A GARDEN DIARY 113 



SURREY, FEBRUARY 26, 1900 



HP HE RE is a little tapestry fire-screen in 

 *- my sitting-room here, which has been 

 disturbing me quite seriously all this winter. 

 It represents a group of Boers when the 

 tapestry was made I take it the word was 

 spelt boors of various ages and sexes, but 

 all equally convulsed with laughter. The 

 central figure is a big, square-jawed, good- 

 natured looking fellow, who holds aloft in his 

 hands a tiny, red-coated toy manikin, which he 

 is causing to perform ridiculous antics for the 

 amusement of a solid infant of two or three 

 years old, who is trying to reach it. At a 

 table close by an old man sits eating, in a 

 suit of what appears to be greasy grey corduroys. 

 He also grins with satisfaction at the perform- 

 ance. So does a woman presumably the 

 mother of the solid infant who looks back 

 laughingly from a doorway, over the dish which 

 she carries in her hands. Other Boers, or boors, 

 are to be seen in the background, all equally 

 i 



