ADVICE FOR LACKLAND 



even though you allow it to tangle: the Po- 

 mologists will laugh at you ; but let them : you 

 will have your shade and the wilderness of 

 frolicsome tendrils, and at least a fair show of 

 purple bunches. Scatter here and there hardy 

 herbaceous flowers that shall care for them- 

 selves, and which the children may pluck with 

 a will. Don't distress yourself if your half 

 acre of lawn shows some hummocks, or dan- 

 delions, or butter-cups. And if a wild clump 

 of bushes intrude in a corner, don't condemn 

 it too hastily ; it may be well to enliven it with 

 an evergreen or two — to dig about it, and 

 paint its edges with a few summer phloxes 

 or roses. You will want neither Scotchman 

 nor forcing houses for this." 



This is the way in which I should have 

 talked to my friend Lackland, who would 

 want to take things easy. 



I should not wonder if he were to buy his 

 place of two acres, and make trial. God bless 

 him if he does. 



LACKLAND MAKES A BEGINNING 



My friend Lackland — as I suspected he would 

 — has purchased a little place of two and a 



39 



