A SUMMER DRIVE IN THE LAKE COUNTRY. 237 



delightful abiding place. The fare is first class, and the 

 friendly, cheerful service excellent. For dinner, salmon 

 trout, caught the same morning from the cool waters 

 of the lake, was a daily feature at table. 



Many of the drives in the neighborhood are pleasant, 

 and full of objects of interest. There are flourishing 

 vineyards to examine, and wine cellars to explore, 

 that will keep one busy for days; and then if you 

 care to learn the process of making still wines or cham- 

 pagnes, you will find experts who will cheerfully show 

 you all the mysteries. 



For hot, sultry days you will find shady nooks and 

 rocky glens that afford cool and pleasant retreats for 

 reading or visiting, or for day dreaming, if you are 

 romantically inclined. 



A daily walk took us past a well-kept garden, contain- 

 ing many flowers, some of them rare. "We often 

 exchanged greetings with the pleasant old gardener, who 

 delighted to learnedly expatiate on names and charac- 

 teristics of his favorites. On one occasion I was admir- 

 ing a flower that was new to me, and taking out pen- 

 cil and book to make a memorandum, asked for the 

 botanical name. His puzzled look showed that it was 

 also unknown to him, but after hesitating for a moment 

 he replied, " All ! mon, call the beauty whatever you 

 loike. Far be it from the loikes of me to tell a gintleman 

 what he should call a purty flower. A pleasant morning 

 to you, and the Lord bless you through the day ! " His 

 courteous escape from the dilemma is still my blessing, as 

 the thought of it has since caused many a pleasant laugh. 



