Part 17 (1/2)

On another occasion, this saht in a lot of wild turkeys all ready for the table As usual we expressed our wonder you ever heered on I aked up by these critters squawkin' over ang; the fire burnt off the feathers and roasted uet at u?”

”Oh, that's nothin'; they'd stuffed theratulated ourselves upon our i seen even one in our Bailiwick; but our sweet dreams of peace were rudely disturbed by this Baron Munchausen who horrified our ladies one day, by saying that he went into our church to make some repairs, and there met a rattle-snake which sed him whole at one full swoop; at once he recalled the Sunday-school lesson of Jonah in the whale's belly, took courage, struck a ht cut his way out with his hatchet, ran to his house, got his gun and shot the snake, which was so large that he had not noticed thehis after dinner nap Thisthe champion liar and champion hunter of the universe

Thus, rapidly, sped away our days replete with alternating smiles and tears until arrived the time for our annual stockholders' election On our way to Ocala to attend this ith with the Rev W----, upon whom I had conferred many and profitable favors This ostentatiously pious individual expressed ratitude for my kindness to hirand success, that I had gained the merited respect and confidence of all the people in the town and that he would urge th

The conference progressed very harmoniously for awhile, when I was called out to see athe roo the members, when General Chamberlain, the president, calledof all, that the Rev W---- had, as soon as I left, denouncedthat I had the respect of no one in B----; that the toould be ruined were I reelected; that he hi solely upon commission from land sales, as compensation, and that he made this statement at the unanimous request of the citizens of the town

All eyes were turned to me for an explanation I looked for awhile at the hypocritical clergyed like a viper, and turned pale as a ghost I then narrated the statements made to me scarcely an hour before, called upon hi that I would not accept a reelection unless it came to me unanimously The craven reverend left the roo vote, and thus closed one of therevelations of depravity that I ever witnessed

This ”wolf in sheep's clothing,” after an extraordinary career in endeavoring to ”fleece” others, finally lost every dollar of his property, fled from the toith his family, and I have never been able to hear from him since I wish for the sake of faith in hurace,” but alas, there were others!

But let the curtain fall Moral--have no confidence in the ion on his coat sleeve or necktie; but try the spirits whether they are of Christ

At this time, a party of prominent people arrived at B----, fro quite largely somewhere in Florida As they wished to visit the southern part of the state before deciding, I procured free passes for all, and escorted the at all attractive points, exploring coral islands whereus ild screah shut out the sun; then we collected rare shells and flotsa over the calm Gulf of Mexico, as smooth as a mirror, then tossed by a sudden te down to Davy Jones' locker; now enjoying the lotos-eaters' paradise, then, as we reached the lowlands, well-nigh devoured by millions of mosquitoes and sand flies

Then we crossed the peninsular, traveling under haht diahtful recreation-spots for a feeeks in winter, but too hot, dauests of the millionaires' club at Cape Canaveral, where were acres of wild ducks, droves of screa pelicans We drove over htful brief winter hohlands, convinced that the ”backbone” of the peninsular was the only desirable locality for per fro Mr B----, the superintendent, in charge of the company's interests in our nehich now contained over one hundred houses, and had elected a Mayor and Alder eneral, and B---- in particular, in nearly all the cities of New England, distributing illustrated books which I had prepared, and which were approved as true, bythe scenes which were therein described

My labors were very successful, and a great success for our enterprise seemed assured, when I received a letter fro that a Dr K---- had offered to accept er, without salary; pay his own expenses, relying on his commissions on land sales, and that as I had declined to serve on this basis they had felt coular income for the support of my family, I acquiesced in the directors' decision, and soon, under the new incoement, the company failed; so another of rand success, becaain the innocent were blauilty I converted my stock in the ML&I

Co, into lands of the coreat loss to me, as I took the lands at company's schedule values instead of at the cost prices, while the stock cost me--the full price of 100 per share Blessed is he who expecteth nothing, for he alone shall not be disappointed

Our varying days pass on and on, Our hopes fade unfulfilled away, And things which seem the life of life Are taken from us day by day

Our little draht may issue as we planned, Our costliest shi+ps refuse to sail, Our firmest castles fall to sand

But God lives on, and with our woe Weaves golden threads of joy and peace, And solad release

CHAPTER XXIV

FOREGLEAMS OF IMMORTALITY

This year of our Lord, 1886, brought an infinitely greater sorrow than the mere financial losses which pressed so hardly upon us in connection with our Florida endeavors On Christ, while alone in my room, I distinctly heard ood-bye,” and an hour later the telegraph flashed the news that he passed away at the exact ti me farewell

My father was an honest ained none of what the world calls the great prizes of life, but he had as better far, a conscience void of offense towards God and man In the words of Thoreau--”If a man does not keep pace with his fellows, perhaps it is because he hears a different drum beat; he should step to the music which he hears, however h the music of his life-march came not from earth, but from the sky, and without a shadow of fear, sustained by a deathless faith, he passed within the gateway of eternal life

The winter at last retreated sullenly and reluctantly to his arctic ho the s of the Resurrection, the old country fever, inherited froht a small plantation for 4,200, in N----, Mass, to which we moved April 28, 1887 Here, as usual, es, cow, pigs, hens, also for scanty harvests of vegetables, and our only returns therefor consisted of large crops of backaches, nasal hees, and rheumatism incurred in frantic atteht compensation for excessive labor

Here, as usual, I was busied within various places on the subject of Florida and selling our private lands in that state Like Mr Pickwick, I was founder of many societies, notably the N---- club, which, with a fine orchestra and much dramatic talent soon became the social and literary attraction of the town; also the Republican club, which conducted a vigorous cae audiences by political debates I was president of both these flourishi+ng organizations, was chair to its enlargeressional coressle, John W