WHAT I KNOW ABOUT GARDENING. 127 



when he was down with small-pox and cholera, 

 and the yellow-fever came into the neighbor- 

 hood. 



Now, the grapes, soaked in this liquid gold, 

 called air, begin to turn, mindful of the injunc- 

 tion, " to turn or burn." The clusters under the 

 leaves are getting quite purple, but look better 

 than they taste. I think there is no danger 

 but they will be gathered as soon as they are 

 ripe One of the blessings of having an open 

 garden is, that I do not have to watch my fruit : 

 a dozen youngsters do that, and let it waste no 

 time after it matures. I wish it were possible to 

 grow a variety of grape like the explosive bul- 

 lets, that should explode in the stomach: the 

 vine would make such a nice border for the gar- 

 den, a masked battery of grape. The pears, 

 too, are getting russet and heavy ; and here and 

 there amid the shining leaves one gleams as 

 ruddy as the cheek of the Nutbrown Maid. 



