Uncle Dick and Lisa's Old Time Animal Tales

We received a turtle a few days since which had marked on his back the date of 1709, and also the Spanish coat-of-arms, indicating one hundred and seventy-nine years ago. What changes this old fellow of the deep has seen? The rise and fall of empires, and the continent on which he partly lived emerged from the thralldom of despotism, with the rise of a republic that has been a great conservator of freedom, the advancement of civilization and the glory of the world.
A few words in Spanish on the shell were translated, which say: “Caught in 1709 by Hermanda Gomez, in the St. Sebastian, and was carried to Montanzas by Indians; from there to the Great Wekiva” which is now the St. John’s river. On Tuesday, the 17th of June, the turtle was turned adrift in the St. John’s river, at Palatka, with the inscription on his back: “Eastern Herald, Palatka, Florida, 1879.” It may be supposed that by this time the old fellow has scented salt water and gone over the bar at high tide, and probably a few generations hence may take him up at a Spanish port on the other side.-Palatka [Fla.] Herald.