:
| A poverty stricken woman who hat
never had enough of anything, who's
lito h. been one long continues
economy, had by the kindness of ;
friend been given vacation ant
the sight Of the Atlantic ocean.
The woman stood gazing at tn
storm tossed water, her friend wait
ing anxiisly for the ords of ad
miration, perhaps of awe; the poo
woman finally turned to her frien'
and said, her eyes blinded with tears
THANK the Lord, at last ! see some
thing of which there is enough"
The story brings a laugh, amt .hel
we gather shells, sea beans and Sc
weeds and go to our tent tired, no
work tired, but good healthy tire
and sleep restfully, not sound OF IN
sect disturbing US, and awakened tn
next morning by the song of Dir
in a near by magnolia
We took long walks, caught crab:
cooked them on the, beach and al
though we had been prejudice
against them we came to the conclu
sion that they were real deiicac!
That evening plans were made for tn
future, plans for both work and pla.
Another rest and we were ready fc
a new day.
After breakfast, we started for tn
sshaunted house," the tent and bag
oa0e nacked the sail hoisted an