Founding of St. Augustine by Pedro Melendez, September 8, 1565.
Petals Plucked
FROM
Sunny Climes.
———
BY SILVIA SUNSHINE.
———
With Illustrations.
Nashville, Tenn.:
SOUTHERN METHODIST PUBLISHING HOUSE.
PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR.
1880.
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1879, by
THE AUTHOR,
in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
INTRODUCTORY NOTE.
THIS book contains a brief account of the early settlement of Florida,and some of its Indian conflicts, together with many amusing incidentsconnected with its present history; also a new illustration, preparedexpressly for this work—the whole being a collection of travels, andwhat is to be seen in various portions of Florida, Key West, and Cuba;with a Gazetteer and Florida Guide-book attached, designed for the useof tourists and settlers.
PREFACE.
WRITING, like other employments, furnishes a reward to those who arefond of it—elevates the mind to a higher and happier state of enjoymentthan merely grasping for earthly treasure, a desire to discoversomething beautiful in our surroundings, a nobility of character inmankind, a grandeur in all God’s works.
My travels, both in Florida and Cuba, when not suffering from sickness,were an uninterrupted source of pleasure and entertainment, made thus bythe smiles of friendship, intercourse among kind-hearted people,combined with the luscious fruits and delightful scenery by which I wasalmost constantly surrounded.
In arranging the historical portion of this work, I have endeavored tosift conflicting events, at all times retaining th