SUMMER MEETING. 45 



Who led us along by the babbling brook and gathered wild flowers and 

 placed the dainty violets and buttercups in our little hands as we jour- 

 neyed on our way to school? Can we ever forget that loving sister? 



And when with laughing pride, who shared our pleasure in the moon- 

 light walk beneath the trellised arbor, where none would dare to intrude? 

 Who plucked the blushing rose, and having kissed it, placed it upon our 

 manly bosom? Can we ever, ever forget that dear sweetheart of ours, 

 in the sacred memory of by-gone davs? Can we forget? 



And, who in all these years has clung to us like a tender vine, trusting, 

 ever trusting? Who has been our guiding star to lead us on to deeds 

 of noble purpose? Who was it that planned our home with all its beauti- 

 ful surroundings, and placed her smile upon it? And who but Iter could 

 train those olive plants that cluster around our frugal board. Woman, 

 the angel of our hopes, "our better half," thee we can ne'er forget. 



Toast — "All Around in Horticulture." By Miss Ida E. Til- 

 son, West Salem, Wis. 



A certain theological professor charged a young minister, under his in- 

 struction, never to venture even a mile away from home without a ser- 

 mon in his pocket. By past experience 1 have found it wise to take an 

 essay with me. When, only a few minutes ago, our president assigned me 

 a toast, I was glad I had along an essay lately read at the Wisconsin 

 meeting, a part of which will be better than my random talk might prove, 

 and, judging from the bountiful and beautiful repast spread before us, 

 you can appreciate something on the subject of eatables. 



Let us begin with my favorite asparagus, April's best gift, esteemed a 

 delicacy as far back as the early Greeks. Till a recent period, however, 

 its cultivation and preparation seemed among "lost arts." Two popular 

 modern cook books, which we own, make meager mention of this root; and 

 I once lived in a town whose principal gardener had p'owed up his aspar- 

 agus because of no market for it. But its valuable diucetic properties, 

 and its early appearance when we so hunger for something new, fresh and 

 green, are causing increased attention and appreciation. Our roots are 

 eight or ten inches below the top of the ground, and, therefore, send up 

 crisp, tender, blanched shoots, quite different from those green, woody 

 ones whose roots are near the surface. The French believe asparagus 

 promotes longevity. Of three famous savants who enjoyed it heartily, 

 two lived over ninety years; the other died in his eighties because, as 

 his companions believed, he did not eat asparagus enough. 



Radishes, lettuce and young onions are May's tribute. Although yel- 

 low or white onions look delicate, we think the "red Wethersfleld" is act- 

 ually more sweet and tender. Raw onions now rank among the best of 

 liver medicines, and in ancient Egypt this vegetable was worshipped as a 

 sort ©f divinity. From every point of view there is no wonder the Israel- 

 ites, in barren, bilious Arabia, wept for the leeks, onions and garlic of 

 Egypt. Those bulbs had drawn tears before and have since. 



The radish is anti-scorbutic, blood-purifying and tonic, while lettuce 

 furnishes a nervine havingall the value of opium and none of its ill effects. 



June enriches our list with cooling strawberries. Shakespere's Richard 

 IIL, in the midst of state-craft and slaughter, turns aside one moment 

 to say— 



"My lord of Ely, when I was last in Holborn 

 I saw good strawberries in your garden there; 

 I do beseech you send for some of them." 



