Old Flower Favorites 191 



We can fancy how delighted all these Oriental 

 shrubs and flowers were to meet after so many years 

 of separation. What pleasant greetings all the 

 cousins must have given each other ; I am sure the 

 Wistaria was glad to see the Lilac, and the Fortune's 

 Yellow Rose was duly respectful to his old cousin, 

 the thorny yellow Scotch Rose. And I seem to 

 hear a bit of scandal passing from plant to plant ! 

 Listen ! it is the Bleeding-heart gossiping with the 

 Japanese Anemone : " Well ! I never thought that 

 Lilac girl would grow to be such a beauty. So 

 much color ! Do you suppose it can be natural ? 

 Mrs. Tulip hinted to me yesterday that the girl used 

 fertilizers, and it certainly looks so. But she can't 

 say much herself — I never saw such a change in 

 any creatures as in those Tulips. You remember 

 how commonplace their clothes were ? Now such ex- 

 travagance ! Scores of gowns, and all made abroad, 

 and at her age ! Here are you and I, my dear, both 

 young, and we really ought to have more clothes. 

 I haven't a thing but this pink gown to put on. 

 It's lucky you had a white gown, for no one liked 

 your pink one. Here comes Mrs. Rose ! How 

 those Rose children have grown ! I never should 

 have known them." 



