24 MY SUMMER IN A GARDEN. 



feet from each, but a little nearer the 

 trellis. When it came out of the ground, 

 it looked around to see what it should 

 do. The trellis was already occupied. 

 The bean-pole was empty. There was 

 evidently a little the best chance of 

 light, air, and sole proprietorship on the 

 pole. And the vine started for the 

 pole, and began to. climb it with deter 

 mination. Here was as distinct an act 

 of choice, of reason, as a boy exercises 

 when he goes into a forest, and, looking 

 about, decides which tree he will climb. 

 And, besides, how did the vine know 

 enough to travel in exactly the right 

 direction, three feet, to find what it 

 wanted ? This is intellect. The weeds, 

 on the other hand, have hateful moral 

 qualities. To cut down a weed is, 

 therefore, to do a moral action. I feel 

 as if I were destroying sin. My hoe 

 becomes an instrument of retributive 



