MY SUMMER IX A GARDEN. 71 



at the White House, to have care of 

 the exotics. I told him that I thanked 

 him, but that I did not desire any 

 foreign appointment. I had resolved, 

 when the administration came in, not 

 to take an appointment; and I had kept 

 my resolution. As to any home office, 

 I was poor, but honest ; and, of course, 

 it would be useless for me to take one. 

 The president mused a moment, and 

 then smiled, and said he would see 

 what could be done for me. I did 

 not change the subject ; but nothing 

 further was said by Gen. Gr nt. 



The president is a great talker (con 

 trary to the general impression) ; but 

 I think he appreciated his quiet hour 

 in my garden. He said it carried him 

 back to his youth farther than any 

 thing he had seen lately. He looked 

 forward with delight to the time when 

 he could again have his private garden, 



