MY SUMMER IN A GARDEN. 139 



SIXTEENTH WEEK. 



I DO not hold myself bound to answer 

 the question, Does gardening pay? 

 It is so difficult to define what is meant by 

 paying. There is a popular notion, that, 

 unless a thing pays, you had better let 

 it alone ; and I may say that there is a 

 public opinion that will not let a man or 

 woman continue in the indulgence of a 

 fancy that does not pay. And public 

 opinion is stronger than the legislature, 

 and nearly as strong as the ten com 

 mandments: I therefore yield to popu 

 lar clamor when I discuss the profit of 

 my garden. 



As I look at it, you might as well ask, 

 Does a sunset pay ? I know that a sun 

 set is commonly looked on as a cheap 



