MY SUMMER IN A GARDEN. 77 



avoid friction, and keep the company 

 smooth ; a pinch of attic salt ; a dash 

 of pepper; a quantity of mustard and 

 vinegar, by all means, but so mixed 

 that you will notice no sharp contrasts ; 

 and a trifle of sugar. You can put any 

 thing, and the more things the better, 

 into salad, as into a conversation; but 

 every thing depends upon the skill of 

 mixing. I feel that I am in the best 

 society when I am with lettuce. It 

 is in the select circle of vegetables. 

 The tomato appears well on the table ; 

 but you do not want to ask its origin. 

 It is a most agreeable parvenu. Of 

 course, I have said nothing about the 

 berries. They live in another and more 

 ideal region; except, perhaps, the cur 

 rant. Here we see, that, even among 

 berries, there are degrees of breeding. 

 The currant is well enough, clear as 

 truth, and exquisite in color ; but I ask 



