A FLORIDA GHOST. DOWN mildest shores of milk-white sand, Past far-off palms that filmed to nought, That laced the land like fragile patterns wrought To edge old broideries, The sail sighed on all day for joy, The prow each pouting wave did leave All smile and song, with sheen and ripple coy, Till the dusk diver Eve Brought up from out the brimming East In that large lustre all our haste surceased, The silent steersman landward turned, But soon from sleep's dear death (it seemed) On to infinity. Till suddenly I paused, for lo! A shape (from whence I ne'er divined) Appeared before me, pacing to and fro, With head far down inclined. A wraith (I thought) that walks the shore Full heavy hung the draggled gown he wore ; He waited not (as ghosts oft use) To be dear heaven'd! and oh'd! But briskly said: "Good-evenin'; what's the news? Consumption? After boa'd? "Or mebbe you 're intendin' of Investments? Orange-plantin'? Pine? Hotel? or Sanitarium ? What above "Speakin' of sanitariums, now, "Some year or more ago, I s'pose, "Cal'latin' for to build right off A c'lossal sanitarium : Big surf! Gulf breeze! Jest death upon a cough! -I run it high, to hum! 64 Well, sir, I went to work in style: Bought me a steamboat, loaded it With my hotel (pyazers more 'n a mile !) Already framed and fit, “Insured 'em, fetched 'em safe around, Put up my buildin', moored my boat, Com-plete! then went to bed and slept as sound As if I'd paid a note. "Now on that very night a squall, Cum up from some'eres-some bad place! An' blowed an' tore an' reared an' pitched an' all, -I had to run a race "Right out o' bed from that hotel An' git to yonder risin' ground, For, 'twixt the sea that riz and rain that fell, "An' thar I stood till mornin' cum, "When mornin' cum, I took a good Long look, and—well, sir, sure's I'm me— That boat laid right whar that hotel had stood, And hit sailed out to sea! "No: I'll not keep you: good-bye, friend. |