1/4 MY SUMMER IN A GARDEN. 



perhaps with Persia ! Respect for such a being 

 gives place to awe. I go to another shop, hold- 

 ing fast to my scarlet clew. There I am shown 

 a heap of stuff, with more colors and shades than 

 I had supposed existed in all the world. What 

 a blaze of distraction ! I have been told to get 

 as near the shade as I could ; and so I compare 

 and contrast, till the whole thing seems to me 

 about of one color. But I can settle my mind 

 on nothing. The affair assumes a high degree 

 of importance. I am satisfied with nothing but 

 perfection. I don't know what may happen if 

 the shade is not matched. I go to another shop, 

 and another, and another. At last a pretty girl, 

 who could make any customer believe that green 

 is blue, matches the shade in a minute. I buy 

 five cents' worth. That was the order. Women 

 are the most economical persons that ever were. 

 I have spent two hours in this five-cent business ; 

 but who shall say they were wasted, when I take 



