178 ROUND ABOUT CHICAGO 



This particular variation she calls The Season 

 of Flowers. 



If there are those in your family who lack 

 strength of spirit or of body to go to the wild 

 flowers, do you bring the flowers to them and 

 keep the house sweet and beautiful from early 

 April to late October. A few hours on Saturday 

 afternoon or, better yet, early Sunday morning 

 will bring joy to dozens who see your trophies, 

 and much greater joy to you who gather them; 

 for of flowers more than of any other thing in 

 the world is it true that it is better to give than 

 to receive. 



But there are flowers to be picked, and flowers 

 not to be picked, and before you can go with us 

 you must be carefully instructed in this matter, 

 else our present wrath will fall upon your head, 

 and your own future conscience will smite 

 you for your thoughtlessness, even as the o. m.'s 

 sometimes smites her now. Moreover, there are 

 flowers of which one may pick armfuls, and 

 others of which a handful is better, and still others 

 of which a single blossom is the limit of propriety ; 

 and there are flowers to be picked in full bloom, 

 and flowers to be picked in the bud, and flowers 

 to be taken roots and all. And there is art in 

 knowing the best length of stem, and the right 



