184 MY SUMMER IN A GARDEN. 



plants are ever fully themselves until they are 

 cultivated to their highest. I, for one, have no 

 fear that society will be too much enriched. 

 The only question is about keeping down the 

 weeds ; and I have learned by experience, that 

 we need new sorts of hoes, and more disposi- 

 tion to use them. 



Moral Deduction. The difference between 

 soil and society is evident. We bury decay in 

 the earth ; we plant in it the perishing ; we feed 

 it with offensive refuse : but nothing grows out 

 of it that is not clean ; it gives us back life and 

 beauty for our rubbish. Society returns us what 

 we give it. 



Pretending to reflect upon these things, but in 

 reality watching the blue-jays, who are pecking 

 at the purple berries of the woodbine on the 

 south gable, I approach the house. Polly is 

 picking up chestnuts on the sward, regardless 

 of the high wind which rattles them about her 



