122 A BOOK ABOUT ROSES. 



that we may invite those members whom we may 

 esteem most wortliy to be guests at our feast of 

 Roses. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



SELECTION. 



Take a hot school-boy into a fruiterer's shop, 

 where the cheeks of the peach and the Quarren- 

 den pippin are glowing like his own, where the 

 bloom still lingers upon grape and plum, and 

 where the *' Good Christian" pear of Williams 

 (would that all who assure us of their sanctity were 

 as free from sourness, as fruitful, melting, and 

 juicy !) yields to his inquiring thumb. Bid him 

 survey the scene, a pomological Selkirk, and then 

 proceed to fruition. Or take young Philippos, a 

 few years older, to some great mart of horses. 

 Introduce him to the proprietor, with his pleasant 

 smiling face, ruddy (from early rising, doubtless), 

 his cheek and chin close-shaven (few men nowa- 

 days shave so closely), hair clipped like his horses', 

 fox galloping over bird's-eye neckerchief, cut-away 

 coat with gilt buttons, and drab adhesive pants. 

 Let him hear how this generous, guileless man has 

 collected, without regard to toil or money, the best 



