THE MATRIMONIAL GARDEN. 163 



ber that your companion will see your neglect, which will 

 affect his eye, and may alienate his heart. Bestow a large 

 share of attention on these plants, then, as soon as you enter 

 the garden, for when you are once fairly in, you are in for 

 life ; the danger is, that if you neglect them at an early 

 period, you will not find them afterward. 



Near these walks is to be found that modest plant, called 

 Humility : 



It is the Violet, " born to blush unseen, 

 And waste its sweetness on the desert air." 



It appears of little worth in itself, but when joined to other 

 virtues, it adds a charm to life, and spreads a fragrance 

 around its wearer. Cultivate, then, with all your care, this 

 sweet little plant, and you will find it prevent the growth of 

 all poisonous and noxious weeds. 



Allow me also to drop a hint on the subject of Cultivation, 

 as connected with Propagation, as that most probably will 

 be your employment in this garden, sooner or later. Should 

 you have the rearing of a young plant, remember that it is 

 frail in its nature, and liable to be destroyed by every blast, 

 and will demand all your care and attention. Should you 

 witness a blast on its dawning beauties, O ! how your fond 

 heart will bleed with tenderness, affection, and sympathy ! 

 The young shoot will naturally twine around all the fibres 

 of your frame. Should it live and thrive, spare no pains to 

 u train it up in the way it should go." Weed it, water it, 

 prune it ; it will need all your skill. Without this, many 

 weeds and baneful plants will grow up with it, and blast 

 your fondest hopes. Be ever mindful that this is a trust 

 for which both parties are accountable. 



Without careful cultivation, what can you expect but the 

 most luxuriant growth of unruly appetites, which, in time, 

 will break forth in all manner of disgraceful irregularities 1 

 What, but that Anger, like a prickly thorn, will arm the 

 temper with an untractable moroseness 1 That Peevishness, 

 like a stinging- nettle, will render the conversation irksome 



