Not long ago I sailed for three days and nights along the coast from New York to Savannah. By day we could see from the steamer's deck trees and buildings, bath-houses, fishing-houses, and tall light-houses standing on the western horizon, as if planted in the water. They were on this same low beach that extends for a thousand miles along our coast. Behind the beach for nearly all the way there is still water, in lagoons or great swamps, in narrow streams ashore, or in great inland seas like Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds. At one place in Florida there is a strange stream called the Indian River that flows for a hundred miles just behind the beach, close to the sea, before it finds a way out into the ocean. In many places steamboats pass along the coast for long distances behind this sandy fringe that lines the shore. Still more curious is the low land behind the beach and the still water. It stretches like a vast plain, growing wider and wider toward the south, far down to Florida. It is covered with pine-trees, and in some places it is called the Pine-Barrens, and at other places the Piny Woods Country.
The waves and the creeping beaches have been at work a long time, just as they are at work to-day. There will always be a struggle between the rivers at these queer travelling beaches, but which will be the victor and what will grow out of it all nobody can tell. It makes no difference after all. Some one may have his pretty house torn down by the waves, and steamboats may have to change their routes; but the Fatherly Goodness that controls these things will do what is best for the sea and the land and all His children.
MR. STUBBS'S BROTHER.[1]
BY JAMES OTIS,
Author of "Toby Tyler," "Tim and Tip," etc.
Chapter X.
THE ACCIDENT.
That night Toby and Abner went to the circus grounds with Uncle Daniel and Aunt Olive; and when old Ben approached the party, as they were nearing the tent, Toby motioned the cripple to come with him, for he thought it might be better that the boy should not hear the conversation concerning him.