THE AMATEUR GARDEN 



say nothing of prizes, was not the garden itself 

 its own reward?" 



She shook her head drearily; she did not 

 know that she should ever care to garden any 

 more. 



"Why?" exclaimed one questioner persua- 

 sively, "you didn't talk so when I was here last 

 month !'* 



"No," was the reply, "but since three week' 

 ag-o — " and all at once up came the stifled 

 tears, filhng her great black eyes and coursing 

 down her cheeks unhindered, "I los' my baby." 



The abashed visitors stammered such apolo- 

 gies as they could. "They would not have come 

 on this untimely errand could they have known." 

 They begged forgiveness for their slowness to 

 perceive. 



"Yet do not wholly," they presently ven- 

 tured to urge, "give up your garden. The day 

 may come when the thought that is now so 

 bitter will, as a memory, yield some sweetness 

 as well, and then it may be that the least of 

 bitterness and the most of sweetness will come 

 to you when you are busy among your flowers." 



160 



