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, " How sweet ! " 

 " What nice ones ! " 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. 



