LETTERS FROM


FLORIDA.


haps secures a few hours of most unsatisfying slum-


rises


discontented,


envious,


For the time being there may be one sort of


unhappy.
pleasure


these


large,


suffocating, and


expensive entertain-


ments


but on retrospection, both for host and guests,


the taste is too often like Jeremiah's figs-exceedingly
bitter.
 Please remember, this is not all idle dreaming. I
have seen these transformations and improvements in


places and


persons


here,


they


are not extreme


cases.


can justly call


visionary is


supposition that those who are joined to


their idols-


who live only for their own selfish gratification-will


ever be dispo
to help feed


sed


to deny themselves one extra ribbon


the hungry, clothe the naked, or provide


a home for the unsheltered wanderer.
 Our hope rests chiefly with those who find pleasure
and comfort in helping the weary and heavy-laden-


who only


wait


to see the open


door, to step to


front in all acts of kindness.


excellent incentive
on new land ; for t
gin at the beginni


For the young it is an


to secure a homestead and begin
;hey can afford to take time-to be-
ng, and have what would be to me


the great satisfaction of feeling that they had wrested


a home


from


out of


wilderness, and


built it


from the foundation by perseverance, energy, and solid


labor.
places


But for the feeble and aged


there are many


in some of the deserted villages where,


for a


small sum, they can at once secure some old planta-


tion,


or a few


acres,


that,


although neglected and


tending


to decay, can very soon be made sufficiently