190 FLORIDA DAYS.

gigantic cypresses, whose trunks widen sudd n-
ly towards the roots, tower up quite bare of
branches, except at the very top, and these re
draped with long folds of moss; the soft, fr sh
green of the other trees is blurred too by :he
insistent growth of the parasite, and with it a
tangle of vines -flowers, and tendrils, nd
broad shiny leaves hangs in a flowing cu in
over the creek; often the prow of the ca oe
can scarcely push aside this embroidered airas
which shuts in the deepening mystery of ihe
woods; Easter lilies gleam in the heavy s hd-
ows like single stars, but their fine whiteness is
only the fringe upon Nature's massive vest-
ments, which, rank and heavy, press the ife
out of the stagnant air.
 This monstrous vegetation overpowers
thought; it crushes so light and slight a ting
as mind, as a man might crush the shell cf a
humming-bird's egg between his thumb Ond
finger; it seems as though it would domiinte
earth and heaven, marching with a sort of dupnb
and ferocious joy, and trampling everything
which opposes it under its triumphant feet