150 Old Time Gardens 



the tiny Lilac-slip to her childhood's home, then 

 standing in a clearing in the forest. She carried it 

 carefully in her hands as she rode behind her father 

 on a pillion after a visit to her grandmother. She 

 and her little brothers and sisters planted the tiny 

 thing " of two eyes only," as she said, in the shadow 

 of the house, in the little front yard. And these 

 children watered it and watched it, as it rooted and 

 grew, till the house was surrounded each spring with 

 its vivacious blooms, its sweet fragrance. The puny 

 slip has outlived the house and all its inmates save 

 herself, outlived the brothers and sisters, their chil- 

 dren and grandchildren, outlived orchard and garden 

 and field. And it will live to tell a story to every 

 thoughtful passer-by till a second growth of forest 

 has arisen in pasture and garden and even in the 

 cellar-hole, when even then the cheerful Lilac will 

 not be wholly obliterated. 



A bunch of early Lilacs was ever a favorite gift to 

 " teacher," to be placed in a broken-nosed pitcher 

 on her desk. And Lilac petals made such lovely 

 necklaces, thrust within each other or strung with 

 needle and thread. And there was a love divination 

 by Lilacs which we children solemnly observed. 

 There will occasionally appear a tiny Lilac flower, 

 usually a white Lilac, with five divisions of the petal 

 instead, of four — this is a Luck Lilac. This must 

 be solemnly swallowed. If it goes down smoothly, 

 the dabbler in magic cries out, " He loves me;" if 

 she chokes at her floral food, she must say sadly, 

 " He loves me not." I remember once calling out, 

 with gratification and pride, " He loves me ! ' 



