56 MY SUMMER IN A GARDEN. 



my garden I was always sure to see something. 

 In this disordered state of mind and body I got 

 this hoe. The morning after a day of using it I 

 slept perfectly and late. I regained my respect 

 for the eighth commandment. After two doses 

 of the hoe in the garden, the weeds entirely dis 

 appeared. Trying it a third morning, I was 

 obliged to throw it over the fence in order to 

 save from destruction the green things that 

 ought to grow in the garden. Of course, this is 

 figurative language. What I mean is, that the 

 fascination of using this hoe is such that you 

 are sorely tempted to employ it upon your vege 

 tables, after the weeds are laid low, and must 

 hastily withdraw it, to avoid unpleasant results. 

 I make this explanation, because I intend to 

 put nothing into these agricultural papers that 

 will not bear the strictest scientific investiga 

 tion ; nothing that the youngest child cannot 

 understand and cry for; nothing that the oldest 



