WILD PEONY. 



Southern California has many beautiful towns ; one of them 

 is Pasadina. Its fine situation, even and delightful climate, 

 make it one of the favorite resorts for both winter and summer. 



It is in this lovely place the celebrated Raymond Hotel is 

 situated. In the distance can be seen "Old Baldy" covered with 

 snow, and nearer the magnificent range of the Sierra Madre 

 mountains. Below, and at the very foot-hills, fine ranches can be 

 easily traced by their rich fields of growing grain, and here and 

 there the golden poppy claims the ground, and looks like a bright 

 yellow carpet. So vivid is its color that patches of them can be 

 seen for miles. 



It was my good fortune to be entertained, while stopping in 

 this charming place, by a lady whose home was on the ridge, 

 and in the midst of a fine orange grove. On the trees could be 

 seen oranges, ripe and green, and orange blossoms. It seemed so 

 strange to me to see the blossoms on the same tree with the ripe 

 fruit. The odor from this grove of orange trees was delicious. 

 The early morning was to me the pleasantest part of the day. 

 I was assigned the task of picking the oranges for breakfast, 

 after being taught to know the full ripe ones, which I assure you 

 is a great knowledge. 



The pretty little cottage was nearly covered with rose-vines. 

 They ran far up on the roof, and were just coming into blossom. 

 The place seemed like fairy-land. Who could not be happy in 



