64 MY SUMMER IN A GARDEN. 



thing would look all right. The borders 

 of my drive were trimmed with scissors ; 

 and every thing that could offend the 

 Eye of the Great was hustled out of the 

 way. 



In relating this interview, it must be 

 distinctly understood that I am not 

 responsible for any thing that the presi 

 dent said ; nor is he, either. He is not 

 a great speaker ; but whatever he says 

 has an esoteric and an exoteric meaning ; 

 and some of his remarks about my 

 vegetables went very deep. I said 

 nothing to him whatever about politics, 

 at which he seemed a good deal sur 

 prised : he said it was the first garden 

 he had ever been in, with a man, when 

 the talk was not of appointments. I 

 told him that this was purely vege 

 table ; after which he seemed more at 

 his ease, and, in fact, delighted with 

 every thing he saw. He was much 



