A GARDEN DIARY 237 



SEPTEMBER 10, 1900 



'T~ v H E year has more than run its complete round 

 - since these loosely connected jottings were 

 begun, so that it is high time that they shut the 

 cover down upon themselves, and withdrew into 

 a corner. Diary-keeping, like knitting, like whit- 

 tling, like any other of the minor distractions, 

 begins often with more or less effort, yet after 

 a time becomes, first a habit, finally almost a 

 necessity. Entered upon without any particular 

 motive, it creates a place for itself, it fills a 

 void, it becomes a solace. The practice of the 

 diarist varies, of course, almost infinitely. It may 

 mean merely that conscientious daily record, to 

 which alone the words "journal," "diary," " day- 

 book " properly belong, or it may enlarge its 

 scope until it covers all those looser, and neces- 

 arily more intermittent outpourings, in which 

 most of us from time to time indulge, whether 

 for our weal or our woe depends largely upon 

 circumstances. 



One merit it certainly has. Few mediums of 



