LITTLE GARDENS 



you see reflected in the water mirror the marble 

 god, athlete, or what not who occupies the ped- 

 estal among the shrubbery at the farther; that 

 the basin with its goldfish is bordered by cy- 

 presses, yews or bays in tubs; that above the 

 benches extends a trellis covered with vines — 

 grapes, if you want them, for everything is free 

 in fancy-land; that from the nearer bed rise the 

 color and perfume of such plants as will live in 

 partial shade — godetia, lily-of-the-valley, musk 

 plant, pansy, anemone, bluebells, phlox divari- 

 cata, shooting-star, St. Johnswort and such ferns 

 as the maidenhair, lady-fern, oak-fern, cinnamon- 

 fern and the noble sword-fern, which in many a 

 darkened valley in New England grows head- 

 high ; for in the country one may take ferns from 

 the fields for his lighted garden, and there are 

 ferns by the million in the woods which he can 

 abstract for his shady corners. You are also to 

 see that roses, lilies and iris gleam among the 

 foliage along the farther wall; that noble oaks 

 and elms, or a group of solemn pines overlook 

 the ground and checker it with transparent shad- 

 ows; that birds nest in those trees and make a 

 morning and evening melody; and apart from 

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