28o A BOOK ABOUT ROSES. 



history of their Httle game. He declared that he 

 was thoroughly ashamed of ''the job," and was 

 heartily glad they were beat. Truly it was a 

 strange confession, but I believe the penitence was 

 sincere. > 



TJie Despondent Exhibitor is also an excep- 

 tional, but by no means discreditable, variety. He 

 is physically incapable of festive emotions — "a 

 sad, gloom-pampered man," but a good Rosarian, 

 and a righteous. If a cloud crosses the sun he 

 shuts up like a Gazania or a Crocus ; if a few drops 

 of rain fall, he hangs his head like Virgil's pop- 

 pies : 



*' Lassove papavera collo, 

 Demisere caput, pluvia quum forte gravantur." 



He never has the slightest expectation of a prize. 

 He has had more caterpillars, aphides, blights, 

 beetles, and mildews in his garden than ever were 

 seen by man. So he tells you with a slow and 

 solemn tone, looking the while as though, like 

 Mozart composing his own requiem, he listened to 

 some plaintive music. I used to regard him with 

 a tender pity, as being unhappy. I used to sigh: 



" Alas for him who never sees 

 The stars shine through his cypress-trees !" 



