green, and protected from the river by a serpentine embankment. How
beautiful the expanse viewed from beneath these hoary-headed oaks!

On the surface and along the banks of the river aligators are
sporting; moccason snakes twist their way along, and scouring
kingfishers croak in the balmy air. If a venerable rattlesnake warn
us we need not fear-being an honourable snake partaking of the old
southerner's affected chivalry;-he will not approach disguised;-no!
he will politely give us warning. But we have emerged from the mossy
walk and reached a slab fence, dilapidated and broken, which
encloses an area of an acre of ground, in the centre of which stands
the mansion: the area seems to have been a garden, which, in former
days, may have been cultivated with great care. At present it only
presents a few beds rank with weeds. We are told the gardener has
been dismissed in consideration of his more lucrative services in
the corn-field. That the place is not entirely neglected, we have
only to add that Marston's hogs are exercising an independent right
to till the soil according to their own system. The mansion is a
quadrangular building, about sixty feet long by fifty wide, built of
wood, two stories high, having upper and lower verandas.

We pass the dilapidated gate, and reach it by a narrow passage
through the garden, on each side of which is a piece of antique
statuary, broken and defaced. Entering the lower veranda, we pace
the quadrangle, viewing innumerable cuttings and carvings upon the
posts: they are initials and full names, cut to please the vanity of
those anxious to leave the Marston family a memento. Again we arrive
at the back of the mansion where the quadrangle opens a courtyard
filled with broken vines, blackened cedars, and venerable-looking
leaks;-they were once much valued by the ancient and very