54 THE MOONLIGHT LECTURE 



of ivy and other evergreens freshly picked from the 

 garden make festoons round many picture frames 

 with plans of gardens that decorate the wooden 

 walls, and the little raised stage at the end, where 

 the band will be, is gay with Soleil d'Or narcissus 

 and boxes of other bulbs. In the centre of the 

 room, suspended from a beam, is a basket of red 

 and white carnations. Perhaps the most amusing 

 features of it all are the lines of small sailing-ships 

 and green and red baby watering-cans that hang 

 as emblems of the childish spirit that pervades 

 the gardeners, tokens only of what the local penny 

 bazaar can provide, but none the less effective be- 

 cause of their lowly origin. As the big doors are 

 thrown open and several slim figures are seen 

 waltzing round whilst others stand on ladders, 

 hammer and nails in hand to put the finishing 

 touches, the Colonial Mission room is forgotten, 

 for it has been transformed into a very charming 

 Gardeners' Bower. 



Meanwhile, another detachment of workers is 

 busy in the Long Parlour of my small house, 

 converting a wooden trestle table into a groaning, 

 decorated festive board. So intent are we with 

 the work that time slips quickly by and the winter's 

 afternoon has nearly sped away before all the 

 many parcels of cakes, sweeties, scones, buns, and 

 creamy pastries have been unpacked and arranged 

 on plates or in blue bowls. One large cake all 

 iced over with white sugar is placed in front of my 

 chair, for it has inscribed upon it in large red letters 

 " Happy Christmas and New Year's wishes to my 

 Gardeners." Another, coated with rich brown 



