THE ANNUAL MEETING. 221 



hearfc-shaped leaf of the morning-glory under two of the windows, and I could 

 almost hear merry voices in the early mornings exclaiming at the wealth of 

 bloom on tlie clustering vines, and counting the many colored bells lifting up 

 their faces to the eastern sun. 



My guide noAV pulled me by the sleeve saying, "Come and see wliat we 

 can find -within." Kows of healthy, happy children looked up from their books 

 as we entered, and watched us with interested faces as we looked around the 

 cheerful room. Their expression said as plainly as words, ''We helped make 

 our room pleasant, — we own a share of those flowers, for we have tended 

 them with our own little hands. We are i^roud and happy over it." 



The sunny south windows were filled with healthy, vigorous plants, among 

 which I noticed the favorite rose, with its many budding growths, fragrant 

 heliotrope, and those ready bloomers, scarlet geraniums, begonias and petunias. 

 The common madeira vine was reaching up its strong shoots, and I knew that 

 in a few weeks the windows would be encased with its clustering tendrils. On 

 brackets and in shady corners, that little vine which thrives away from the 

 sunlight, the Wandering Jew, drooped its graceful stems on the tinted wall. 



''Do the children care much for these?" I asked the teacher. 



" They are much interested in all that we do to make our school-room pleasant," 

 she said. "The bovs sawed the baskets and manv of the frames. For the 

 others, and for some of the pictures they have contributed their pennies. 

 Some have been donations from the patrons who have become interested in us, 

 through their children. They have brought leaf mould from the wood, and 

 many offerings to our floral treasures. We are to have a holiday this afternoon 

 and take a walk in the woods, where the botany class will have a lesson and 

 gather leaves to analyze next week, and all of us will gather ferns and mosses 

 for the shaded north side of the house. A few were put there last year, and 

 they have thrived nicely. The roots of some liverleaf and anemone lived and 

 blossomed luxuriously there this spring. The children were so happy over it, 

 because their own hands had placed them there. I take care of the plants in 

 the south windows, and see that we have those kinds that will reward us most 

 richly for our care. AVhen a plant is at its height of beauty, I place it on my 

 table where all can see it, and the children say they can all study the better 

 because of its cheering presence. 



" Last week our rose delighted us with fifteen buds and blossoms. The boys 

 are fully as enthusiastic as the girls, and always ready and anxious to help care 

 for the plants. I give them all a few hints concerning the culture of flowers, 

 and the parents tell me they have already begun to care for and watch over 

 those at home, while those who live in homes destitute of such beauty 

 have become interested in obtaining them. We have had excellent suc- 

 cess in starting slips in these sunny windows, and so keep in hand a number of 

 young plants for another season ; and also divide with those who have none. 



"No one can tell of the love of beauty awakened here which will always go 

 with these children through life, making each day happier and brighter and 

 many homes glad. Down by the mill is a miserable little hut, where a family 

 of Hollanders live. It is wretched and dirty, like its inmates. The oldest boy, 

 a bright little fellow of ten, has taken no interest in our flowers until yesterday. 

 I saw him pass that lovely fuchsia there, with its wealth of graceful flowers, and 

 stop and look on it as if some latent love of beauty was slowly developing in 

 his nature, then he reached up his grimy hand and softly, tenderly touched it. 

 At night he came shyly to me and, in his broken language, said his 



