456 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
the grass as too sacred to be walked on in our larger parks. What 
of it if it is worn out? How can it serve a better purpose? 
The illustration is from a photograph taken in Hyde Park, 
London, where many city children gather to play. I had set up my 
camera for a picture of some very fine old English elms, when child- 
like all the children from near by rushed in to have their pictures 
taken, and as they added so much to the appearance of the scene I 
was delighted to have them. It may be noticed that the ground is 
bare where shade of the trees and trampling of children’s feet was 
too much for the grass, but how exceedingly weak in comparison 
the picture would look if the grass was all perfect and the children 
were left out. 
THE BEAUTIFUL IN NATURE 
MISS LENA M. FREEMAN, AUSTIN. 
The habits formed in early years are our masters in the future. Then, 
how important that we form good habits. Let us work, when we work— 
no dilly-dallying, no procrastination of necessary duties, no shirking of our 
share of the work, as usually, if we shirk our part, some other patient, un- 
complaining one must do it. We must put our shoulder to the wheel of 
progress and help turn. But, having done our share, then we must take 
time for rest and recreation. Rest is needful in this intensely busy, pushing 
age. A person, over-tired and over-worked, can enjoy nothing. One’s 
nerves will rebel at the sounds and echoes of nature. Music may be sweet 
and quieting to healthy nerves, but oh! what torture to diseased nerves. The 
soft prattle of childhood is pleasant to the ear of a loving mother if not ex- 
hausted from over-exertion; but a mother nervously prostrated is not fitted 
for her high calling, but, instead, is apt to mete out unmerited rebuke and 
unjust chiding. 
This life is short at the best; it is soon gone; we must enjoy the fleet- 
ing moments as they pass and not wait for some more auspicious time in 
the future. The future, when it comes, is just as busy as the present. There 
is no better time than now to cultivate our powers of observation and “take 
time for beauty.” Live not for money-getting alone, else you will see no 
beauty in anything except the golden glitter of mammon. Be not like the 
“man with a hoe,” heart full of sordid toil and slavish, miserly love of greed 
and gold. Don’t say “I am only a farmer,” but proudly magnify your call- 
ing. Have you forgotten the illustration in Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, ot 
a man incessantly at work with his muck-rake, never once looking up, while 
above his head hangs an immortal. crown, to be his just for the asking? 
Live not for fame, a mere bubble of air! Live to do good! We are not 
all destined to become worldly great, but, touching elbow to elbow, it is our 
duty to help uplift each other. Embrace no creed which excludes sym- 
pathy for your fellowmen. Let not your heart be hardened by pride, avarice. 
self-conceit and introspection; instead, cultivate sympathy, humility and be- 
nevolence. What we love, we enjoy! There is beauty in nearly everything. 
Let us look for and expect it, and thus fit ourselves to enjoy the many 
changing moods of nature. A sluggard cannot do this. “Up in the morn- 
ing early” is a good maxim. Teach the little children to find “tongues in 
trees, books in running brooks, sermons in stones and good in everything.” 
The merry carol of the lark is certainly more tuneful than the caw of a 
