312 TJie Strawberry Seedling. [My, 



the result of what others thought to be a hopeless experiment. The dis- 

 positions display themselves on small as well as great occasions, and the 

 inquiries from various members of our little family circle, sufficiently 

 evinced the view each had taken of my proceeding, no less than of the 

 feelings they associated with its promises. 



" Row comes on the little pot of sand, to-day^'' greeted me from one 

 quarter. 



" Have you any sJiow of strmvherries yetf " said another. 



" Please tell Eosanna to save all the cream, in case father should 

 bring over a dish of Paris strawberries, this afternoon," was a playful 

 order given in my hearing, as I was about visiting my little pot of sand. 

 And still, I daily went to the hotbed pit to examine the result of my 

 supposed seed-planting, and to sprinkle them from Lizzie's tiny water- 

 ing-pot. 



Our good-natured gardener encouraged me to hope, and, with his Irish 

 blarney, would say: '' Anything will grow, your honor, in sich an expose 

 to the south." " But surely, Patrick," I replied, " not unless I have 

 really planted the seeds," which seemed to puzzle even Pat's politeness. 



How tedious and almost endless are the days of doubt and watchful- 

 ness, and, at this date, I will not attempt to recall accurately the amount 

 of time that gave a fixed number to those of my expectation ; but, in 

 the natural period required for seed to germinate, my patience met with 

 its reward, in the appearance of what seemed to be a single embryo 

 strawberry plant. And when once its first feeble green shoot was fairly 

 above the earth, and its tiny leaves began to assume form, all doubt was 

 removed, and it grew rapidly into a positive, undeniable individual of 

 the Alpine family. Nor was it until this state of progress in the char- 

 acter and appearance of my little pet plant, that I gave tidings, at the 

 house, of my success ; but, when its existence was duly announced, all 

 were eager to see and manifest interest in its growth, and I received 

 many warm congratulations. 



It seems almost needless to attempt telling how anxiously, from that 

 date, I watched and cared for the tender solitary little life, that seemed 

 like a thing of my own creating. 



" As in the early spring 

 We see the appearing buds, which to prove fruit 

 Hope gives not so much warrant as despair 

 That frosts will bite them." 



The seedling grew apace, and Patrick, the gardener, ere long placed 

 another flower-pot by the side of the first, and the running vine soon 

 sent a sucker to take root there ; this simple office being again and 



