THE SIX OF SPADES. 8i 



of Creation ; " it is because the life of a gardener is, 

 or ought to be, a religious life t 



" Yea, holy is the gardener's life, for unto him is given 

 To be a fellow-worker with the sun and showers of heaven, 

 . Gently to aid the labours of the teeming mother earth, 

 And watch and cherish tenderly her children from their 

 birth ; " 



it is because the wisest of men, such as were Bacon 

 and Newton, were happiest in their gardens, and 

 spake of gardening, from a glad experience, as " the 

 purest of human pleasures ;" it is because men, such 

 as was Wordsworth, have bequeathed to us the cer- 

 tain confidence that "Nature never did betray the 

 heart that loved her ; " it is for these reasons, and 

 many another as true and gracious, that the pleasures 

 of gardening are so great and lasting, and that of 

 the earnest faithful gardener it may be justly said 



" Thy thoughts and feelings shall not die, 

 Nor leave thee when old age is nigh 



A melancholy slave ; 

 But an old age serene and bright, 

 And lovely as a Lapland night, 

 Shall lead thee to thy grave." 



Thoughts like these insured a special welcome for 

 the Eeverend Francis Goodhart, our Curate, as he 

 entered our room of assembly. We were glad to have 

 our pastor's sympathy, and to appoint a chaplain to 

 our little band. Moreover, we ever found in him a 

 cheerful companion and an enthusiastic gardener. 

 You may see ample evidence of the latter charac- 

 7 



