232 THE FLORIST. 



wanted a day's charing, for she was a favourite with gentle and 

 simple, and in the worst of times was always ready to help a poor 

 sick neighbour ; and every body had a kindly word for her when 

 they saw her homely face. 



The day after I met the squire, I was coming down the path 

 home, and when just in sight of the cottage I met the young ladies 

 and their governess, as 1 often did, and very kindly 1 thought they 

 all =poke to me as they struck off to the other pathway for the gate 

 by my old garden cottage, which they used to go home by. The 

 nearer ray house I got, the more I stared ; the bit of blind was 

 took away from the window, and it was wide open, and somehow it 

 looked very strange ; and the women neighbours were standing gos- 

 siping in a lot together. I couldn't make it out, and most of all 

 when I got in and found the place as empty as an egg-shell. Nobody 

 was there, only a boy, who gave me a little note and walked out 

 directly ; and this is what it said, and it almost took my breath 

 away to read it : 



" James Gregory, — If you hke to go back to your old cottage, 

 you are welcome to do so ; and it will be your own fault if yc'U 

 ever have to leave it again. You will find your good wife and your 

 children there. I wish to see all about me happy and comfortable ; 

 and the way for you to be so is, to let me be master and you be man. 

 If you think so too, go back to Birdwood again." 

 (To be continued.) 



SHACKLEWELL DAHLIA SHOW. 



Sept. 9th. — This, the annual exhibition, was far above the average ; 

 Dahlias were excellent in character, and abundant. Certificates were 

 granted to Dr. Frampton and Sir F. Thesiger (Rawlings) ; the for- 

 mer has already been noticed ; the latter is a lilac of medium size, 

 and of good form ; ditto to Triumphant, Laura Lavington, and Nancy 

 (Keynes) ; to Lizzy (Perry), a flower the exact counterpart of Keynes' 

 Queen of England, but more certain; and to Miss Ward (Turner), a 

 yelloM'-tipped white fancy. Of other novelties, we noticed a seedling 

 scarlet with white tip, named Miss Mathews (Bragg), a valuable ad- 

 dition, and a great improvement in its class, being full, deep, and 

 bright; Wonderful (Keynes) is a flaked flower of fine quality; colours, 

 amber striped with purplish pink : these both received certificates. 

 Among other seedlings possessing merit, may be mentioned John 

 Davis (Cook), similar to Richard Cobden, Fairy Queen (Turner), 

 Edmund Foster (Turner), Morning^ Star (Turner), Louisa Glenny 

 (Rawlings), Flora M'lvor (Keynes), fancy rosy purple and white, 

 fine ; Miss Creed (Edwards), pale yellow tipped with white, said to 

 be an improvement on Mrs. Hansard; Globe (Turner). 



Dealers, 24 blooms : 1st, Mr. I'urner, with Mr. Seldon, Duke of 

 Wellington, Princess Louisa, Yellow Standard, Thames-Bank Hero, 

 Snowflake, John Edwards, Richard Cobden, Queen of Lilacs, Black 



