54 FLORIDA DAYS.

 The singers could buy their flowers in the
market, which is but a little way from the
Cathedral. Whitewashed pillars uphold its
ancient roof, and its brick floor is so old that
it is worn into hollows; it used to be filled
with stalls, where great heaps of vegetables
and yellow oranges were displayed for sale, or
where the wet sides of fish sparkled on every
scale with wonderful color. There were sun-
bonneted women gossiping in the sunshine
across their wares; men smoking under the
streamers of moss from the live-oak trees, or
chaffering over their mules and horses; a
crowding, good-natured, quick-tempered peo-.
pie, bringing color and laughter into the little
square; they came for the most part from the
country beyond, along the shining shell-road
and through the city gates.

 As long ago as the beginning of this century
the towers of the gateway in the wall about the
town were crumbling and broken with age, so
that they must have witnessed many things
unknown to the tranquil life which comes and