FLORIDA DAYS.


ceases in the negro as childhood is left behind,
whereas the white man can acquire knowledge
far down the line of his years. Indeed, the
highest cultivation might almost be measured
by the ability still to increase.
 Here in the barrens, in the silence that stings,
and burns instead of soothes, there is a little
graveyard, fenced by palings, dazzling white in
the sunshine, and on the gate a darky girl is
swinging to and fro, singing in low, soft gut-
turals. Her attitude is full of lazy happiness;
but her little body is as lithe and alert as one
of the lizards which is sunning itself on a tomb-
stone that stands out clean and sharp in the
glare of light. Julia's black head has the glitter
and shine of a lump of coal, but her rolling eyes
are soft in spite of their brightness.
 I comes yere," she explains, "'cause my lit-
tle sister she's buried yere. Law! wa'n't she
pretty? Wish 't you could'a' seen her hair-
butiful! I likes to look in yere once in a while
at these dead folks. I'se sorry for 'em. 'Pears
like dey must want to know what's goin' on.
Law! I wish 't I knew what dey was doin'.