CHAPTER VII. 

 THE FORMAL GARDEN. 



IT did not take long to evolve a simple, sensible, and comfort- 

 able costume for working. This consisted of a sailor blouse 

 of cotton cheviot, thick enough, like the Irishwoman's shawl, to 

 keep out the heat, while giving full liberty of movement. Being 

 tHistarched it was easily laundered. With it was worn a short, 

 straight, nine-gored skirt to match, a wide-brimmed hat, stout low- 

 heeled shoes, and large loose-wristed gloves. The latter were pieced 

 out to the elbow with heavy silesia finished by an elastic, to keep 

 them from slipping. As a poor pocketless female, I evolved a 

 kind of carpenter's apron for practical use and found it a great 

 convenience. This was made of heavy white galatea with three 

 deep compartments beginning six inches below the waist and long 

 enough to hold a hammer. In addition, they also held a paper 

 bag for mushrooms, a small pad and pencil, a ball of twine, scis- 

 sors, a large knife, and a pair of the pruning shears which were 



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