BY ELLA WHEELER.
Come, cuddle your head on my shoulder, dear—
Your head like the golden-rod—
And we will go sailing away from here
To the beautiful Land of Nod.
Away from life's worry and hurry and flurry,
Away from earth's shadows and gloom,
We will float off together to a world of fair weather,
Where blossoms are always in bloom.
Just shut up your eyes and fold your hands—
Your hands like the leaves of a rose—
And we will go sailing to those fair lands
That never an atlas shows.
On the north and west they are bounded by rest,
On the south and the east by dreams.
'Tis the country ideal where nothing is real,
But everything only seems.
Just drop down the curtain of your dear eyes—
Your eyes like the bright bluebell—
And we will sail out under star-lit skies
To the land where the fairies dwell.
Down the river of sleep our bark shall sweep
Till it reaches that magical isle
Which no man has seen, but where all have been,
And there we will pause awhile.
I will croon you a song as we float along
To that shore that is blessed of God.
Then, ho! for that fair land, we're off for that rare land,
The beautiful Land of Nod!
Beauclerc, Florida.
I want to tell you about a visit to Mayport, at the mouth of the St. John's River. My brother and I left here at two o'clock on a hot day in July, on the steamer Pastime. Arriving at Jacksonville at three, we had an hour to wait, but at four we stepped on board the Water Lily, and were soon on our way. We sat on deck, enjoying the sail. At half-past six we reached Mayport, where we met mamma.
Early the next morning I took a dip in the river, as I have learned to swim. It is easier to swim in salt-water than in fresh. The ocean is only two miles from Mayport, and we picked up on the beach quantities of sea-weed and shells. My brother found a beautiful jelly-fish washed far up on the shore.
They are building a great jetty here, but it will not be done for ten years. Immense granite blocks are brought from New York for the purpose. There were several kinds, all glittering with streaks of mica. When the jetty is finished it will be fourteen or fifteen feet high, or above high-water mark. It will then be cemented all over the top and sides. The channel is nearly in the middle, and about two hundred yards wide. The intention is to confine the water inside, and let it flow only through the channel. Mattresses of log and brush are first sunk, and then stones are placed in layers on top of them.
F. C. S.
The orange blossoms came safely. I fear the magnolia seeds of which you speak in your postscript would not thrive and germinate in the cold Northern climate. Your description of the jetty, or projecting pier, which you saw building shows that you go about with your bright eyes wide open.