THE FLOWER GARDEN. 121 



down the main path ; &quot; plenty of walks and weeds, 

 but no flowers this year.&quot; 



&quot; Wait till you see,&quot; was my triumphant answer. 



&quot; I can see pretty well now,&quot; he replied; &quot; there is 

 certainly nothing to obstruct the view. I have a fine 

 prospect of muddy walks and absurdly-shaped beds. 

 You will learn to be practical before you are through. 

 Another year or two will take the city nonsense out 

 of you, and teach you some valuable lessons.&quot; 



He was going on with his egotistical homilies, 

 when I stopped him in front of my infant plants. 



&quot; Look at that !&quot; I said, exultingly, grasping his arm 

 and facing him toward the bed. 



&quot; Look at what ?&quot; he repeated, staring stupidly 

 about. 



&quot; At those plants. Are they not promising ? I in 

 tend to separate and transplant them : there will be 

 abundance to stock half my garden. Eather better 

 than raising egg-plants, eh ? We city boys know a 

 few things, after all. What do you think of those 

 little beauties 3&quot; 



&quot; What on earth or, more properly speaking, in 

 the earth are you talking about ? I don t see any 

 plants, or beauties either.&quot; 



&quot;Not see any plants!&quot; I replied, laughing at his 

 ignorance. &quot; Perhaps you can not tell plants when 



F 



