154 MY SUMMER IN A GARDEN. 



gardener on a ladder in his grape-arbor, in these 

 golden days, selecting the heaviest clusters of 

 grapes, and handing them down to one and 

 another of a group of neighbors and friends, 

 who stand under the shade of the leaves, flecked 

 with the sunlight, and cry, &quot; How sweet ! &quot; 

 &quot; What nice ones ! &quot; and the like, remarks 

 encouraging to the man on the ladder. It is 

 great pleasure to see people eat grapes. 



Moral Truth. I have no doubt that grapes 

 taste best in other peoples mouths. It is an 

 old notion that it is easier to be generous than 

 to be stingy. I am convinced that the majority 

 of people would be generous from selfish mo 

 tives, if they had the opportunity. 



Philosophical Observation. Nothing shows 

 one who his friends are like prosperity and 

 ripe fruit. I had a good friend in the country, 

 whom I almost never visited except in cherry 

 time. By your fruits you shall know them. 



