162 YOUNG AMERICA IN FEATHERS. 



obstinately refuses to open a petal after it is 

 gathered ; and the fairy-like elder, which sul- 

 lenly resents being touched, gives up the strug- 

 gle for existence and droops at once ; and the 

 cactus, which promptly draws its satin petals 

 together, and stubbornly declines to open again. 

 The loveliest bouquet of late July on the coast 

 of Maine is this, which I give for the pleasure 

 of other flower-lovers, if haply there be any who 

 have not discovered it. Put in a vase a few 

 stalks of completely opened goldenrod, of the 

 variety that divides into long, finger-like stems. 

 Let there be just enough so that when each 

 blossom is spread out full they shall barely 

 cover the space. Have the stems of equal 

 length, so that the effect shall be flat, and not 

 conical. Into this, between the blossoms, care- 

 fully stick the stems of a few fully spread lace 

 flowers (or wild carrot), with stems two or three 

 inches longer than you have allowed the golden- 

 rod stems. Each must have full space to dis- 

 play every tiny floweret, and not to hide the 

 golden glory beneath. When prepared, set the 

 vase or bowl on the floor, before a grate or to 

 light up some gloomy corner. Properly done 

 the effect is a marvel and a joy forever, like 

 lace over sunshine, like some fairy creation too 

 dainty for words to picture. 



