THE SIX OF SPADES. 149 



first primrose and violet (as I have said), the forget- 

 me-not, and wild-flower, and wild heath, come forth 

 in their season, upon bank and mountain, in their 

 woodland and moorland homes. The wild bulbs in 

 their habitations (what time the Nottingham meadows 

 are empurpled by their crocus bloom) break forth 

 into beauty with ours. The flowers in a spring 

 garden look at home and happy. They know, as old 

 friends, that they are welcome, and they smile their 

 thanks. They are not as dainty and magnificent 

 swells, who have been delicately nurtured (under 

 glass), who seem too grand for their surroundings, and 

 who will leave us, if foul weather come. 



Then consider the diversity of colour, form, and 

 combination which is found among these vernal 

 flowers. Let us imagine that the winter is past, and 

 that we survey their bright charms once more. Let 

 us ask the beneficent fairy, who changed a pumpkin 

 into a chariot to convey Cinderella to the ball, to 

 transform one of those huge gourds which adorn our 

 club-room into an omnibus, and bid Fancy drive us to 

 Spring Gardens. 



Arriving, we shall be as surprised and delighted as 

 Cinderella herself, 



" When tapers shone, 

 And music breathed, 

 And beauty led the ball." 



Surprised ! Why, there is not one in a thousand, 

 even of those who love a garden nay, there is not 

 one in a hundred of my brother gardeners, who knows 

 the marvellous charms of a spring garden extensively 



