CHAPTER XI 



CHRYSANTHEMUM TIME 



Nov. November is the month of months for the Chrysan- 

 themum lover. It brings the crown of his year's work 

 in the form of a lovely display of flowers in his con- 

 servatory, it brings the exhibitions, it brings the interest 

 of studying the season's debutantes, and it brings that 

 comparison of results and interchange of views with 

 other growers which is so pleasant and helpful. The 

 Golden Flower is at its best, and its best is something 

 that robs November of all its accepted terrors — wet, 

 fog, frost, and murk. The veriest misanthrope loses his 

 gloom when he sees a collection of Chrysanthemums. 

 The warming, inspiring influences of the flower flow all 

 over him, and show him that there is still something left 

 in life. The dyspeptic no longer groans because he is 

 forbidden to take lobster salad at midnight; he is content 

 to do without it, for he sees that there is something 

 better. 



Chrysanthemum time is a period of warmth, glow, 

 and cheerfulness. Mark Tapley would have have had a 

 bad time in these Chrysanthemum days, because his best 

 efforts to avoid being jolly would have been unavailing, 

 and he would have been blithe and hilarious in spite of 

 himself. 



November is more than a mere Chrysanthemum 

 month, however. It is the great planting month of the 

 year. It is that happy month when we spend joyous 

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